"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:36-39
These words of our Lord Jesus Christ to the disciples when asked about the sign of His coming and the end of the age have been haunting me all week. As I have been meditating on these verses and how they tie to our study of Revelation, I have realized exactly what it is in these words that go right through to the depths of my heart. Jesus' description of the people's activities before the flood, "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" is different description than in Genesis 6:5 "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."
Why did Jesus chose a description of everyday things? They don't seem overtly sinful. Why this description?
The answer came to me this week. After talking to a woman who is going through some really tough times, I invited her to bible study and church. Her response was one I have heard so many times before, "I would love to come, but I am just too busy." Right then and there the clarity of Jesus' words came to me.
The people before the flood had become "too busy" for God. Look around, how does the familiarity of that hit you? As we scurry around to achieve success, wealth, power, and position, we lose sight of the One who deserves and demands our full attention. We prioritize our lives so we are chasing after the things of this world (Babylon?) instead of chasing after the Word of God. We spend more time working for the money to pay for all the things that take us further and further away from the One who wants to give us everything. Evil comes when we "are just too busy" for that one on one relationship with God.
As I think about this, I remember the words of my Mother. She used to say to me, after I would tell her I was just too busy to spend a weekend with her, "You know, one day I won't be here for you to be too busy for". As I type these words with tears streaming down my face, I can tell you I would give anything to spend one more weekend with my Mother, God rest her soul.
Time is fleeting, and we never know when we will come to a point where we have used it all up. I believe that this was Jesus' message in his description of the people before Noah. We can't waste one more minute chasing after the things of this world. God has given us the greatest gift in Jesus Christ. Free for the taking.
We are living in the hour of grace but I do believe that hour will come to an end and far too many will have been too busy to see it coming. As bad as the pain of grief and regret I suffer at the lost time with my Mother, I can't even imagine the grief of those who will look up to see Jesus coming on that cloud as the painful realization hits that it is too late for them.
But we have a great hope in Jesus Christ. Salvation is available to each and every one of us, right here, right now. All that is required is that we stop and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord of our life and hand over to him whatever time we have left.
So I ask you, are you too busy today? Well, tomorrow may be too late.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Are You On The Fence? It is time to pick a side!
"And the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ: and He will reign forever and ever.'" Revelation 11:15
As we studied Tuesday night, this verse is a pivotal point in Revelation. The blowing of the seventh trumpet begins the final battle between Satan and Jesus Christ. With this verse, God will fulfill the promise He made in Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,". Here we see the beginning of the process, the lines are drawn, sides are chosen and the final battle begins - two kingdoms, two powers, two women....
The question we must all ask ourselves is "Which side am I on?" And more important, we must decide now!
Chapters 12 - 18 very graphically depict the ultimate battle of good v. evil. We witness the age old battle (Gen. 3:15) of Satan and the Woman (Israel) and then Satan is cast to earth (Rev 12) and given authority to rule for 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:5). We see his unholy trinity (Dragon, Beast, False Prophet) make worshipers out of all the people of the earth. (Rev. 13: 8,12). We see the warnings to reject the beast and "Fear God" or "drink the wrath of God". (Rev 14) Then we witness the direct assault by the Kingdom of God as the seven bowls are prepared and poured out on to the kingdom of Satan. (Rev. 15-16). Babylon, who first appears in Genesis 11:3-9, "the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Rev 17:5), falls at the hand of God as He avenges the blood of the prophets and saints and all who have been slain on the earth (Rev. 18). All of this ushers in the marriage of Christ to his bride (the church) (Rev. 19), the binding of Satan and the rule and reign of Christ and His bride for 1000 years, the end of which will bring final judgement for all. (Rev. 20)
It will be spectacular. Both the power of Satan and the power of God will be displayed in awesome fury. We will see the best of both. However, only the ONE true power will prevail. Those standing on the side of the kingdom of Satan will receive an eternal judgement in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) and those who stood in faith with the Kingdom of God will dwell with Him for eternity where tears, death, mourning and pain will be no more. (Rev. 21: 3-4).
