Having managed cities in my past, I have a unique perspective as to the problems commonly experienced. We’ve all seen examples of once-great cities that have declined. Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, and London were never godly, but they were admired for their outward beauty. I recall that during the early 2000s, New York City reduced the overall crime rate dramatically. This was celebrated as a major achievement, despite the ongoing presence of evil.

Several years ago, I attended a conference in Portland, Oregon. The city enjoys a pleasant setting along the banks of the Willamette River. The main gathering spot in the city, Pioneer Square, was a striking blend of green spaces, historic architecture, and commerce. Shops of all kinds lined the perimeter of the Square. Many of those shops have since closed due to factors such as the pandemic, violent crime, homelessness, street camping and the residue it leaves behind, not to mention rioting and retail theft. My point is that the most admired cities suffer degrees of chaos and confusion, as opposed to cities of God.

Consider the future of human societies as described in Isaiah 24. Some Bible translations give the following headline: “Impending Judgement on the Earth.” Verses 7-12 specifically illustrate God’s judgement for ongoing and unrepentant human sin: “The new wine fails, the vine languishes, All the merry hearted sigh. The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases. They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; Every house is shut up, so that none may go in. There is a cry for wine in the streets, All joy is darkened, The mirth of the land is gone. In the city desolation is left, And the gate is stricken with destruction.”

We know that God’s judgement on this world is assured, and punishment for our disobedience and lack of sincere repentance will ignore social status, politics, and influence. The moral decay of cities the world typically lauds will not be spared God’s anger. Paris, once referred to as the City of Light, more aptly describes the darkness that defines so many cities. As true Christians, we understand that God’s plan for those He calls cannot be compared to the current state of our governments, no matter how well intentioned they may be.

As a former city manager, I think of the challenges we faced in addressing a multitude of problems. The choices we considered were never easy, but we knew that they were needed to face the problems or suffer the consequences of a bankrupt city. I realize now that God was merciful with me back then when, despite my indifference to His Law, we succeeded in making necessary changes. Yet, despite temporary outward prosperity, success is an illusion if it is not of God. Today, as a repentant Christian, I face challenges in an entirely different manner, striving to place my faith and trust in God.

We contrast the devastation of our cities discussed above with the glorious promise of Isaiah 9:6-7: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given: And the government will be upon His shoulder: And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…”

This is the book and chapter of the Bible that fueled my conversion away from the world because it clearly pictures the future Kingdom of God, and the stunning connection with the New Testament, as mentioned in Luke 2:7-14. This is the story of our God, our Creator, and our soon-coming King and Ruler from the Throne of David in Jerusalem.

Consider an ancient city known for idolatry and opposition to God’s law—Jericho, known as the City of Palms in ancient times. It was situated near the Dead Sea and the West Bank of the Jordan River, and it thrived for a time despite its evil focus. That is until God had enough of the sinfulness and established the region as the land promised for His people. In Deuteronomy 34:1-4, we see the story beginning to unfold: “Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, ‘This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants.” I have caused you to see with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.’”

We know what became of Sodom and Gomorrah as a result of their sinfulness, as recorded in Genesis 19. Alternatively, we read about the city of God in Psalm 48:1-3: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.”

In Psalm 125:1, we read: “Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” Unlike trying to rebuild our cities at this time, regaining the trust of the public and enticing visitors back into a blighted urban core, true Christians can take heart by focusing instead on the coming perfect spiritual city—the New Jerusalem on the new earth. Consider Revelation 21:2-3: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

As true Christians, we have been called to obedience, but we have also been called to courage. In the past week our region experienced 100 mph winds, threats of wildfire, and the reality of extended periods without electricity and heating. Mankind’s cities, structures and systems are unbelievably fragile as we’ve all experienced. God’s Kingdom however is hopeful, bright, peaceful and eternal. Let’s focus on that!

Back in 1973, the United States had been reeling from the shocks of the Vietnam War, the ever-threatening Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Watergate scandal, and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Any of these factors alone could destabilize a nation and spark panic and economic uncertainty for decades to come. We know that when nations and world markets suffer, private business interests and world banks react. From 1973 through 1975, world markets suffered from an oil crisis, energy shortages, and high unemployment. While these headwinds resulted in political changes in U.S. leadership in 1976, business people, former government ministers, and members of security services in Japan, the US, and Western Europe had already formed an alliance, a Trilateral Commission, under the guidance of the rich and powerful David Rockefeller to affect change.

The inspiration for our messages can vary. Recently I was watching a lighthearted police comedy/drama from the mid-1970’s. In one episode, the detectives brought in a person who was agitated about a meeting of the Trilateral Commission in NYC. The mention of the Commission brought me back to my teen years and my new awareness of world politics. The members and their work were opaque at the time, as intended—powerful people working behind the scenes, yet hidden in plain sight, and they are not alone.

The stated goal of the Commission since its founding in 1973 has been to foster international cooperation between Japan, Western Europe, and North America. Further, the Commission is purportedly committed to so-called common values, rule of law and democratic principles. The Commission represents the commercial and political interests of what we now refer to as the elites in business and government. In 2021, the Commission had over 400 representatives from the member nations, and this includes academia, business, national security, medicine, and other disciplines. Members have included U.S. Congressional representatives, National Security Advisors, Media, and even the late financier, Jeffrey Epstein.

The Commission has a bold, three-arrow circular logo that one could imagine adorning the collar of a uniform—a one-world government uniform, so to speak. The concept of common democracy and economic prosperity might not, on the surface, seem problematic; however, we know that God does not wish His people to focus in this way. We only need to turn to the beginning of our Bible in Genesis 11, verses 1-9, to see that the earliest people became focused on creating a coordinated government and language, and, they were intent on building a great tower to the heavens—in essence to compete with God:

“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’ But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. ‘Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’ So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth” (New International Version throughout).

God knew that the people’s desire to grow and unite in language and power was evilly inspired. He therefore took swift action to change the plans of the people at that time, and He scattered the people and their languages so that evil collaborations were halted.

“We know that the prophet, Daniel, was granted the ability from God to foresee similar events long into the future that he shared with the king of Babylon. What Daniel saw in his dreams was a future, powerfully evil, one-world government that is detailed in Daniel 7:23: “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.’”

We see time and again in Scripture that God is warning us to be aware of flawed and corrupt leaders, in all fields, not just government, who use their authority for self-aggrandizement and control over the people. This is certainly not a new theme for our Church. This is what our Evangelist, Norbert Link, is doing with his messages and StandingWatch programs; however, we all must be awakened to these things.

The Prophet Jeremiah, however, initially reluctant to be a messenger of God, provided important words to live by in Jeremiah 17, verse 5: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.’”

As those called by God the Father to faith and Truth, we know how this story of Creation and mankind’s existence on earth progresses and is fulfilled by the return of Jesus Christ. We see the horror in Revelation 13:15 that shows us a global government and religious structure that we can have no part in and that means to destroy or subjugate all life. Then, and, in God’s good time, we have in Revelation 19:15-16the fulfillment of God’s plan for His people in the return of Jesus Christ and His Millennial rule: “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” The Trilateral Commission, or any national or hidden power will be no more.

“Consider this final Scripture inRevelation 22:3-5:“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” I am elated at the thought of the rulership of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the ultimate force of goodness and life prevailing over such depravity. Vengeance is not ours to deliver, but, if we do our work and remain faithful, we can see the end of all evil and be a part of God’s plan. These worldly entities will attempt to convince all that they are the answer, or conversely, frighten people into submission. Either way, obedience to the Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the only antidote to such poison.

