Sharing Scripture for April 25 – May 1, 2021

This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion questions in a relational pattern designed to build fellowship and spiritual reflection.

For use: April 25, 2021

Texts: Genesis 15:1-3; Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 22:1-5; 1 Peter 2:9; Genesis 11:4; Genesis 12:2

Blindfolded. Surrounded by armed captors. Bruised and beaten almost beyond recognition. What had started as a trip to Syria to further a journalistic career quickly enveloped in darkness when American Austin Tice was abducted by the Syrian government during his trip to Damascus. That was in 2012.

Although nine years have passed, many still hold out hope for Tice’s safe return, especially since his release was being sought as recently as the closing days of President Donald J. Trump’s administration. And American efforts haven’t seemed to cease.

“We are calling on you at the outset of your administration to use your full capabilities to secure Austin’s long overdue release,” 80 members of the United States Congress penned in a letter to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

The New York Times reports that the Biden administration is “committed to finding and rescuing Mr. Tice,” and that successfully negotiating his release is its top priority. However, securing Tice will be quite the feat, as former President Trump, the Russian government, a Hollywood actor, and even the Vatican have been thus far unsuccessful in bringing the journalist home.

In a world dominated by human reason and to be “like God” or finding the god within ourselves as described in Genesis 3:4-6, only darkness can reign. Take the builders of the Tower of Babel. As we see in Genesis 11, they attempted to create their own “holy” nation by limited human design and understanding. By seeking “light” they found only confusion and spiritual delusion.

Unfortunately, their exploits have been followed in some shape or form by every nation in Earth’s history. And no matter how hard we try to break the bonds imposed by these governments and kingdoms, we can never fully escape.

There can only be one Solution. And that Solution is Jesus Christ, who came to fulfill the covenant promise and be the Light of the world.

Paul says, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:9, that God has designed for those who love the Lord marvelous things beyond the scope of human comprehension. We will reign with God in a new, light-filled kingdom created by God’s omnipotent design. Together we will be a truly holy nation. This claim is further supported in 1 Peter 2:9 and in prophecy described in Revelation 22:1-5.

Like Tice, by human devices we cannot escape the things shackling us to the widespread results of sin on this earth. However, we can have the hope that the true Hero will bring us into a sinless kingdom. The Light will come, we’ll rip off the blindfolds, and will no longer be hostages to a sin-ridden world.

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