The Word

 John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Word speaks for itself/Himself. 

The Word is the Bible. 

The Word made flesh is Jesus. He is the Word, both written and which was born, lived and died, then rose again. 

The words within the Word are His. If He says so, it is. He never changes. 

He, and His Word, will live on forever.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭3)

But the word of the LORD endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (‭1Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭25‬)

For indeed the gospel was preached to US AS WELL as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬)

It is not our works that save. True story, from a testimony given yesterday: A man who realized the destruction he was creating in his marriage because his life was consumed with alcohol (it could be consumed with _______...fill in the blank) knew he needed to change. He walked into the pastor's office one day and asked: What must I do to be saved? The pastor gladly told him to repent, turn from his ways and follow the Lord. They prayed a prayer for salvation, the pastor telling him if this man meant it in his heart, it would be so. The man asked: Now that I've done that, give me a list of things I need to do! 

That's just it. There is no list. It's just as simple as what the Word of God states: And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭30-32‬)

It's all about the Word. It's about having faith that believing is enough. It's about hearing the Word, reading the Word, knowing the Word, knowing Christ. Knowing Christ is a deep spiritual, heartfelt occurrence, not just a mind thing. 

There is power in that Word that cannot and will never be extinguished. This Word has authority. It definitely does convict. It definitely can save. Our salvation experience is truly a miracle brought about only by our God. It is He who calls us and converts us, by the power of His Spirit. We can do nothing on our own...because we are nothing without first having the Lord Jesus. 

He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭24‬)

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (‭1Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭13,15-16‬)

The Bible you can hold in your hand is only cardboard, paper and ink, maybe some leather! It can be physically destroyed...burned, marked up, ripped from its binding. But the Word who is Christ is still alive and active. His Holy Spirit lives on and is still able to transform lives. There is no power in a written Bible itself, but what the Bible says has a lot of power. If we know that Word and are the willing vessels to share that Word, there also can be power. We are nothing without God; we have no power, we are dead in our trespasses but with God nothing is impossible! 

His Word and words, however, can be offensive because the truth is sometimes hard to hear. BUT...the Word is also so very powerful that it can change anyone. It's that sharp sword of the Spirit: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬)

As a pastor once said: There is nothing in scripture that says we cannot believe. We choose not to. Will you believe?

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

His Unfailing Love

Romans 8:37-39  - Yet in all these things [trials and tribulations] we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I was going through a time of "reminiscing" one morning. I was looking back on my life and all that it entailed. I looked at the heartaches and joys, failures and accomplishments, shame and pride. They are all a part of our make up...but don't necessarily mean we must continue to be that person.

I began to notice at first the emphasis on negative things and there were lots of them. But there were other positive things to counter them.

A heaviness hung over me for a brief time until I realized why. We have an enemy who wants nothing more than to bring to mind the negative. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) In my spirit, however, I sensed a presence and the words "In me is fullness of joy."

Of course there is! How can there not be? No matter what we've gone through in our lives there is One who cares. He tends to come at just the right times in our lives to heal the hurts, remove the shame and shower you with His love. Then He abides with us and causes us to call on Him in our weak moments.

His name is Jesus. Who can understand how He does it? But those who experience His love and forgiveness know!

My pre-Christ years were filled with anger, bitterness, shame and a lot of disappointments. I'd had it all up to my eyebrows until one particular day. Jesus entered my life and my heart. His Spirit became one with mine. Although the enemy wants to take back those victories in Christ, we are to be mindful that we are victorious in Him. We have every right to say: at the name of Jesus, you, the enemy, must flee!

Our enemy the devil cannot abide the sound of His name. Good for us! Proclaiming the name of Jesus, praising Him, brings victory and strength. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

He called me out of the darkness of my old life and into the light of a new life in Him. I can freely walk away from that or I can remain faithful to Him. My choice. No matter what I do His love for me is unfailing. He covenanted with me on April 18, 1999. He does not break His covenant. That means that I can call on Him at any time. He will be there for me.

Although more than half my life was spent without the real knowledge of our God, it's the years since that are most important. Life didn't begin, really, until I first knew Him.

I'm thankful for all He has shown me. It more than makes up for those years without the knowledge of Him. In Him is that fullness of joy. It brings a peace that passes all understanding. It's a joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Lord, You are my love, my life. You are my strength and shield. You are my refuge and my hiding place. You are my song and my joy. You lift spirits and cause the enemy to stumble. You cause us to soar high like the eagles, above the storms. You put us to rest in green pastures and bring us peace.
What do we have to fear if You are beside us. You surround me and place Your hedge of protection around me. Thank You for always being there. I rejoice in who You are and what You do. I rejoice in the one true God, the one true Love.

Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.

These Are the Days

 Genesis‬ ‭6:5-8‬‭ - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

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It has been asked, if God is so powerful why doesn’t He just put an end to all the wickedness in this world?

The answer is simple...and yet not. He IS God. He does as He pleases. But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm‬ ‭115:3‬) And His plan will prevail.  

However, He has not made us like robots to just do His will but has given us our own free will. He has allowed us to choose how we will live. We all start the same when we are born but in time our selves change. We make the choice to do right or wrong—just like we have the choice to believe in Him, the truth of His Word and whether we live for Him or not. He won’t force us. He wants us to make that decision for Christ. He only wants those whose hearts are truly for Him. 

So this world has become what people have decided they want it to be. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden they have disobeyed God. Oh, they may not always consciously know they are disobeying Him but they are. They do as THEY please. They believed the lie of satan in the same Garden, “Did God really say...???” And by the way, yes, He did say! If it is in the Bible it cannot be disputed. 

In a way we all want what we want at times; we can be selfish and prideful among so many other things. God can take care of that! He gets us in a place where we are at our lowest point and we have to (or should) seek help. It’s best to seek His help. He has the answers. 

So this world has become what people have decided THEY want it to be. We may be living pretty near to the lowest point for this world. There may be no turning back for this country or world, though a short reprieve may come. So we watch, pray and wait. 

So why doesn’t God just fix it? We’ve made our choice. When Noah built the ark the people scoffed and lived as they always had, in pride and selfishness, feeding their own desires and certainly not following or listening to God. And what happened? The flood came Noah had been telling them would come, destroyed all people, creatures and land yet saved Noah and his family. There were eight people saved out of the world. A small number, a remnant. 

Here’s the point. God WILL put an end to all this. He has told us repeatedly through 66 books of the Bible who He is, who we are, what He expects, commands, and the consequences for both good and evil. He wished many years ago He had not created man. He destroyed most of them to start over. 

He WILL come again to fix the problem. There will be only a remnant of believers at that time also. The question is, do you believe this? Do you see? Do you understand? Have you read? Have you heard? Do you care? 

Revelation‬ ‭22:12-15‬ - “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Blah, Blah, Blah

1John‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭- You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

It is very important to have fellowship with like-minded people, especially among believers. A good, Bible-believing church is an excellent start. The church I attend is just that and considers itself a safe place! Safe in that any trouble, concern or sin confession is looked upon not in disgust or shock but with compassion. Some great testimonies of God’s greatness are revealed in the lives of our congregation! It is evident at our baptisms.

When one receives Christ, is born again according to scripture, has confessed Jesus as Lord and taken Him seriously, turned from old ways (though forever in a process of change), he has become that child of God. 

We are all created by God but we cannot call ourselves His children until we have become born again. These are not MY words. It is then that Christ lives in us spiritually. That Spirit of God is constantly teaching, admonishing, convicting, encouraging, strengthening. It is He who lives in us that is greater than those who have not received Him. 

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians‬ ‭3:26-27‬)

Receiving Christ brings a change in one’s mind. Jesus is not an offense anymore. His name is not difficult to hear or speak because He is like a brother, yet God! He is someone we want to talk about, love, worship and praise! 

So there is a difference between believers and non-believers, those who are born again and those who are not. Those who do not believe find discussing or hearing anything about God difficult. It doesn’t compute. It’s like hearing, “blah, blah, blah!”

THIS is why it is important for believers to be in fellowship with like-minded people. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. Blah, blah, blah.

As the verses above also state, with the Spirit of God in us, we know the difference between godly truth and worldly error. Those who do not know Jesus do not know the absolute truth that only Jesus saves. The world, even some (false) religions, teach all go to heaven based on their kindness or good works. It’s not about what we can do to please God and enter heaven but only what Jesus did on the cross. It’s faith alone in Jesus. He is the only One who died for you. He is the only One who can save you. You cannot save yourself. 

I urge you to call on the Lord for His forgiveness of your sins and yes, you have sin. I still sin, but He is faithful and just to forgive me when I repent and turn from that sin...even if it has to be multiple times. I am not perfect and neither are you. But I am forgiven because I have received Christ. 

John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭ - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name...

Life or Death

1John 5:11-13 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

The Bible is the Word of God. God cannot lie. It is truth. The Bible is God’s word for us, that we would know Him, and believe in Him, learn what His promises are for those who do believe in Him, to learn how to trust Him, and I think in these days the most important thing is that we know what is said about the return of Christ. There are prophecies that have come true. There are still more to come to pass. This is why it is important to have some understanding of this Book.

While we see an unsettling world suddenly stopped dead in its tracks by a coronavirus and now unrest via protests and riots, we know it’s all political. As a friend (maybe even more than one) has said repeatedly, nothing that happens in life doesn’t first go through God’s hands. God not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills (meaning everything belongs to Him), but He has knit us together in our mothers’ wombs, knows the number of hairs on our heads and even the number of our days. So, He is in complete control whether it be good or bad. Why? He wants us to totally trust in He who can accomplish all He has set out to do.

He created this world and all that is in it. He continues to bring the sun up in the morning, cause it to set at night and the same with the moon. The seasons come and go by His power. The birds come and go also! All nature is ruled by God. 

Animals and people are born, live and die, at His will. He allows disease. He allows storms and destruction. Why does He allow bad? Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden, which I’ve said many times. We can pray against such things but it is ultimately His will that prevails.

All God has ever wanted is for mankind to believe, trust and give their lives to Him. Might sound like a puppet master but He is not. Because He is God, Creator, Sustainer of all things, He knows what we need. He offers us nothing but the best, spiritually, in this life and the one to come for each of His believers. Our souls live on after we die. For some the outcome is eternal life. For many others it is eternal death. Make no mistake, we will experience one or the other depending on how our hearts have changed toward Him. It is not simply acknowledging in one’s head, repeating a prayer, but being changed in one’s heart. You know when this happens!! You are changed.

Eternal death is just that. It comes because one chooses to reject God. Rejecting is not taking Him seriously. One can believe in God and still not receive Him, which is rejection. It’s never having that heart change. The life "hereafter" for these is one that one so wishes would end but never will. The description in God’s Word is not pretty with words like fire and gnashing of teeth. Here’s a good description. While it refers to a rich man it can be anyone; however, sometimes when one does not sense a need for God because life is good, he could be described as rich (in the world):

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016%3A19-31&version=ESV

There are prophecies in the Bible that have come true. The greatest are all the words describing Jesus hundreds of years before He was born. Those words in Isaiah 53 describe His whole life, birth to death, and that occurred. Other words came true. There are still more that speak of the end of the world and the return of Christ. They should not be scoffed. We are nearer today to His return than ever before. The Bible describes the days we are living in. Hearts need to change. Hearts need to be warned. These words can be ignored but some day the truth will be known. Eternal life or eternal death? Jesus is the only way.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

My Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Matthew 6:9-13 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

You have shown us how we should pray. You have shown us how to worship You with our words and actions. You have said we should ask for Your guidance because You have given each of us a purpose in life. We must realize the provision You give; You give not as the world gives. You have admonished us to forgive others, just like You have forgiven us. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. We can realize the great protection we have when You are the center of our lives. We acknowledge You as the Most High God.

I praise You Lord for who You are. You are high and lifted up as You are seated on Your throne in the heavenlies. You are the Name above all names, You reign eternal. You are all that I need because You are my provider. I thank You for Your wisdom which is much greater than any man's. You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Only You are worthy. Thank You for this day. Thank You for the freedom I hold on to in You, the freedom that cannot be taken away by the world. Thank You that whatever life holds for me You will be by my side as my guide and comfort.

This world today strives to push You aside. I know better...that You will return some day to rule and reign. All will see who You truly are in that day. All knees will bow and tongues finally confess Your Lordship, Your awesomeness. I long for that day. 

Thank You for sending Your son Jesus to become the propitiation for our sins. He is the daily Bread. He is the One who speaks wisdom into my life and to those when they are ready to receive. Thank You for bringing that day to me. Thank You that day by day Your Word opens my mind to greater truths and discernment of those things in this world that are false. 

Keep me from turning away and prevent me from doing what my flesh wants to do. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth and the Life for me. Thank You this is what You desire for all mankind, no matter what race, religion or denomination. Let others know You this way. Thank You for seeking me, a lost sheep. Thank You for forgiving me of the wrongs I committed so long ago. Thank You for forgiving as I ask for it each day. Thank You for Your neverending love and forgiveness. How difficult it is to understand such a great love...that no man can hold a candle to.

Thank You for being my Light today. Keep me out of the hands of my enemy. Keep me on the narrow path that leads only to what You desire this day. Strengthen me against my enemy with Your words, Your wisdom. Give me the words I need for each situation today.

Your kingdom reigns. No matter what we see in this world, my hope is secure because of You. Your power is greater than any other on earth or in the heavens. Your glory will shine and light this world in days to come. Come quickly Lord

So be it!

Matthew 6:13 - Amen.

Something to Think About

Romans 5:17-19  - (...For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

This “one man’s” offense was the act of disobedience displayed in the garden of Eden. True, Eve was the initial perpetrator, but Adam followed her lead for some reason. He knew the rules. He walked with God and had daily communication with Him. God gave Adam the command and Adam passed the information down to Eve. It’s only speculation at this point but perhaps Eve misunderstood. But the fact that Adam didn’t stop her puts him in the position of blame.

So we live in a sin-sick world today because of these actions of disobedience. They chose to disobey, as do many today. Are any of us perfect? No. Even if we have called on the name of the Lord to be saved, we fail daily. We continue in our sins...yet we are also being perfected. That will continue till we die or the Lord returns.

Sin entered the world, and along with it all the illnesses, diseases, anger, hatred, disputes, through one man. Only one Man can change that. It’s why it is important we know this Man, Jesus. It’s why we must call on the name of the Lord to be saved. It’s why He has told us:

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:3,7,16)

Jesus’ free gift of grace is offered to all. It produces righteousness, not deserved by any, but offered. It is a gift! It must be received. It is not just a given that because we call ourselves Christians (because we are not Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist) one is saved. It is not determined by one’s denomination or how long we have attended church. Jesus was not about a denomination. This salvation is for anyone when one confesses that Jesus is Lord. Then comes the act of baptism, to show that one means business!

We’re talking about life here, eternal life in heaven or hell. The soul lives on after death in one place or the other. It will either be glorious or pure agony...eternally. Life does not just end when death comes. The soul lives on. 

We are living in trying times. While the events of today may pass, they may appear again. Many believe, as do I, that we live in the last days. I heard a message (many actually) which stated these days are like birth pains. They start out small and increase in intensity, like when child is born. There are always reprieves. But after a reprieve the next pain becomes more intense. While we might see a reprieve in this Covid19 crisis, more things may occur and intensify. What if...this does happen? We might get upset with government, even see conspiracy theories, but the main thing is to see how this all fits into God's eternal plan and what His Word tells us these days will be like. I'm seeing things I never thought I'd see. I can be anxious for a moment, but ultimately the peace of God comes again and I thank Him that I see what His Word has told us these days would be like. 

This is the time to seek God for His protection. It’s time to be serious about Him. It’s time to understand what His Word says about these days we live in and recognize the prophetic words spoken thousands of years ago of Jesus’ birth, His death, His resurrection, His ability to save spiritual lives, that death is not a thing to fear, unless one is without Christ.

The things of this world truly have no importance: only one thing is important...a life in Christ. Food, alcohol, entertainment, parties, sports or drugs are all distractions to keep us from focusing on God. It’s only a matter of (short) time before Jesus will put an end to all the nonsense. Those whose focus is not on earthly things but have kept their eyes on Him will reap the benefits. Not so much for others. We all have to make the decision or choice for Christ.....

Maybe I seem like a fanatic or am considered to not know anything about anything, but what if I’m right? Why would God have written such an amazing Book? Why has it not been done away with and not been destroyed? Why does God’s Word continue if it is all a lie? His Word, He says, will not return to Him void but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. That's about truth, sin, salvation...and end of time. Something to think about. 

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9  - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)... For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Have You?

John 1:29-35 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."

And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

Have you been touched by Jesus? Have you gone from not knowing Him, like John, to knowing Him through the power of the Holy Spirit?

