Despite manβs natural tendency to boast, history has proved again and again that he is a failure, in deep need of God and His grace.
The Age of Innocence closed with man rebelling against his Creator and becoming a fallen, sinful creature (Rom.Β 5:12).
The Age of Conscience opened with one murder (Gen. 4:8) and before another age was ushered in βthe earth was filled with violenceβ (Gen.Β 6:11).
Then came Human Government, but the worldβs first ruler made a spectacle of himself through drunkenness (Gen.Β 9:20,21). Little wonder we soon find the race intoxicated with its own importance so that God had to confuse their language at Babel (Gen. 11:4,7,8).
The Age of Promise came next, with Abraham failing to enter the promised land through unbelief (Gen. 11:31-12:3). It closed with Israel, his seed, failing to enter the promised land through unbelief (Heb.Β 3:19).
The Age of Law began with Israel worshipping a golden calf before Moses had even gotten down from Sinai. Little wonder it ended with the rejection of Christ.
The Age of Grace commenced with the Apostle Paul, Godβs ambassador of love and grace, persecuted and imprisoned (Eph.Β 6:20). This showed manβs attitude toward God and His grace. It will be brought to a close as man continues persistently to go on in his sin rather than accept redeeming grace through Christ (II Cor. 4:4; II Tim. 3:1-5).
The Kingdom of Christ, which is to follow the present age, will begin with our Lord rebuking strong nations (Micah 4:3) and will close with multitudes, who for a time had rendered enforced obedience, following Satan (Rev. 20:7-9).
How all this demonstrates manβs need of God and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ! βAll have sinnedβ (Rom.Β 3:23) but, thank God: βWhosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be savedβ (Rom.Β 10:13). Though surrounded by sin and rebellion, multitudes down through history have called and have been saved. source
