DAY 48 – WAITING FOR PENTECOST

THE WORLD’S SAD SITUATION

Romans 12:9 (Berean Study Bible)

Love must be sincere.  Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 

That is a pretty strong edict!  We live in a world that currently courts evil – embraces it – and calls it good. 

It is heartbreaking that it is so, but it was prophesied as being what will happen before metered time ends – and the meter is running out….

I should be gloriously happy for my eternal future –  but the anticipated joy is tinged with sadness.  The root of the sadness comes for all those who refuse God’s message of love, those who do not cling to what is truly good.  God alone is truly good!  He and he alone is the plumb line for GOOD.  Good is parametered by him.  Without Him we have nothing – eternally.  That’s huge! 

The world is on a slippery slope leading to certain destruction – and seems not to care!

Jesus warned what would come at the end of time – and we are there. 

I am grateful for the promises we can hold on to:

Matthew 28:20 ESV

I am with you always, to the end of the age. 

Romans 8:38-39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

John 16:33 ESV

“…I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Lord, have mercy!  Peel away the scales from the eyes of all who seek Truth.  The search begins and ends with YOU! 

DAY 37 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

End Times

We’re here – in the End Times, because Jesus’ coming was the transition that marked the beginning of that period of time in human history – but what we find more compelling in our current facet of that journey is the incredible fulfillment of prophecies that Jesus said would lead up to His Second Coming.  There is so much information that we are provided – and yet so much we are not meant to know….   What we do know is that God has it all in His hands, and we can trust Him.  My view has to be focused into eternity – not on the temporal.  Easily said.  More challenging to do. 

When I face times of challenge I know He alone is the answer.  He alone is my defender.  He alone is whom I am ultimately accountable to – but He establishes hierarchies I am instructed to honor.  And I will….

There is a poem my dad quoted often, written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.  It has been very present on my mind through my time of recent distress:

One ship sails east, another west

By the self-same winds that blow

‘Tis the set of the sails and not the gale

That determines the way they go.

Like the winds of the sea are the waves of fate

As we journey on through life

‘Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal

And not the calm nor strife.

(My apologies to Ella if either my dad or I misremembered the wording.)

As we head into the brewing storms – whether the final events of history or the ones brewing to try to distract and divert us – we need to remember the only One who can calm the storm – or calm us in it!

Lord, help me keep my sail set toward You!  Thank you for bearing our sorrows with us and calming us in the storm!  My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength…thank You!

DETOUR FOR TODAY: End Times

The pictures I have attached today are from the beautiful church in Christchurch, New Zealand. I took these photos when we visited New Zealand in 2007. The tower of this church crumbled in the recent earthquake and the church sustained massive damage, as did many other structures.

I've had a huge problem choosing what to write about. Consequently I've avoided writing. I have so many memories of the trip to Israel - and I promised I would write about them, so I have to keep that promise. But there are so many other layers. In Sunday School Class we are studying the book of Revelation. In my personal devotions I am reading the book of Isaiah. Both propel my thoughts to the end of time - and I believe we are there. The events in the middle east, with governments crumpling at an alarming rate - and other events in the world, including the recent earthquake in New Zealand inform my thinking and my focus.

In the last days there will be wars and rumors of wars. Earthquakes in diverse places. Calamity. We're there! We have always had wars and earthquakes and famines - but not at the alarming rate they are occurring in our time. For example, I googled 'earthquakes' not too long ago, and the increase in the number and the severity is staggering. And that is just one aspect of the troubles prophesied for the end times.

Matthew 24:3-8 NIV
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 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. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Mark 13 and Luke 21 record the same message.

So - back to my problem. It is hard to know what to write about!

My dad sincerely believed that he would live to see Jesus' return. Now I find myself believing the same. My focus in life has been to live so that when He came for me I'd be ready. After all, death is a reality of life - and when I die I want to go be with the Lord - so rather than be concerned about the 'Second Coming' of the Messiah, my focus was on living life intentionally in response to God's love. My touchstone is 9/11. I thought then Jesus might be retuning imminently - and what God so clearly spoke to me then was, 'Occupy until I come. Keep on keeping on.' The message still fits - but I want to be even more intentional in my journey, which includes sharing truth with others as God calls me to do. One of those salient truths is that the One who is Truth is likely to be returning very, very soon.

I was taught a lot of wrong information about prophecy in my childhood and youth by good people who didn't have a clue what they were talking about and misinterpreted God's Word. I don't want to be guilty of that failure. What I do know is that in retrospect we do see clearly, and the proof of a prophecy is in its coming true. I do know that everything God says in the Bible will happen - in His way, in His time. I don't pretend to have an inside track on exactly what all of it means, but I do know God's promises are true, and that He is faithful, and all that He has determined will come to pass.

My responsibility is to be obedient. To follow Him. To love. To pray. To share His love with others.

