I haven't posted for a while because I don't want to get political on this blog, Lord knows recently that wouldn't have been hard for the most non political of people. It's pretty obvious this year the world has been turned upside down.
“Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world;” Luke 21:26 AMP
Jesus warned us that we would see days that in other translations say 'Men's hearts failing for fear'. It doesn't take long now to see people are living in fear everywhere.
But I think I know why so many Christian hearts are failing for fear and it's back to the forgotten message - the return of Jesus Christ.
I was very blessed, although I didn't realize it at the time, that at 12 years old my pastor preached an 8 week series on the Second Coming and End Times Prophecy. It was a little scary but now I am thankful because that is teaching I have carried with me into adulthood. I often wonder now how many of our 12 year old in church even know that Jesus promised to come back because it is so rarely preached or even mentioned.
““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.””
John 14:1-4 NKJV
These are Jesus' own words. He has gone to prepare a place for us and He's coming back to get us! Now why are we letting current events put fear in our hearts?
I've started reading the final chapters of Revelations to my boys, the part about the new Heaven and new Earth. I want them to know what lies ahead for us. Growing up Keith Green's music was played constantly in our house. One song became my favorite especially when I would get scared and need reminding, it's called I can't wait to get to Heaven'. On the version we listened to Keith Green always said if God made this earth in 6 days and He's been up there in Heaven working for 2000 years then this is like living in a garbage can.' Every time I see the most beautiful moments on this planet I remember that it's just a vague hint of what's to come.
When Pastors stop talking about the second coming and start preaching 10 steps to a healthier life they changed the focus of the race. No longer were the people cheering the runners on to the finishing line but now they were cheering on their running style, their running shoes, their fashinable clothing, the weather. So now we have a group of marathon runner wondering 'Man are these the right shoes, did I lace them right, is that a rain cloud, ok if I sprint harder I'll get around this corner quicker.' Then fear takes hold 'that is a rain cloud. Man how do I run in the rain, I can't run and hold an umbrella. I didn't train for rain! What am I going to do?' And they collapse in a heap and never realized that the finish line was around the next bend. Because no one shouted 'You can do this - keep that finishing line in mind!'
And that's the church today in my opinion. And I'm just as guilty. They want to change our core beliefs and every Christian starts looking for the umbrella and churches have legal meetings to figure out what to do and Pastors are afraid they will end up in jail if they preach the unpopular truth of the Bible.
I used to be heavily into politics and the news. But finally one day God got me to turn it off. I read headlines but even that I think it's time to stop. He reminded me of all the teaching as a child and how these things have to happen in order for him to return.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6 AMP
I highlighted the key part there - must take place! So if these things that put fear in us (little side note as I was typing the word 'us' my autocorrect kept changing it to 'U.S.') should actually be getting us excited because it means we are a day closer to His return.
Every generation has thought this. And I'm sure if we went back to the 1700s or 1800s those Christians would look at our time and say 'oh yeah that's you guys!'. Will it be this year? I don't know but I hope it is.
Sunday 13th September marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) more specifically the beginning of The Year of Jubilee. This occurs every 50th New Year and has significant meaning. Leviticus 25 explains it in detail but it is, in my mind, God hitting the reset button a time of restoration.
There are other things that make me excited about the spiritual significance of this year but I wouldn't go into them now. I would encourage you to read your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to open the scriptures to you.
The Parable of the Fig Tree is very significant.
“And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near. Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
Luke 21:29-33 AMP
Now I don't write all this to scare you but to turn your focus from your storm to the finish line. You see all those issues disappear in the light of His return. In an instant we will hear a trumpet sound and we will see our Saviour.
One of the biggest deception in churches isn't false teaching or worldly practices, that all on the leadership and the preachers. The deception is all of us sitting there on Sunday with our worries and our busy lives and our plans weighing us down. Hell must be laughing at us! Because the one thing Jesus told us to do was WATCH FOR HIS RETURN!!!
“But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 AMP
I'm the first to hang my head in shame about this. Man have I let this life consume me. I've put my problems before others. But the awesome part is there is still time, it may only be seconds, it may be decades but we have time. We can pray our enemies into Heaven. We can help our fallen marathon runner companion to their feet and remind them your shoes don't matter and if it rains the Holy Spirit will strengthen us because we are almost at the finish line so let's finish this race well.
I'm thankful to my dearest friends that have stood shoulder to shoulder with me this year. I don't want to stop but I want the focus to be on us standing shoulder to shoulder for the Kingdom of God not against our problems. He said if we seek His kingdom first He'll add all these things to us. So enough worrying about those things that's His job. Ours is to watch for His return and pray.
Selah have a song where the chorus says 'Heaven find me on my knees.' That is my prayer Lord when You sound the trumpet may I be on my knees waiting for You. May I be praying mercy for those that don't know You yet. And when the great gathering to You happens may all my people be there and may those that have hurt and despitefully used me be there too. Because all those hurts and grudges I hold against people aren't bad enough to condemn anyone to an eternity separated from God.
There were 10 Virgins Jesus told us about and only 5 were ready with filled oil lamps. Don't let life or laziness stop you from being ready. And don't let fear paralyze you. A wonderful pastor in Hawaii I love said recently he's a prepper, a Rapture Prepper. I want to be one too.
So let them take our Bibles, our prayer, change the laws, call us bigots and persecute us - 'when these things being to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh' Luke 21:28 NKJV
