Looking the Other Way

I was reading through an article the other day which made me start thinking about just where my priorities really are.

The Bible is full of “last days prophecies”, some of which have come to pass, and some which have not. I’d like to share a few of these with you and see if you come to the same conclusion that I did.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. II Peter 2:1-2 Nowadays, you often run into folks who reject some parts of the Bible (or misinterpret it) because of what they heard a false teacher say.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 Today, portions or all of the Bible have been translated into over 2,400 languages and dialects covering over 90% of the world’s population. TV and the internet is available to almost anyone who has electricity. Travel is fast. You can be on the other side of the world in a matter of hours. Missionaries cover most of the globe.

While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. I Thessalonians 5:3 The global cry for peace is becoming stronger as each year passes.

There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11 Famines are common. According the United Nations, an estimated 854 million people went hungry in 2006.

An oracle concerning Damascus: “See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. Isaiah 17:1 The saber rattling between Syria and Israel has been building for years now, its just a matter of time before something happens.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7 The Bible tells us not to be alarmed or afraid here. That these are warnings and the end of the world is still to come.

So what are we to do then? When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28 Even as turmoil goes on all around us, we are to stand and look up knowing our Savior and the start of eternity with Him is close at hand. The “day of the Lord” is meaningful in two ways; for sinners it will be a day of condemnation to eternal torment. For believers, deliverance through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus.

Knowing then, that our life here on earth “is but a mist”, and our eternity in heaven is sealed, shouldn’t we be focused on living godly, Christ centered lives?

Quoted from the article:

“The day of the Lord should be a truth that radically changes the Christian’s lifestyle. Knowing that the material world will vanish, we should not place too much value on material things. Knowing that the Word of God will never pass away, we should find it of infinite, eternal, value. And knowing that undue indulgence of earthly pleasures will dull our sensitivity to the time of His return should motivate us to live a disciplined life, a life marked by self-control, not self-indulgence. Neither should we worry or be anxious about the things of this life, knowing that this concern will also hinder our prayers and watchfulness.

Let us live our lives in the light of this reality—that Jesus Christ is to return to the earth to judge the wicked, and to bring deliverance to His saints. Let us live as though the material world is a vapor, and the unseen world (including the Word of God) is our only certainty.”

Bob Deffinbaugh, The Gospel of the Gentiles—article 67 Copyright ©1996-2006 Biblical Studies Press, reprinted with permission from www.bible.org.

Our time on earth is getting shorter. We should then, be about spreading the gospel to a lost and condemned world, not only in other countries, but in our own back yard.

Vertical focus—not horizontal!

Exhorting One Another

Exhorting one another - Exhort means “to aid, help, comfort, encourage, and beseech.” In the world we live in with all its temptations and distractions to divert and pull us from our calling (1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ) every one of us needs exhortation to strive harder to stand firm.

The bible has a lot to say about this command. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24,25 How much of our conversations with each other engage mutual spiritual encouragement.? And to pursue holiness so others will see Christ in us and be drawn to Him. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 Strong advise here on our relationships with non-believers around us.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We are bound (through His death) to stir up, and to strengthen and encourage one another.

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12,13 Powerful advise on our relationships with fellow believers around us. This verse indicates that our relationships should be such that we know each other intimately. This would take a lot of dedication, and work on both parties part, considering how often the majority of us so not see each other on a daily bases.

“Hang in there!” “Hold fast!” “Have you tried praying about that?” “Have you sought the advice or counsel of this person?” “Do you think it would help for you to do this or that thing?” “I had a problem like that one time.” By doing this, we begin to share our resources and experiences, and there is wisdom, God says, in a multitude of counselors. It cannot help but build people up, and our fellowship becomes stronger as we share one another’s failures, struggles, pains, hopes, and victories. The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21Your words have an impact on others!

Finally, we are to encourage each other to look forward in a vertical manner to our final destination or journey’s end. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Lest we not forget who essentially brings us to our calling. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24

Praise God. Vertical focus-not horizontal!!

My ______ Comes From You

Have you ever thought exactly just how much we really do on our own, here on earth? Insert the following words into the blank spot in this sentence.

Praise you Lord, my ________________ comes from you.

Advocacy - My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. I John 2:1

Discernment - I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. Psalm 119:125

Protection - He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2: 7,8 - For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:25

Hope - Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20

Salvation - After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God,  who sits on the throne,  and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9,10

Provision - If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:30-33

Encouragement - For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Sustenance - Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4-The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3

Some day soon, we will be with Him who sits on the throne. “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor  and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Revelation 7:12

Until then……..vertical focus, not horizontal!!