The time is short. Now is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Right at this very moment there is a beautiful rainbow outside my window. The rainbow was a reminder of God's promise that He would never again destroy the earth with water as He did with the flood in Noah's time. His Word warns us of the signs of the times before Jesus' return. I was reading Isaiah as things went topsy-turvy in Egypt. Suddenly chapter 19 was like reading today's news.

My heart is heavy for the falling away that is prophesied for the end times. It is happening all around us.

The book of 2nd Timothy is very specific about the changes that will be prevalent at the end of time.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

The Bible tells us that when we see all of the signs that were prophesied occurring we are to 'look up for our redemption draws nigh.' I do know that my Redeemer lives, and that He is absolutely faithful - but the prospect of facing all that has to occur before He comes is still unnerving - and can be frightening to think about. The future is exciting and terrifying. The bottom line is that I trust Him.

Postscripts about my pictures for today:
There have been many devastating earthquakes over the past several years - but the earthquake in New Zealand is personal for me because I've been there. I have friends there. I saw what it was, and the photos of what occurred are graphic because of that.

Ultimately, as is evident with the ruins in Israel - or the ruins in Christchurch - it isn't about the structures but about the people. Then, and now. The real question for all of us is: What will we do with Jesus Christ? Isa al Masih? Yeshua ha Meshiach? Yesu? Jesu Christo? He makes himself known to each people in their own language. He is fully human - but also fully God. He came once and He will come again. I feel the brevity of time.

A LESSON FROM GOD

I learned something this week! It was an Aha! moment. In Sunday School Class we are studying the Bible with the focus of seeing where we are right now in the progression of the 'end times' - - with the intent of seeing events through that filter.

The first thrust of that focus has been centered in a comparison of the parables of Matthew 13 (the first 7 of Jesus' parables) and the seven churches of Revelation (Chapters 1-3).

It was in re-reading Matthew 13 yesterday that my Aha! moment occurred. The Parable of the Sower (as it is titled, and as Jesus references it) has previously struck me as being more appropriately 'The Parable of the Soils.' After all, it is the receptiveness of the different types of soil which represent the receptiveness of peoples' hearts and minds. I've even noted that my soil conditions can vary from one time to another in how much I absorb.

But - in reading this passage this week, what jumped out at me was that the sower sowed no matter what kind of soil it was.... He could have been very selective where he sowed. He wasn't. He cast the seed - did his part - without caution. It spoke volumes to me. Too often I have hid behind the 'Don't throw your pearls before swine' notion - - not wanting to speak up about my faith if it was within what I perceived to be a non-receptive group. I still believe that is something to be considered under the parameters of the leading of the Holy Spirit - - but what I realized yesterday was that I don't have to pre-determine the receptiveness of the soil.

Freely I have received. Freely I must give. It needs to come naturally out of my life and relationship to God, whether I am in a receptive situation or not.

So - with that lesson noted, last night I attended a 'party' I was invited to - and in visiting with 2 lovely ladies, it came up that I had left my former church. Our visit began with my affirmation of how cute the hat was that one lady was wearing. She's a 'red-hatter.' I said, When I was at my [former church] I wore my hats. I love my hats. But I could never do that where I am attending now. That's when she said "I didn't know you left." And I was asked why - so I explained about the theological differences that caused me to make that decision. I could tell one lady was very receptive to hearing what I had to say, and one was not. But - I was just reporting. So I continued.

I explained that God is the one who made the rules - not me - and that He was who had decided that Jesus was the only way to God. God couldn't save through any other way. He had already established that as the parameter. I wasn't being narrow. I didn't make the rule - - but I had to go by what the Bible teaches....

Seeing the one lady's pursed lips - - I knew she was holding back what she might have said - but, finally she said, "I would make a good Jew. I believe in God, but I don't believe in Jesus." And then she asked, "If Jesus was so important, why did they lose him for all those years?" She related that she used to even teach Sunday School, but one time she asked her pastor about events related to Jesus' birth - and he told her that the Christmas Story was just 'made up' - so she stopped believing and never believed again.

Our discussion progressed to my sharing a little of my personal testimony - - how I had walked away from my faith for a couple of years - - but in my moment of deepest hurt and despair when I was on the verge of miscarrying the baby I was carrying I cried out to God, "IF you are there, IF you exist, if you will save this baby, I will recommit my life to you." He did - and I did.

I told her, "It's O K if you don't believe. It's your choice. But - there are over 700 prophecies in the Old Testament that point to Jesus, and He fulfills every one of them." I also suggested that if she really wanted to know, God was up to the challenge....

I had no idea where she stood in her views or her faith when the conversation began. I wasn't trying to offend. It just came up naturally in conversation. I didn't try to determine the receptivity of the soil before casting seed.

I want so desperately to not offend - - but when I stand before the LORD who created heaven and earth, I don't want to offend HIM for not sharing His story!