Recently, my 14-year old son joined me at the non-profit transportation company that I run. He will be working as an apprentice on a part-time basis over the summer school break in our vehicle maintenance department. It is difficult for younger teens to find meaningful work, and even more so in the areas of the skilled trades. However, with the arrival of electric buses and charging controls, automotive trades are rapidly requiring skills honed at the gaming stations of a new generation.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines an apprentice as someone who has agreed to work for a skilled person for a particular period of time and often for low payment, in order to learn that person’s skills. For example: Michelangelo was apprenticed to Ghirlandaio in Florence for three years prior to setting out on his own. While it is hard to imagine him as anything less than a master of art, architecture, and science, the fact is that we all begin at a common point of knowing little and needing to learn and grow in skill and proficiency. For most of us, this begins in the first tottering days of preschool, and continues on through university and beyond.

Additionally, in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the career aspirations of younger generations.  Skilled trade careers are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. This has also been highlighted on social media platforms.

Young tradespeople are sharing their day-to-day experiences, inspiring a new generation to consider careers in skilled trades over traditional college routes. There is a young electrician who has over 1.1 million online followers, and she posts on various tasks. She illustrates the technical skills involved in her job and also shows young followers that hers is a fulfilling and lucrative career path.

Consider the metaphor of being an apprentice in our journey as true Christians. We must understand that as true Christians we are all apprenticed to the Father and Jesus Christ. As the apostles before us, we must study the Scriptures to better understand the importance of Paul’s words in Romans 10, 14-15 (New International Version throughout): “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Continuing in verse 17: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

These verses illustrate the importance of listening and learning from those who were sent and understand more than we do.

Jesus Christ was also an apprentice to the Father in Heaven as we see in John 8:29: “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” But Jesus was also an apprentice in the human sense as a carpenter alongside His human father, Joseph. We see this when Jesus was preparing for His ministry and preaching the Word in the synagogue. He was not treated as a master and expert in the Scriptures, but rather, as a carpenter’s son. This was not to denigrate Jesus for being a carpenter, but this trade was simply not considered on par with the Pharisees of the day. The leaders of the congregation illustrated this in Mark 6:3: “‘Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” They took offense because they did not see Jesus as a teacher or an equal, but rather as a young upstart.

Yet, while He was honing His craft as a carpenter, He was also preparing for His own ministry. He studied the Scriptures and quoted the prophets and books of the Old Testament on many occasions. Even as He was dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus quoted a portion of Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus learned at the Father’s side and lived His life by obeying the commandments and preparing for His public ministry.

He also was, and is: The Master, as we read in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” The supremacy of Jesus Christ is unmatched and forever will be. He is Lord and Master of the Creation, and our coming King of the New Jerusalem.

Consider now the role that Timothy played with the apostle Paul. Paul became a mentor to the younger man. He realized that Timothy had the calling from God and substance to become a minister of God’s Word and began to train him for what lay ahead. We see this in 2 Timothy 3:10-12: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”

Life entails apprenticeships in many ways. I could not have been a city manager without first serving as a deputy for many years and learning the intricacies of leading a city. Doctors and lawyers train for years prior to handling cases of their own.

King David realized that his son Solomon was not quite prepared for leadership in 1 Chronicles 29:1: “Then King David said to the whole assembly: ‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.” David was praying for and preparing to hand the kingdom to his son Solomon. He had trained Solomon for leadership, but now trusted that God Himself would finish the task.

We can also go back to the time of Moses when God instructed Moses to take on Joshua as an apprentice. We see this described in Numbers 27:18-21: “So the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.’”

In our physical world, an apprenticeship typically involves our work life or vocation. In the more important spiritual sense, becoming an apprentice with God and Jesus Christ is more akin to an enduring discipleship with Jesus. We must show up for this training and take our responsibilities seriously. There will always be the distractions of work, family, and hobbies, but think of this opportunity to train under the very best Master ever—not simply once in a lifetime, but forever!

