I have heard and spoken to so many people lately who are hurting physically, emotionally, financially. Trauma "ripping" throughout the earth as we hear of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean, tragic flash flooding in Arkansas which has so far, taken the lives of at least 18 people, and the earth continues to rumble. My neighbors experiencing difficulties in getting enough work to keep their heads above water (some in my own family as well). And the pain continues.
Everyone has a story of hurt and pain, emotional "setbacks" in life and devastation everywhere you look. Our government seems to be at a "loss" as to how to even respond to the disasters throughout our own nation, and that doesn't even take into consideration the two wars we are waging against other nations, with threats of others to come.
So I finally got up again with the pain in my arm as I could hear God directing me to Mark 13:5-13 where Jesus had a lot to say about "things to come." Here is some of it beginning in verse 5: "See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, I am He and will mislead many. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. And when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved."
Boy, that's a lot to swallow, isn't it? I just felt pelted as the result of some severe arm pain and my wife's illness and here is what God was saying to me as I tossed around in the bed trying to get to sleep.
So what does this have to do with my inability to sleep tonight? Well, a lot, I believe. We are all, throughout the world, experiencing all of these different difficulties (not to mention millions of gallons of oil washing up on our pristine shores in the Gulf). We are hurting as a nation, becoming weaker as our leaders, who seem to lack experience, seeming to continue to run "head on" into block walls with the disasters we are facing today.
And I wonder, "am I the only one looking at these things as Biblical Events in America? Is there anyone else seeing what I believe I see being fulfilled through scripture today? You know, I've said this before, but I truly believe that the Lord is so close to His triumphant return to scoop His people up out of this world that sometimes it feels like "I can feel the gentle touch of angel wings as they whisk past my cheeks." Does that sound odd. I realize it is just a "saying" but really, do any of you feel within your heart, that Jesus is standing at the side of His "steed" waiting for the command from the Father Himself, to give the final command to Christ to jump on His horse and begin the process?
How much more can families take before they begin to act "less than rational" over the loss of most everything in life? How much more pain and suffering are we to bare before our Lord frees us from this ultimate devastation on the earth? How do you feel about these things? Do they frighten you? Or are you excited to see that His return could be at hand at just any moment?
And with those feelings, are you ready to meet the Lord, face to face? A pastor friend use to make reference to whether or not we have "made our reservations" for the Great Second Coming of Christ! And one of the last things that Jesus says to His disciples is "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." Are we, each one of us, doing our share to proclaim these "things to come?"
Well, these are merely thoughts that God gave me in the middle of a painful night of trying simply to get some rest. Obviously it was not quite time for me to sleep. In fact, I find myself beginning to fade as I complete these sentences.
Are you ready? Are you dedicated to Him? Are you willing to do "whatever it takes" for the kingdom of God? When first diagnosed with my disease, my own personal slogan became "It Is What It It...Now Whut?" Are you ready to stand before God and say, "Now Whut, Lord?" (btw, I know "whut" is spelled wrong but it gets more attention that way).
Jesus is preparing to return for His Bride, the Church, whether you are ready or not. So, I simply ask, "Are You Ready?"
Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment