What now?

How long have we been collectively napping, as a nation, as a faith, as individuals?  Plodding along on that widely cut, well-lit boulevard, chattel headed to the drowning promises of abandon.  Analyzing our apparent capacity to ignore the Holy Spirit’s prompting and prophesied, seasonal signals and wonders, we are left assuming that only crisis will wake us from slumber.  Will the next great indicator be ignored as well?  What will happen for Christians, who now seem willing to overlook; pestilence, war, self-idolatry, demon worship and eroding foundations?  How will Christians handle the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple, soon to rise?  Will the enemy provide adequate excuse for this major Biblical occurrence, most certainly he will?

Will it take Israel’s decimation of its enemies, the desolation of Damascus and Southern Iran?  When will it become clear to Christians that the Bible is true, that it has always been and remains the inerrant word of Almighty God?  The Muslims believe,. why don’t we?  Just recently they assassinated the head of the Temple Rebuilding Group in Israel, for they understand that if the Temple is rebuilt this is an unavoidable sign of the Glorious Appearing.  Where does this leave Christians?  Do we continue on our march to self interest, refusing, denying and continually ignoring the Lord’s prompting to do the work while there is still remaining light?  What will light the fire in our spirits, what circumstance would be of sufficient impact to prompt us that, “now is the time at which we can no longer ignore our duty to God”?  Will it take nuclear conflict, global pandemic, one world government, one world currency, a horrific demonic figure adorned as a saint?  These things are most certainly not far off.  Or perhaps will it take a rapture of the faithful, leaving those who thought they believed at the mercy of the sudden realization that Jesus had been speaking to them when he said, Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  Matthew 7:21-23.

I cry out to You, Oh Lord, my Holy God for those who are not yet convinced of Your Coming.  Father, I was once in their position and You opened my eyes and my heart to the Truth of Your Word.  Father, please wake them from slumber, call them to be washed in Your Word, so that they may enter the labor for harvest while light remains.  Forgive me for my laziness in telling everyone about those things which certainly and shortly come to pass.  I love You and I love them.  Please awake their hearts.  In Jesus’ Name.

The primed pump

As Autumn begins to show its color, I am again reminded, that seasonal changes are always preceded by a palpable cooling/warming wind.  They are never the abrupt surprise we often hear in dramatic exclamation.  Their coming is recognizable well in advance of an icy or sweltering noon.  I know so many unbelievers who have come to me with questions regarding the apparent Earthly and Heavenly signs which recently have become so discernibly frequent.  It is always a spirited conversation as together we recall many warnings that I gone relatively unnoticed, but were each more ominous in declaration than those previous.

False teachers, pestilence, wars and rumors of the same, extreme self-concern, apostasy of the church, increased proclivity to wickedness and un-restrained behavior, earthquakes, natural occurrences, episodic chemistry both within Israel and Biblical prophesied Middle Eastern Nations, economic inconsistency, rapid travel to and fro, increasing access to knowledge are all notable to believers.  For a refresher spend a moment and read the 2Timothy 3-4, scan through the book of Daniel, Isaiah or Ezekiel and you will soon see the truth in our present epoch.

However the point or intention of this passage is to remind us that we heard the whispers, predictions, warnings, signals and possibilities of this time in history, yet in our own self interest chose not to attend.  This inclination to worldly attachment and interest is no longer just a simple obstacle to faithful maturation, but now is itself a blindfold to preparation for the Lord’s imminent arrival.  It is all well and good to see the coming storm, even telling others to be cautious, but only those who move their families to the safety of a waiting basement where goods and clean water have been stored will escape its formidable wrath.

This is an example, for although good physical preparation may in fact include material supplies, preparation for Christians is done in the heart and mind.  Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and savior having confessed and turned away from your sin (repented)?  Have you abided in Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify you, remaking you in God’s Image?  Have you believed in the Holy Word of God and walked in such a way that demonstrated your obedient love for God through adherence to His commands?

The stakes in these times are immeasurable.  Ask yourself, if I am wrong in my Biblical assertions how does it damage you to prepare for the Lord’s arrival?  Then ask yourself, if I am right in all that I have warned you, what then is the Price of ignoring or disbelieving my heraldry?  Do you know what will happen here, on Earth, during the tribulation period?  Do you know what happens to believers during that time?  Do you know the glorious ending to the triumphant Plan of Almighty God?  If you don’t know the end you are in for a wonderful surprise as you learn of God’s victory and eternity spent with Him, without sin, war and death.   Don’t you want to believe in what you know instead of “kind of” knowing what you believe?

Do nothing because I recommend it.  My words only beseech you lovingly to scour the Bible looking for truth, asking God for the guiding counsel, to teach and reveal all the evidence necessary to aligning your heart with the Holy Spirit.  Fill your lamp with oil in preparation for a swift night travel, as necessary.  Heed the signs of the coming season so that you are not surprised or dismayed at its arrival.  I believe God’s Will to be Holy, Righteous and True.  I believe that nothing but the Blood of Jesus Christ may free us from the prison of our sin.  I believe that the Holy Spirit lives within each believer Guiding, Teaching, Directing, Loving and Hoping we each are prepared for those things that shall and must come.  I pray for your health, wealth and the same for your families this and each day until the Lord Jesus arrives, because after that day our worries shall be made nil, and our prayers delivered face to face with the Lord.