We are at one of those moments in history... a time of choosing; a time of direction. Pressures from all sides are culminating rapidly, dividing people, forcing decisions to be made about where we stand on issues. The issues are not easy ones without consequence either. It is costing us friendships. It is costing us jobs and businesses. It is costing us our children. It is costing us our freedom. It may even cost us our lives.
The rapidity with which events have taken place is staggering. Even the seemingly simplest of things and the most minute details are being changed and challenged. The forces of darkness are in full stride and none of us is safe from its influence. We have lived and are living through a global revolution. We could not have even imagined the depths that this world has fallen into before the turn of the century. Some of us were told, but still the realization is mind boggling.
For those of us who have read and studied our Bibles, and have believed on Jesus Christ and been indwelt with the Holy Spirit; We knew this day was to come. While of that day and hour knows no man, only out Father in Heaven, Jesus tells us that we can know that the season is nigh. The prophets have told us about what these days would be like. We thought we understood. I think our understanding has grown a lot deeper with just seeing the inklings and beginnings of what is about to transpire.
Despite all the things going on, from fears about the end of our planet due to CO2, down to having even the tiniest little aspect of our lives regulated, to evil men who plot the takeover of the planet. the choices really boil down to the same ones that all men have had to deal with. Is God real? The attacks run from man made theories that contradict the very first pages of scripture to threats of having heads chopped of for refusing to bow down to false Gods.
The pressures are put on us mentally with the constant barage of propaganda to deny Gods ways in favor of mans from the media, education, science, government, foreign threats. The pressures are put on through our success, and our wealth, posessions, that are all threatened if we don't do and think as we are told. The pressures come physically as well, through threats of loss of freedoms and/or loss of life. They will take our children away from us if it is deemed we are not raising them as the state demands. We are not that far away from being rounded up in Box cars to be sent to camps.
All of this really puts an exclamation point on what Paul says about enduring to the end. It is not easy, and all of this is sorting folks out. We are finding out who is falling by the wayside, or are in rocky ground. We are and will be seeing whose foundations are built on the sand or on the rock. We will see who sticks to the good when it is called evil. The great falling away is going to and is coming about as these kinds of pressures increase.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
We have a hope though that gives us the strength to carry on and to endure unto the end. That hope is the promise of what is to come, our eternal home with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God the Father for eternity in perfection. We are heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Desppite what we see going on and the feelings we get to complain and grumble about all of it, we know that what is happening must come to pass and we know in our hearts that our redemption draweth nigh and our deliverance is soon in coming.
Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment