Look Up!!

I am convinced more and more on a daily basis that the things that the Holy Bible has prophesied of the end times are rapidly taking place. People and or groups of people declaring that they know what is best for everyone, that the majority of folk are too stupid to make their own decisions – these people are taking over control in sweeping motions. People telling others that they can be whatever sexual orientation they would like to be, no matter how they were born, and what seems to be a majority of the populace swallowing fiction like that hook, line, and sinker! People telling others that it is ok to take an innocent life if it inconveniences your life, that has been swallowed too. People in charge telling others not to be content with the lifestyle that they have chosen to live, but to march, loot, and take whatever they would like; and this is ok with what seems to be the majority. That has been swallowed. The kind of stuff the Bible predicted would go on at the end of things is happening. You know, stupid stuff, (or more importantly) ungodly stuff!

So, what is the normal Christian person to do in all this brouhaha? Two words – LOOK UP!

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”            Luke 21:25-28

Don’t believe it because I am saying it. Believe it because Christ said it! And also, listen to his warning! (And remember, this is Christ’s promise, this is not something I am making up!)

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overtaken with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

“For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth.”

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36

And as a footnote: in verse 34, the word surfeiting means to be overcome with an excessive amount of something. It pretty much means the same thing as drunkenness, only to be drunk with the things of this world.

AE

and continuing…

II Timothy 3

1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Lovers of their own selves is a phrase I’ve never felt is more relevant to today than at any other time in history.   We sure to do love to talk about ourselves, take pictures of ourselves, video ourselves.  We document our weight loss journeys, our romances, our parenting moments, even our make-up routines.  We share selfies, and video our diets, workouts, books we’ve read, thoughts we think.  If we are musical we make sure everyone sees the songs we sing and the instruments we play.  We really do think quite a lot of ourselves.  Pride is out of control in 2021.  

Covetous describes how we all feel about others talents, looks, possessions.  We see the talents of others and we long for that.  

Disobedient to parents, my oh my, how many times am I scrolling along on social media and see a grown adult child speaking disrespectfully to their parent.  My heart aches for that parent, and I wonder how the adult child will feel when their own children grow up to treat them the same way.  This always breaks my heart thinking of how I would feel if my child were to grow up and treat me like this.  These friends of mine are grown and I know that they grew up protected and loved.  

Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God describes pretty much all of society.  Most of us are much quicker to scroll for hours on YouTube or Netflix than to pick up our Bibles.  We listen to podcasts or watch football before we listen to a sermon.  We recite mantras, create positive thinking, and memorize good quotes rather than memorize scripture and pray.  

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…do you practice morality without having a basis for that morality?  Without God the only thing you are left with is moral relativism.  Moral relativism ultimately leads back to the worship of self, and that of course brings us back to where we are in 2021.  

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. This is because we aren’t truly seeking truth, and we don’t want truth. I know this because God also says in Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Mark 13 

⁴ Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

⁵ And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

⁶ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁷ And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

⁸ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Never in history has there been a time that was easy for Christianity. The Bible tell us II Timothy 2:12 that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Look back to the lives of the apostles. They were martyred. Look at the Roman Colosseum, and the early church. We don’t have to look back far into history. We can travel to China and the Middle East today and still see our fellow Christians being martyred for the cause of Christ. All they would need to do to ensure their own safety would be to live quiet lives of hidden Christianity. They would still go to heaven. They would be safe here and then later safe in heaven. But for the cause of Christ they suffer. Jesus loved us enough to die for us. We need to have that same love that would be willing to suffer to tell others of that good news.

Do you see how the world today reflects these verses?  We always need to be looking up realizing that no matter the date of the rapture, we should be living as if it were today.  We do all things to the best of our ability with the focus of our life being Christ.  Perhaps today…

GA