Borrowed time. I think that just about sums up my thoughts for this year. After all had been said and done, in His mercy, God gave the world seven more days of grace, giving man space to repent of his wickedness and opportunity to escape the coming judgement. Our God is definitely the God of second chances. But men did not repent. They were warned by God through the preaching of Noah for over 120 years (2nd Peter 2:5), and fully knowing what judgement they would face, men chose to go on in their sins. And they perished... 

Job 22:15-17
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

A lot is taking place in the world today in relation to end time prophecy. 2007 saw record-breaking extreme weather on a global scale, while 2008 will be remembered for one of the greatest financial depressions the world has ever seen. The Middle East peace process continues apace, as does the Iranian nuclear crisis. We witnessed the official launch of the Union for the Mediterranean, and  Russian interest in the Mediterranean is also on the increase. 2008 saw one of the most widely publicized predictions to date of a UFO apparition, which inevitably failed to materialize. It was also the year in which prominent theologians went out of their way to accommodate the unbiblical notion of the existence of extraterrestrial life forms. 2008 saw the first asteroid discovered to be on an immanent collision course with Earth, and later in the year, the first major meteorite strike to be caught on film as it happened. We saw the first fossil proof that mankind walked with dinosaurs. And the apostolic-prophetic movement launched its Florida Outpouring, which saw elderly women getting kicked in the face, cancerous men kneed in the stomach and bizarre claims of female angels and trips to the third heaven. It's been a strange year. The shape of things to come, you might say.

There are some who claim that we are now nearing the middle of Daniel's seventieth week. But there is no peace treaty, no Antichrist reigning, no Jewish Temple and no sacrificial system. If 2010 was the midpoint of man's final seven years, then that would leave only 12 months at the most by which all these things must be in place. It's not going to happen that quickly. Are we nearing the end? I think the signs of the times would indicate that. Perhaps God in His mercy has given the world another seven days in which to repent. What will 2009 have in store? I don't know. None of us are guaranteed to see tomorrow's light. That's why it is important to be ready now. Jesus Christ is coming back again. One thing I was meditating on during the New Year. In relation to His coming, Christ said this...

Luke 12:35-38
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

The second and third watches are in the middle of the night. The hour is late and we need to be found watching. When Christ comes, will you be ready? Or will you be asleep? Are you ready to meet God? Have you had your sins forgiven? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).