From all of this, you might be saying, "why would anyone pick the side of Satan?" We all want to be winners, if we know how it ends, then of course we will pick the side of God. Oh, if it were only that simple! But the sad fact is, only 9% of those who profess to be Christian read their bible and know the Word of God. Most people want the best of both worlds. They want to claim the glory and favor of God but still live in this world. They don't want to change their lifestyles or give up their idols. However, this fact is clear, without knowledge of the Word of God, Satan has vast power of cunning and deception. (2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1). Those who do not know the truth will be easily deceived with false signs, wonders and miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
I will let you in on the awesome mystery of God. We are now living in the hour of grace. Your salvation is a gift, not something to be earned or purchased. Right now, you can chose to stand on the side of the Kingdom of Heaven. God has redeemed you from sin and death through the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. All that is required is for you to BELIEVE God, which is distinctly different than believing IN God (Genesis 15:6; Romans 10:6; Ephesians 1:13).
Believing God, requires you to know God. The only way to know God is through His word. So you see, sweet friends, the time to chose sides is NOW. You must be prepared for the battle to come. You must read, study and understand who God is, through His word so that you will be able to recognize and stand on the side of the One power, the One Kingdom, the One woman.
So, as Kay so eloquently put it, "Beloved, do you want a Kingdom that lasts or a kingdom that will surely be destroyed?" The time to chose is NOW....the Kingdom is at hand.
As we studied Tuesday night, this verse is a pivotal point in Revelation. The blowing of the seventh trumpet begins the final battle between Satan and Jesus Christ. With this verse, God will fulfill the promise He made in Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,". Here we see the beginning of the process, the lines are drawn, sides are chosen and the final battle begins - two kingdoms, two powers, two women....
The question we must all ask ourselves is "Which side am I on?" And more important, we must decide now!
Chapters 12 - 18 very graphically depict the ultimate battle of good v. evil. We witness the age old battle (Gen. 3:15) of Satan and the Woman (Israel) and then Satan is cast to earth (Rev 12) and given authority to rule for 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:5). We see his unholy trinity (Dragon, Beast, False Prophet) make worshipers out of all the people of the earth. (Rev. 13: 8,12). We see the warnings to reject the beast and "Fear God" or "drink the wrath of God". (Rev 14) Then we witness the direct assault by the Kingdom of God as the seven bowls are prepared and poured out on to the kingdom of Satan. (Rev. 15-16). Babylon, who first appears in Genesis 11:3-9, "the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth" (Rev 17:5), falls at the hand of God as He avenges the blood of the prophets and saints and all who have been slain on the earth (Rev. 18). All of this ushers in the marriage of Christ to his bride (the church) (Rev. 19), the binding of Satan and the rule and reign of Christ and His bride for 1000 years, the end of which will bring final judgement for all. (Rev. 20)
It will be spectacular. Both the power of Satan and the power of God will be displayed in awesome fury. We will see the best of both. However, only the ONE true power will prevail. Those standing on the side of the kingdom of Satan will receive an eternal judgement in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) and those who stood in faith with the Kingdom of God will dwell with Him for eternity where tears, death, mourning and pain will be no more. (Rev. 21: 3-4).
From all of this, you might be saying, "why would anyone pick the side of Satan?" We all want to be winners, if we know how it ends, then of course we will pick the side of God. Oh, if it were only that simple! But the sad fact is, only 9% of those who profess to be Christian read their bible and know the Word of God. Most people want the best of both worlds. They want to claim the glory and favor of God but still live in this world. They don't want to change their lifestyles or give up their idols. However, this fact is clear, without knowledge of the Word of God, Satan has vast power of cunning and deception. (2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1). Those who do not know the truth will be easily deceived with false signs, wonders and miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
I will let you in on the awesome mystery of God. We are now living in the hour of grace. Your salvation is a gift, not something to be earned or purchased. Right now, you can chose to stand on the side of the Kingdom of Heaven. God has redeemed you from sin and death through the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. All that is required is for you to BELIEVE God, which is distinctly different than believing IN God (Genesis 15:6; Romans 10:6; Ephesians 1:13).
Believing God, requires you to know God. The only way to know God is through His word. So you see, sweet friends, the time to chose sides is NOW. You must be prepared for the battle to come. You must read, study and understand who God is, through His word so that you will be able to recognize and stand on the side of the One power, the One Kingdom, the One woman.
So, as Kay so eloquently put it, "Beloved, do you want a Kingdom that lasts or a kingdom that will surely be destroyed?" The time to chose is NOW....the Kingdom is at hand.
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