Watch!!

Acts 2:19-20 - I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

This just seemed an appropriate post after all the parables about the Kingdom of God and who will enter into it and what we must do to be sure we do!

There have been many articles, blog posts, warnings and/or words about the imminent return of Christ. Some do not believe He will return, some believe it will still be some time from now if ever, while others believe it could be very soon. Even pastors in various pulpits, even some unbelievers, think something is up and that we are in the last days.

I do not presume to know when He will return and would use caution to anyone saying they knew for sure when, but I certainly believe, and write here occasionally, how it is of utmost importance that we know our heart's spiritual condition now and do something about it now because...“of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father...and...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” (Mark 13:32, 1Corinthians 15:52, Luke 17:35-36)

Our salvation is based on one thing alone, our true heart's repentance followed by confession of our sin directly to Jesus. Because He is omniscient He will know our heart's attitude, whether we mean it or not. When Jesus returns will we be taken or will we be left wherever we are? This is the way it will be when He returns, that I will promise. Our old, earthly bodies, if we have received Christ, will be changed...from corruptible to incorruptible. There will be no pain, no sickness, no sorrow, no tears after He returns for those who have received Him. The same is not true for unbelievers. Like the previous parables, there is a separation of good from bad.

Again, we do not know when He will return and some say, Well, it's been a long time since He said, “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” (Revelation 22:12-13) while others will say He hasn't shown up yet; I'm not gonna worry about it. It's all talk.

But I just want to throw this out there. We are told there will be signs, like mentioned above. Just a thought...if you haven't heard, there will be four lunar eclipses coming up in the next two years. An article describes them as four consecutive total lunar eclipses, known as a tetrads. They are called blood moons because of the color we see at the time of the eclipse.

I also tend to view articles on such things with caution knowing we have been burned before by prognosticators telling us Christ will return on a certain date and, again, I will not say that. But I find these articles interesting. I will put them on a shelf in my mind. This particular article tells us the blood moons coincide with Jewish feast days. These eclipses are looked at on the Jewish calendar, God's calendar, not ours. (I think about the scripture that says His ways are not like ours...) And these eclipses do, according to findings, fall on those feasts. These are Feasts of the Lord and I'm not an expert on them, have always been important to God and His people, Israel, and Israel is an important factor in the last days.

Rather than try to sort out the article, please read it yourself...here's the link. There are two videos as
well. I am not endorsing the any product they sell. All I'm saying is we cannot know when He will
return...but we are to watch for signs, which God has previously shown us will be.

These articles seem to think that there's a good chance (chance) the last days before the return of Christ will follow these signs. The article I've linked states NASA had a link on their site referencing these blood moons but took it down when some other article began describing the blood moons and the return of Christ. (On the same day as WND’s report, Feb. 12, NASA took down its site which for years provided detailed information and schedules about upcoming eclipses.)

Additional signs listed in the Bible are already here. They've been escalating since, I believe, the 50's or 60's. This world is in serious trouble and you can laugh or mock, but if you look closely, you can't say it hasn't...at least I hope you can see. If not, you may want to ask God to help you to see...if you want to. It's your choice. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2Timothy 3:1-4) 

I just say all this to point out, it isn't too late to be sure of your salvation. I would want to be sure today about my future tomorrow, or the next day, or even on my last day, if He does not return before my last day. I do not think of this as a doom and gloom message. For believers it is a hallelujah moment! To be of the generation to see His coming, despite the trials we will encounter before then, and we are already experiencing, is exciting. If you put all things in perspective you can see that while we are living each day as it comes along, all things fade in comparison to the idea that Jesus is returning for His pure and spotless bride. Will you join the ranks?

He is like the man below who has gone to a far country...and will return. Is He your Master? Are you asleep? Or are you watching for His return?

Mark 13:33-37 - Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

Virgins, Lamps, Oil and Wicks

Matthew 25:1-5, 13 - Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Jesus told a parable about 10 virgins awaiting the bridegroom. In summary, as mentioned above five were wise, five foolish. The bridegroom here is Jesus, whom these virgins are awaiting. Today those virgins would be followers of Christ and among those who say they follow, half only think they are.

The parable continues stating that these virgins were to always be ready for the bridegroom to return. Their lamps were to be filled with oil and the wicks trimmed. This is my interpretation: without light we cannot see. In the darkness we aren't easily aware of the circumstances around us.

Among those people (men and women) who call themselves believers and ardent followers of Christ, some have grown weary of waiting for His return. Is He really going to? We read He is but it's been thousands of years and He has not yet done so. And they stop watching for Him and let the things of the world become greater than the watchfulness. Our wicks are to be ever trimmed and oil replenished as we wait on the Lord's return.

I think even the Church in general has grown weary of waiting and have fallen asleep like in the rest of the parable. I know this: the world in general has heard before that Jesus is to return only to not see it happen. So the world has settled into a euphoric life of self, self determination and belief that we can pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and bounce back yet again from the troubles we are seeing. And I'm not talking about those who proclaim that Jesus will return on a specific date. The Bible says we cannot know the day or hour, only that He WILL.

