Promotion Or Prison?

The beginning of a new year is always a time of reflection. So many blessings to count and so many mistakes to learn from. So many joys to remember and so many wounds that are still not healed. And if our evaluations are true, it is also a time for new considerations of the same old priorities.

But first - it is time to mark the new calendars and set aside our planned vacation time. Then we will begin making plans for those special milestones  (a graduation, a 50th anniversary, a 75th birthday, etc.) that come into focus just once in a lifetime.  And we will spare no effort to make it a special day indeed!

Don't you think its a little strange we knock ourselves out planning and executing the highlights within our lives, but we don't have the same enthusiasm and awareness of the Lord's coming? I mean - here we are - witnessing the end-time prophecies coming to pass, the players setting the stage, etc.  I mean we are at the door of Isaiah 17:1; Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 and 39. Yet  our leaders and most of our churches are in denial. They are blind leaders of the blind and both are falling headlong into the ditch from which there is no return.

A friend recently challenged, "What do you mean, 'Prepare'? How does one prepare for the Rapture? If Jesus paid my sin debt in full, if it is all about what HE did and not what I have or have not done, what do I have to do - what is left for me to do to prepare?"

This isn't faith - this is assumption - an attitude that scares the daylights out of me...

Jesus said, "Watch" lest that hour come upon us like a thief. For surely He is coming in a day and an hour we think not (Matthew 24:42-50). He admonishes us to, "Watch therefore" (for Him) in Matthew 25:13 in the parable of the ten virgins, and to keep a good supply of oil (Be filled with the Spirit. Hold fast to your faith. Do not get caught up in the ways of the world). 

Again, Jesus warned that in these last days the hearts of many will grow cold because of a culture of run-away sin, corruption, perversion  and unbelief. "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall  show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible,  they shall deceive even the elect" (Matthew 24: 11 and 24).

In the midst of these warnings Jesus also said, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). He was telling us that we CAN endure the things that are coming, that it is possible to endure it. It will not be easy but WE CAN DO IT! JESUS SAID SO!

The saint that endures to the end will discern the signs of the times as they relate to Israel. He will occupy the time and opportunities that are given to him while he keeps his mind stayed on Christ. He will seek to be balanced in his spiritual walk, sharing the goodness of this life with others so his heart may be found in full practice for the good life to come. He will be his brother's keeper (Matthew 25:34-40)...

Do not look for it for you will not see any long faces on the faithful. Jesus is their bedrock. Joy is their strength. Faith is their long-suffering.

Brokenness is the father of faith.

Faith is the father of joy.

Joy is the father of boldness.

And boldness stokes the engine of works.

Our liberal leaders and the liberal media would not dare to equate the current times with the ancient prophecies. They would have to change their policies, foreign and domestic. They do not understand, as many Christians do not understand, that America has to be rendered powerless by her enemies, or so severely crippled she cannot stand with Israel when his darkest hour comes. We know this will be the case because scripture tells  us that Israel will have no friends, she will stand alone to face a series of mighty end-time invasions.

There is no nation on this earth that will stand with Israel today unless it would be America. And with Barack Obama in the White House, this would be "iffy" and only if Israel would make a very painful deal. Israel is a thorn in the backside of Barack Obama and God is not going to remove it any more than He removed the thorn from the side of Paul. It is there to test him, to keep him in the crosshairs of both God and man, to give him enough rope to rescue Israel or - to hang himself with...

I tend to believe the invaders of Israel will not gamble on what Barack Obama will do. They will make sure we cannot help Israel. It's all about choices and Barack Obama has been dealt a few more critical choices he will have to make. So far his track record has been lousy, some would even say, "treasonous" to America and to Israel. And of course no advisor, no lobbyist or counselor can be held responsible for the choices that are his alone...

Scripture also promises that Israel will not face his enemies alone. The  world will look at tiny Israel and think he is easy pickings but this is a godless delusion. The Lord God of Israel will not only go before the Israelites but He will guard their rear as well, as He did at the Red Sea. Once again He will rout the armies that come, like a cloud to cover the land, and though these armies be many and mighty against Israel, they will perish at the hand and in the fury of the Almighty God.

My point is - and you can take it home with you - we plan for everything from  birthdays to Christmas, to vacations and special days. Why then do we not plan for the biggest and greatest event since God created the heavens and the earth. The Great Flood cannot compare to this event. The parting of the Red Sea cannot compare. Only the powerful and glorious resurrection and ascension of Jesus the Christ qualifies as the show stopper that confirms the coming resurrection and rapture of His Bride.

OUR GOD IS HOLY! And He says it again and again in His Word - NO ONE will enter His Kingdom who is not washed in the blood of the Lamb and made the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. "Except ye be born again you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." That is what Jesus told  Nicodemus and that is what He has said to you and me. 

Nicodemus had asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Now Nicodemus was a devout man, having kept the commandments of God since his early youth. He was a very wealthy, sensitive and compassionate man and yet, he knew his works could not save him. He was right. Jesus told him he was right. Works could not save him.

He had to be born again of the water and the Spirit. He had to love God enough to want to be filled with Him. He had to reverence God enough to obey Him.  He had to put God first in his life - above anyone or anything else in this world or the next.

Jesus told Nicodemus to sell all that he had and give it to the poor and he would have treasures in heaven, "and come," He said, "follow me." But Nicodemus' wealth was so important to him he could not part with it, even though it was now an exposed wedge between him and God. He walked away saddened and Jesus grieved that Nicodemus, a kind and humble religious leader of the people, did not understand.

Jesus wasn't telling Nicodemus that money itself is evil. It is the love of money that looses the evils of greed, jealousy, theft, murder and corruption upon the riches of this world. God wants His children to prosper, but for the right reasons. And it's what a man does with his riches that God cares about - that - and whether or not the man's heart is God-centered or money-centered. Nicodemus did not understand this on that dark night he sought the counsel of Jesus.

Nicodemus did become a disciple of Jesus soon after that and from that time on he labored for the glory of Christ. When he died, Nicodemus was promoted from mortality to immortality, from the temporary things of this world that rust and corrode to the riches of eternity where thieves cannot break through and steal. 

People worship all kinds of things more than they worship God.  Some  don't believe God exists at all so they worship themselves. For such as these, death will become a prison instead of a promotion. It is seen in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

Lazarus entered Paradise perfectly and wondrously whole. He had been delivered of his afflictions. He had been comforted. The rich man opened his eyes in hell where he was imprisoned in the torment of eternal flames. He cried out but there was no help for him. He had made his decision while he was in this world. 

Nevertheless, it was never the plan in the heart of God...

Today God is asking, as He does every day, "Will you believe? Will you trust me?"

It may be your first invitation, it may be your last. Only God knows for only God determines when the last line has been crossed and the last chance has been offered.

How tragic our eternities can become when we say, "No" to God. If you haven't said "yes" to Him yet, this can be the day of your salvation. He is waiting for you to call on Him so He can answer you. He is waiting for your confession of sins and your repentance so He can forgive you. He is waiting for you to trust Him and hunger for Him so He can fill you with Himself.

And remember, when you have the Holy Spirit living within you, you have ALL that God is and ALL that Jesus is right inside of you. They are living, breathing and working inside of you to change you, to transform you into His image, empowering you, caring for you, teaching and comforting you, and loving you more than you can imagine. Think about that - for that my friends, is wholesome preparation...