I love the story about Mary and Elizabeth and how John in his mother's womb leaped when Mary came near with Jesus in her womb. Spiritually there was a connection. It's sort of like John's exclamation when he saw Jesus coming toward him above. He just knew, when he didn't know before, as he said about three times, "I did not know Him." We aren't definitively told whether John and Jesus had ever met before this time, except for that momentary meeting between Mary and Elizabeth. If anyone has any other explanation, please respond!

I did not know Him either for more than half my life even though I had heard of Him and how I am sure He was presenting Himself to me which I either didn't recognize or, most certainly,  rejected. I was well aware of Jesus, who He was, that He died for the sins of all mankind…and that, most amazingly, He rose from the dead, just like He prophesied He would.

But one day He baptized me with the Holy Spirit and I can bear witness myself to this. I suddenly knew Him intimately through this miraculous, personal rebirth, which was very unsuspecting. And out of obedience to the Word, I was baptized, symbolically in water, but of greater importance, in the Holy Spirit.

I also can testify that Jesus is the Son of God, that I have been reborn of the Spirit. Have you been touched by Jesus? Have you gone from not knowing Him to knowing Him through the power of the Holy Spirit?

Ezekiel 36:26-28 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

The Times In Which We Are Living

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

There are those who study Bible prophecy. They read headlines and take note of what’s happening in the world and compare it to what the Bible has already said would happen. Some is speculation; not all is perfect prediction. But…we can know the times in which we are living. The Bible tells us that these things were written as examples for us today. The Bible in general was written that we may know what God desires of and for us. It points out right and wrong ways to live. It also shows us the signs we need to be looking for.

Don't bypass the scriptures. They are not difficult to understand. There are so many more that say the same things. One just has to want to understand. God has said that wisdom is the most important thing we need to have. But not man's wisdom, but His. 

We are seeing an unusual display of events with the Covid-19 disturbance. No one has definitive answers, yet. Media, as they are wont to do, can exaggerate, in either direction. Who do we believe? I know I am not the only one who realizes that we cannot trust man or his words implicitly. But I also know that others would agree that we can know what the truth is because it is in the Bible. The Bible tells us if we are in Christ we need not fear because He will be our protector. He is our only Rock of salvation. He knows the end from the beginning, which man cannot. (We can see based on events of the day compared to what the Bible says where we are in the grand scheme of things; we just won’t know the absolute end. Only God knows this.) He calls us during these times to seek Him....because He IS our only hope...for those who trust and believe in Him.  I just don't know how much more I can explain that simple promise. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) There is a very real evil that manifests itself in all the junk happening in the world. He is also very subtle, using things that seem very innocent to deceive. I won't go into all that. But, thankfully, there is also a very real good in the form of God or Jesus who will fight this enemy someday...and win. But that win is only for those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb.  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1Peter 1:17-19)

What will the signs look like? What might we be seeing today?

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; 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. (Luke 21:26)

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17 26-27)

What God may be pointing out above is no one looks to Him for answers. Man thinks man can take care of all this. So they look to man and continue to live as they always have…without regard or acknowledgment that there is a God out there who really does have everything under His control. But man doesn’t always want to recognize that. Voting in the right party or stashing away money, hoarding food and supplies will not cause us to always be safe. And I know this is not something people like hearing. The name of Jesus and His Word is an offense even to those who don’t hate God. But if we are not looking to Him for the answers, and we don’t like what He has to say (Bible), there is a problem. It’s not my problem; it’s not God’s problem either. It is a problem with anyone who doesn’t want to choose Him or truly believe or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who puts their trust in the things of this world and of man has no hope. It's that simple and true. It's like the people did in the days of Noah, a truly terrifying story.  (Genesis 6 and 7) 

Jesus will return some day. (Matthew 24:3-31) The days we are living in seem to point to this; actually for years we have seen evil abounding more. Lifestyles have changed. In some cases we’ve become very relaxed in our way of life; we’ve become spoiled. When that happens there is a false security that life will always be great (and that any country can be made great again) and that any little hiccup in life will be overcome. Think about all the natural disasters over the years that have escalated. Think about the number of abortions on a yearly basis. Think of the violence. Think of the type of entertainment we are now seeing on television and in the theaters. Think of the language being used. Think of how God's name is spewed as a curse. Think of homosexuality. It's a growing... We can believe that as long as it doesn’t affect me it’s okay. But that’s not what God thinks. He calls many things that people suggest we be tolerant of abominations. That’s a strong word. 

