(Matthew 24: 36-42; 25: 1-13; II Timothy 3:1-4)
We do live in a time frame of the beginning of the end of times- in the days of Noah. Evil has prevailed and taken that which is right to be wrong and vice-versa. The eyes see, but in disbelief. Many keep hoping for things to change, tomorrow will be better, they say, but the reality of the matter is tomorrow will reflect the closeness to the end. What will tomorrow bring for certain? According to Paul perilous times of great stress and trouble. (Hard to deal with and hard to bear.) People who are lovers of self, lovers of money, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane (II Tim. 3:1-5). The list continues, as we have seen and experienced such behaviors in our time frame. This is the sign of the times. It was predicted before by our Lord, and others. We are witnessing prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes. The word of the Lord says that without vision, people perish. Knowledge not understood or received, leads the people to nowhere. It is like blindness. We see, feel, but not perceive until too late, as in the days of Noah, when they finally understood, the waters were covering them.
The believer in YAHSHUA is without reason to perish in ignorance. The word of God has been given; It is everywhere without one looking for. The Lord’s command for us is to watch, to pray and to wait for Him. His coming is certain, but the time is uncertain. The important issue here is to be ready. Readiness will only happen if we are knowledgeable. Much is happening that is keeping our attention away from what is very important; in fear, we try to fight the Lord’s battle, when our position is to pray and give all our cares to Him. The Lord of hosts is powerful; He is in the business of making history. He calls us to pray, to arise to battle, and to arise to see His face. Never forgetting the mark we must aim at. It is time for preparedness, not time for fear. He told the disciples, Keep awake and watch at all times, praying that you may have the full strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). Paul said, We belong to the day, therefore let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith, love and a helmet the hope of salvation (I Thess. 5:8). In these evil days, it seems that there is no difference between a Christian and non-Christian in their reactions to the present storm taking the world and in particular, America. Fear has taken many by surprise, for not standing their ground. Ignorance, the mother of defeat, has controlled their minds. The grounds where they are standing at are quick sand. It won’t be long before they disappear in their unbelief of the truth. Our God has equipped us for these evil days with two important parts of the armor: the breastplate of faith and love- the protector of the heart, and the helmet the hope of salvation- the protector of the mind. Fear veils the spiritual eyes and causes us blindness, and the inability to see and experience the beauty of God’s goodness and faithfulness in joy and peace. The Bible assures us that we are citizens of the state which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the Lord YAHSHUA the Savior ( Phil. 3:20). Our concern, then, should be on the heavenly things, our mind should be concentrating on readiness to meet our Savior, for it is the ultimate hope we have while in this earth.
Light from the Word 