I have hinted at for a good amount of time the idea that our days are numbered. News shows the unrest, evil and sin in this world...at least on stations that do not try to hide from the real news. There is good going on but bad seems to be most prevalent. My mind is in a constant state of what I can only describe as watchfulness as the news daily unfolds.

I'm not depressed and don't believe fearful. I'm just waiting for that one thing that totally stands out over all others. That one hint that will grasp the attention of the world that maybe, just maybe, God is trying to get our attention. He's got mine. Has He got yours is the bigger question.

On the other hand, it may not be that ONE big thing. It will be an individual thing, specific to each person that will get their attention focused more on God. It will be crises in lives that will bring person by person to a point here they will ask the question Why is this happening and what is this that is going on on?? It will be sickness, death, loss (of job, house), disaster. Something like this helps to point some to God. Sometimes, sadly, it still doesn't.

That one big thing will be the return of Christ. In the twinkling of an eye. Those who truly believe what the Bible says are vigilant. We see the signs. We wait and we watch. And if God's desire is for you, He can bring trials to hopefully point you to Him...it's up to you to decide if you want to trust Him then and begin the process of waiting and watching for Him.

I am reminded of the scriptures that tells us this is what the world will be like when Christ returns.
2 Peter 3:3 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts...
2Timothy 3:2-5 - People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Hey, these are the Words of God telling us this, not mine. If one believes the Bible is the truth these words cannot be disputed. They can't be ignored or pushed aside as irrelevant. His Word is timeless. Not everyone in the world is like this...but a majority is according to God's Word.

We must also continue living as we do until He returns...being ever vigilant. We cannot just shut our lives down and wait. We must still be about our Father's business. Enjoy life, yes...but DO NOT forsake God. It doesn't mean we hole ourselves up. We have a right to righteously enjoy life, just not be totally oblivious to what is happening around us and certainly not being those people shown in 2Timothy 3.

There will always be scoffers and I wonder what it will take for them to finally see, if they will. I do know that there will be a time when all righteous people will be removed from earth if they are still alive. One day they will vanish, taken up by Jesus. I can't imagine the horror on that day..the disasters caused as a result of the disappearance of so many...in an instant.

I would want to know the truth about the last days. I would want I understand about the virgins, the lamps, oil and wicks. I would want the light of truth in my life. Jesus is the Light of the world. When you know Him you know the truth.

We have been given the knowledge of these things. It is written in the Bible. It is not kept hidden. It is there for all to see. Even the King James Version is written so a sixth grader can understand it. If you want to be prepared like the five wise virgins, seek God and His Word. Start with the Book of John! Get to knowing Jesus.

2Timothy 3:1 - But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

Change Course

Ephesians 2:1-2 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.

Beck is changing his course on his show. He's using history as a reminder where we've been, what we've done and what mistakes we've made. He is doing this for himself and his family. He is not doing it for us. This road is a solitary one.

I mentioned yesterday that sacrificing our lives to Christ is a one-on-One thing. It's something between you and God. You can't come to Christ based on how you were raised, the denomination of your church, through your parents or on the coat tails of someone in your house, like a spouse, parent or even children. It's a solitary road. And a narrow one.

Funny thing but I have been figuring it is time for me to make another change in my own course. Not that I haven't been at least thinking about this for some time. Maybe it's the urgency I sense in the world. The signs we see that not all is okay. The signs that could very well be ushering in the return of Christ...and the urgency of preparedness, spiritually.

Oh, we should never have to get to this point. It should always have been there from the day we received Christ. But we, in our human nature, pull an Israel, and turn our minds to other things. I'm not making excuses. I'm being honest with myself. What do we need to see that will really take our minds off the things of the world and stay permanently focused on Christ? I'm not at the same stage as some yet I'm farther than others.

This thought brought me to the parable of the ten virgins with their oil and trimmed wicks and their waiting for their bridgeroom and wonder at this stage which I am? The story goes that there are ten virgins. It starts with a wedding feast.

The whole Hebrew concept of a wedding was different than today. A boy and girl of very young age were matched by their parents. This was their engagement, which lasted a year or so. While the bride continued to live at her parents' house, the groom prepared a house for her, usually an addition to his father's house. When they became of proper age for marriage, a ceremony and feast was held. They exchanged their vows...a covenant was made.

Wedding feasts usually lasted a week if the woman was a first-time bride. The bride, however, remained by herself for this time and at the end of the week would join the crowd and reveal herself when she took off her veil.

Imagine these circumstances. The waiting and patience involved, trusting that when the time of the wedding arrived, the groom would be there, or the bride. Would all things be ready?

The bride is like the ten virgins. She has maintained her purity and waited in anticipation of his arrival, the word that would make this marriage a reality.

This is what we are to do as we who are in Christ wait (im)patiently for His final return. We are to keep our eyes open for the signs. We are to keep our spiritual wicks trimmed and continue to keep our lamps lit. A day is going to come when our Groom will arrive and take us to house He has built in heaven.  John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

As we continue our vigilance, we look at the past and pay attention to the signs today. As with Beck, we need to see the parallel between what this world and our country are doing compared to what happened in the Bible, how people turned from God, how He lifted His hand from them to cause them to look once again at His provision for their lives. A life without God is useless, self-serving, disastrous.