We have seen when times are bad churches can be filled with those seeking God. But when things get to normal, they go back to their life as usual, what they are accustomed to. God can bring about evil to bring good. The best that could come of evil is a heart that turns to God. That’s all He wants for this sinful, and growing more so, world. Jesus died that we would always have the hope of eternal life. He doesn’t want anything but our hearts. In return for our turning to Him, repenting and believing in Him, humbling ourselves, and trusting in Him, He gives us assurance of eternal life. Death may come in some way but we need it fear because He will be beside us.

We are living in trying times. Man has ever been going against God, since the Garden of Eden. There has always be a small number who seek Him. Sin is escalating and it is just a matter of time when God has had enough, and as I have heard and read, that last person is saved. Who will that last person be? Who will truly be heading toward a glorious reunion with God? Who will take Him seriously enough to seek Him and follow Him…and endure until the end? The argument is, we’ve heard for a 2,000 years Jesus is returning. People (idiots might I even say) have predicted His return and it has proven to be false. We are to beware of those false prophets. We cannot know the day or hour, but we can know the times in which we are living. The fact is, He will return. Will you be ready? Do you turn away from the things of God or His Word? Don’t do it. 

A day will come when His Church, those people who have believed, followed, shared His Gospel, endured the criticism, endured rejection as Jesus did, will be taken out of this world. When that happens things will get worse than we have seen now. What seems disastrous today will not compare to that day. The Bible mentions birth pains. I believe we are living in a time of those birth pains. While this all sounds like doom and gloom and nonsense, I know what good is on the other side for those whose hope is in Christ alone, not government, man, self, money... That good is the end of this world and the beginning of a new life with Christ, who has returned, in a new earthly situation. All evil will be removed for 1,000 years. It will be as it was intended all along, like the Garden of Eden. THEN…the promise of heaven. Only Jesus is our hope. Call on Him. Be serious about it.

Romans 15:4 - For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

This Day and a Day In the Future

Matthew 16:1-4 - Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

There’s a lot going on in this world. In fact, the Bible has prophesied it. I hesitate writing things like this because it might be considered doom and gloom, or I out of my mind. Fortunately, for some, this is an exciting time. For some, we see the signs that the Lord's return is near. Oh, we've heard date setters destroying biblical credibility. The Bible states we cannot know the day or hour. But...as Jesus says above, we can know the signs of His appearing.

Ancient men, long before Jesus, spoke about the things to come. It’s why there is a Bible. It was written that we may know about the wars and rumors of war, the weather, violence, the blatant immoral acts and lifestyles. See what the Bible has to say...  All predicted as man has chosen his own way of life rather than God’s. To even be accepting of these things is wrong in His eyes, as difficult as that sounds. Look at the words Jesus used above...they were rather harsh. The Pharisees and Sadducees were learned religious leaders. But they turned many blind eyes to the truth Jesus spoke. Others do the same.

Jesus spoke to show that no matter what happens in this world, we can be saved from it in the end, through Him. He came to seek and save the lost. He came that we might have an abundant spiritual life which includes eternal life in Him. He knew and knows that this world's only hope for peace and security is a Savior and He is it. Man cannot do it. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how good we think we are (pride). No man is good, not one the Book of Roman 3 states.

I’m writing this on an especially beautiful snowy, white, clean-looking day. 

I know deep in my spirit that only God could bring about such beauty. I think of the scripture that says: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

What's the connection? When I see the beauty in this day, I know Who has created it. I do not worship the creation, but I worship the Creator. I know Him personally. I trust in Him. I know what His Word says, though I’m not an expert, but I know it is the truth. How do I know? His Spirit lives in me and teaches me. He shows me things and He has shown me scriptures relating to these days we live in. I am grateful to have this understanding, though I don’t get it all. I just know that Jesus came one day to save the lost so that upon death or His second coming, I would know I was safe in Him. 
As a bonus, I recognize the signs of the times. And it's exciting to me. 

This day with all its temporary beauty is a reminder of He who is never-ending, what He has done for those who love Him, how I have no need to worry because I am secure in Christ. Because one day I realized my need for Him and embraced Him and His truth. I'm thankful that I believe this, despite what others might think. I will continue to praise HIM.

Psalm 51:6-7 - Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.