Have you ever felt a need to share something with someone? I have been feeling this need for a while now. I do not know if my days on earth are short because of sickness or if the church about to meet Jesus in the air. Maybe it is just because I have turned 61 and I do not have the excitement of life in front of me. In my spirit I feel God would have me say some things to you before I go.
I am writing this in January 2024. I was born in 1962. I can tell you there have been many changes in my lifetime. I can remember when we only had 3 channels to choose from on the television. The television in my home as a child was only black and white, no color. The television stations only stayed on part of the night. When they went off the air there would only be static on the screen. Cartoons only came on television on Saturday mornings. I can remember when they invented the handheld hair blow dryer. I wanted one so bad, but we were poor and purchasing a hair dryer was not an option for my family. I can also remember it was a simpler time. People had respect for each other. There was a belief in God. Even if you didn’t follow him, you didn’t mock him or provoke him. I remember when men were men, women were women, boys were boys, and girls were girls.
When I look around at America today, I do not recognize her. Everything that used to be called good has changed into something bad. It seems like common sense has flown out the window. Seems like the mindset of foolishness has taken hold of our nation. But I guess that is to be expected when we kick God out of our nation and out of our life.
Sometimes I want so badly to turn back the clock and go back to a simpler time. Go back to a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. Go back to a time when morals were something of value. Go back to a time when the innocence of our children was in full force. Go back to a time when life was an excited journey that we were all willing to take.
I so desperately want to tell you that we cannot look back, nor should we want to. Take a moment to survey the horizon and see what you see. Life as we knew it is not coming back. The times have shifted and the innocence that once was is gone. The darkness is all around us and if we do not fight it will choke the very life out of us. Yet, it is all in God’s control.
He told us repeatedly what the times of the end were going to look like. He gave us markers to look for. He gave us signs to point the way. But above all else He gave us a way to keep hope alive.
Luke 21:7-28 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” (8) And He said: Take heed that you not be deceived, For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. (9) “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” (10) Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (11) “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sight and great sings from heaven. (12) “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. (13) “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (14) “Therefore settle it in you hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (16) “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (17) “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (18) “But not a hair of your head shall be lost. (19) “By your patience posses your souls. (20) “But when you see Jerusalem surround by armies, then know that it desolation is near. (21) “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. (22) “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. (24) ”And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (25) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring: (26) “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
A couple of things I want to point out. First this is not the only description of what we will face living in the time we are living in. I will write more about that in later posts. Second the times we are living in are not as bad as what is described above, yet.
The point I really want to focus on is in verse 28. It tells us to look for these things to being to happen. To watch how events around the world and here at home are unfolding. Pay attention to what is happening. Learn to be sensitize to the Spirit. Learn to have discernment. And then look up!
When all this mess is happening, we can wallow in our darkness allowing ourselves to become depressed. Or. We can look up. Look up! Look up! Your redemption draws near. Your savior is coming! Your Savior Is Coming!
The best hope I can give you when things begin to look dark and hopeless is that Jesus tells us we will be caught away to be with him. We will miss the worse part of this. No matter how bad it gets, we will be spared from the worst part. We will all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, the Bible says. Oh how much wonderful hope is that?
Look up children of God! Look up! Get yourselves ready! Take a lesson from the parable of the ten virgins. Get yourself ready! Spend time with your Lord. You do not want him to say depart from me I never knew you! Lift up your head! Tell yourself to not be downtrodden. You have hope! You have Jesus!
If you do not know Jesus, I pray you call on Him today! Call on Him now! Please do not delay! Today can be your day to be filled with hope!
That will I speak 