I am a child of God's grace - - absolutely unworthy - - but washed in the blood of the lamb. When God sees me, he sees me through the filter of His Son - - through the blood Jesus shed as our sacrifice for sin. He took the punishment so we don't have to. What an amazing GOD - - that He would choose to come to earth - - God incarnate - - and take on human form, then die for the created to pay the penalty sin demands.

I believe in Jesus! What He did for me is unbelievable, unfathomable. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.... The promised Messiah came as a babe to Bethlehem. He came to draw men to Him. Proclaimed himself as God, not just another prophet as some religions promote. He died. He took his life up again in glorious resurrection. He lives! His kingdom is in mens' hearts. He is Savior! He is LORD!!!!

Last night after I came home from the party my human concern leaped straight to: I hope I didn't offend her. And - it's true. I would rather not offend - - but I realize that when we speak the truth - - even in love - - some people will be. But - - what if there is a tiny seed planted? What if in the interest of finding out someone goes to their Bible and starts reading? What if we can be a catalyst? One plants, one waters, one harvests. I may not get to see the end result - but I do need to be faithful in my little corner of the world.... It is my job to sow....

Lord, I know you love this lovely lady so much that you died for her. Reveal yourself to her. As I told her, I can't be her Holy Spirit!!! But you can!!!!

END TIMES PROPHECY: As it was in the days of Noah

As a follow-up from yesterday, I decided to use a net like they did in Bible days. Our VBS Director had a cheapie net made of lightweight string – and I cut it in half this morning and painstakingly tied the two halves together, then threaded a nylon rope through the outside edge. It took time. Time for the kingdom. If it creates a visual that God can use for planting His Word in a child’s mind it will be worth every minute….

Yesterday I got a lot accomplished for VBS – the house will wait until after VBS. I am a project person – and this is the project I am immersed in. I decided to put the pictures we catch while fishing on cut-outs in the shape of fish – well, whimsical whales, to be specific. The colors of the fish will match the colors of the beads that will reinforce and hopefully remind the kids later of what they learned. I’m excited for the kids – and joy-filled to have the privilege of going on the journey with them….

As for the End Times Prophecy Pursuit – it rattles around in my brain while I am doing the tasks that need to be accomplished in preparation for next week.

Sunday morning while I was showering God reminded me of two things: One – as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the last days; and number two – He warned them.

Genesis 6 tells us how it was in the days of Noah. Man’s wickedness on the earth was great. God regretted he had ever made man. Men of God had married daughters of men who did not honor God – and their children were not brought up to love and honor the Lord. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. In all of that sin and corruption, there was one man who was righteous – who lived according to God’s standard – who lived such a good life that he was blameless even among the people of his time…. Well done, Noah!

As for everyone else, the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. All the rest of the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God made a covenant with Noah. And Noah was obedient. He did everything precisely as God commanded him to do. Well done, Noah!

As it was in the days of Noah…people were preoccupied with what was going on in their lives to the exclusion of paying any attention to God. When Jesus talks about they were ‘marrying and giving in marriage’ – it wasn’t just about having weddings….it was about the reality that men who were supposed to know better – men who knew God – were drawn into a snare of following after beauty and sensual desire instead of keeping themselves pure by only marrying God-fearing women, and in that decision, they turned away from God, and were swept into lives that bred wickedness and corruption.

It only takes one generation of turning away.

God told Noah to build an ark. The people of his day thought he was a whack job. They mocked. They guffawed. They ridiculed. They certainly didn’t listen.

Can you blame them, really?

It had never rained before. Prior to that the earth was watered by dew. And now this bizarre over-500-year-old man was gathering a ton or so of wood to build something that floated on water – building it so far from any sea that he would never be able to get it to shore. No wonder they laughed.

Board by board, notch by notch, they watched Noah’s progress. He was sort of a public humiliation – that guy on the outside of town building some sort of ship….

They went about their business while he hewed out shapes according to the design God had given him, then coated it both inside and out with pitch, just as God had directed. It was a huge undertaking. It didn’t happen overnight!

As it was in the days of Noah…. God provided them a warning. If they had hearts inclined at all to the Lord, they would have asked Noah for wisdom, and God would have heard their heart’s plea – but their hearts were hardened against God.

As it was in the days of Noah. Does it sound like our world today? Corrupt. Wicked. People turning away from God by the droves, immersed in self-satisfying pursuits. And – even those who have known God diluting their faith by pursuing after what God warns against?

It is getting harder and harder to find something decent to watch on T V. Recently when we were flipping channels, I commented to Al that ‘this must just make God sick. ‘ and he responded, “Yeah. If there was a God, why would he let people get away with this kind of behavior?” “Grace,” I replied. But – I do wonder. The filth is beyond belief. Even when we try to keep everything we watch above PG-13, the line keeps getting moved further and further. When will God say, “ENOUGH.”

He has warned us very clearly that when we see these things happen, to look up for our redemption is nigh – very close. Just like at the auction – fair warning.