In 1901, Guillermo Marconi sent the first wireless telegraphy message from his base at Poldhu on the Cornish Coast in the UK, to a station at Newfoundland in North America. To say the message was short and sweet was an understatement. Marconi received the single letter, S, sent by Morse telegraphy. The age of transatlantic wireless communication had begun, and like all new technologies, the opportunity for misuse had also commenced. The friction between the still new telephonic technology, and space telegraphy was robust throughout the mid-1800’s, with luminaries of the age arguing the superiority of each.

The development of both telephone and telegraph led to strange attempts to use the devices to communicate with those who have died. This unusual interest was stimulated in part by the odd noise on the wires, or wireless that resulted from electromagnetic signals that some during that era mistook for conversations and signals from beyond the veil of the living. Nonsense, of course, yet rather than seeking God, people of the day devoted their time and money to such evil and demonic pursuits.

Interestingly, the common, and internationally agreed-upon telegraphic signal for crisis or emergency was three dots, followed by three longer dashes, and then three dots once again. These dots and dashes translated into what we came to know as SOS—which was designated around the globe as: Save Our Souls. This was the standard for emergency signals from the 1912 Titanic tragedy, all the way to 1999 when a new global maritime signal convention was put in place.

Many nominal Christians waste time on the search for signals and signs from God. Like the sounds on the telegraph system, people see the hand of God in many strange things. As true Christians however, we have the penultimate sign and promise that we can rely on as we consider Luke 2:12: “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” These simple words are reinforced in Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

These words in the Gospel according to Luke and the Book of Isaiah are familiar to many, but for true Christians, they evoke emotion and confidence in God’s promise of a boundless future and the coming Kingdom of God. In these verses, God made it clear that He loves us and sent His Son to be our Savior. This should result in our having great confidence that God will fulfill His promises and cause each of us to reciprocate with our obedience and faithfulness.

There is a popular post circulating on social media that pictures three young women enjoying coffee together at an outdoor cafe. The post makes the ridiculous suggestion that if you squint at the photo, you will see the face of Jesus Christ in the space between girls. People from various religions and backgrounds around the world have posted as to how moved they were by this. This sort of foolishness is just what Satan would like to have us focus on and become distracted by. God has no need for ridiculous signs, and this sort of thing is tantamount to idol worship.

In the Old Testament, as God was leading Moses and the Israelites out of captivity, he worked through Moses to care for His people and had chosen Moses to deliver them from the Egyptians. No further signs or signals were necessary, though the people eventually chose evil and sin by turning to symbols and idols to comfort them in the wilderness.

Imagine being a disciple during Christ’s ministry on earth. To walk beside the Son of God each day, and to witness miracles. Still, in the case of the apostle Thomas, he sought one more sign that this indeed was the risen Christ standing before him.

Although we do not see God directly in our daily lives, if He has called us, we can be certain that He is there, even when, or perhaps especially when the situation we may be in is tough.Consider Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

We know that He is there with us because He tells us so in Scripture. We can read many instances in the Bible that begin as follows: This shall be a sign to you. In the case of Jeremiah 44, we read of God’s anger towards those Jews living in Egypt who were worshiping idols and other false Gods. God makes it crystal clear that there is a penalty for such behavior and disobedience to His commandments. He tells His people that their calamity shall be a sign to them of His righteous anger towards them.

Notice the account of this in Jeremiah 44:29: “And this shall be a sign to you, says the LORD, ‘that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for adversity.”Now, we can also signal our intentions to God. Consider Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”This Scripture illustrates a true Christian’s belief that God’s Word should be the light in our lives. However, the best way to affirm this is to obey Him. The Greek word for obey translates to hearing under authority, or, to listen attentively, and to heed. As Jesus Christ said to His apostles in John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

So let those of us in God’s true Church focus on sending clear signals to God the Father and His Son, by praying, greeting them each morning and each night, and by obeying and repenting when we fail. God assures us that if we do this, we can have a place in His coming Kingdom.