We must maintain our own faith in a God who loves us. We can worry about those around us who do not trust that it is God's hand we need to hold onto, but it is their own responsibility to accept His hand in their life. It's that solitary a road.

There were ten virgins. As they waited for their Bridegroom, some lost interest, five of them. In today's world I would venture to say the percentage would be more. They thought they had plenty of time before He would come for them and they became lax. They compromised their faith. Maybe they even thought He might not come. They let their lamps burn down, maybe even out altogether. Which will you be?

First, to become a bride, you must have a relationship with Christ. That goes for men and women. Men also are considered the bride when they receive Christ. A harder concept to imagine as a man, I'm sure. I'm glad I'm a woman !

To keep those wicks trimmed and lamps burning we should maintain that relationship with Christ, our Bridegroom. We should spend time in the Word listening for His voice, heeding His commands, doing as an engaged woman might do for that marriage, preparing herself and certainly staying focused on the idea of marriage to this Man, her Man, her Groom. What does He require? What does He like? What does He command? Oh, the thoughts...obedience, submission, heart on Him alone. Those things that might seem negative, yet in God's eyes so practical and true.

We've all made mistakes. But there is a Hope to correct them. It's time to look at those mistakes and turn them around through a relationship with Christ, that solitary Way.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (Proverbs 14:12, John 14:6, Isaiah 30:21)

Consider Noah

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."

Wow. God spoke to Noah. God told him He considered him righteous. God picked the right man for the right job.

Noah was brave. He was definitely a man of faith. He heard God speak, he listened and most importantly, he obeyed. He obeyed even though others thought he was out of his mind. And look where it took him...being righteous in God's eyes.

We are living in that perverse generation the Bible tells us about. Philippians 2:15-16 surprisingly says Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children  of  God above reproach in the midst of a crooked  and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights  in the world. 

Noah went ahead with the task set before him without questioning God, without grumbling about the amount of time it would take to build an ark, without really knowing what lay ahead. He just did it. He listened daily to the commands. He obeyed God despite the people around him. He told anyone and everyone the reason for the ark and that God had called him to do this. But they scoffed. 

No one wanted to listen to Noah speak the things God had told him to warn them about. They wanted to keep their heads in the sand. As Noah and his family gathered all the animals into the ark awaiting the great flood, the others, as later mentioned in Matthew:  were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. When the waters rose and they realized their dilemma and their choice not to listen, they pleaded with Noah for safety. But it was too late. Too late.

I sort of see this with Glenn Beck! He's about as in your face about warnings as they come. The Church should be doing the same thing. We as Christians who believe we are seeing the signs, as in the days of Noah, should be vocal as well. We know what this will mean. It will mean we will be considered as nuts as Noah was. We've heard it all before...Christ says He's going to return, but I don't see it...Yeah, right!! If people don't want to hear or heed, another day will come that it, too, will be too late.

His return is a mystery to us. That's why the Bible tells us we are to be prepared now. We are not to wait until it's too late. We are to have faith and believe what God says...one being to believe in Him so you will not perish and have eternal life (John 3:16). There are few people who receive Christ and regret it later. Some walk away but I can't help but feel there is a nagging in their souls knowing they've turned their backs on God. Once you get a taste... 

We are told For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27). All I can hope is that there will be yet another sign of sorts that will stir people into just maybe believing that God is truly in control of all things. We might be seeing the signs right now.  He could be getting ready to return. The Bible, on the other hand, talks about needing to see signs instead of just having faith. Signs are what people desire. That thing we can put our fingers on. Matthew 16:4 says An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign... The Pharisees and Saducees wanted Jesus to give them divine signs from heaven as proof He was who He said. His answer was above and He refused their request. They'd seen his healings but they wanted more. Is that what's happening today?

For Noah and his family, they experienced the loss of all life but their own and the animals they gathered. God separated them, like He still does today. He separates believers and their beliefs from those who do not want to believe. Noah and his family saw the land God had given them destroyed. Oh, the days ahead for this family. Genesis 8:1 says "then God remembered Noah and every living thing within the ark." He remembered! Not that He really forgot. He knew just what He was doing. But it was finally time for a rebuilding of this earth. Imagine the faith Noah now had in this awesome God. How could one forget what He just did?

The great flood, the waters...we are cleansed by water. Although we are told God will never cause another flood to destroy this earth, it has been suggested that fire may be the next thing that consumes...2Peter 3:7: By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. God is known as a consuming fire. But if we consider Noah and heed God's warnings and obey and trust in the Lord, like Noah we will be considered righteous and saved.

If history repeats itself, and I think we all believe this, then maybe we should pay attention to the signs today. Take a step to believe what God has told us, how examples have been set before us to heed. Receive Christ, receive wisdom, receive truth and understanding. Let's not be counted among those Jude talks about:

Jude 1:18 - ... "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."