Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Being Prepared for His Return

Being Prepared for His Return 

Thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist. . . . So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. 
I will arise and depart, for this is not my rest. Here I have no continuing city, but I seek the one to come. There remains therefore a rest for me as one of Yours, Lord God. I will let my waist be girded and my lamps burn; and I myself will be like one who waits for the master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks I may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. I gird up the loins of my mind, I will be sober, and I will rest my hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ. One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind . . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore if I am mature, this should be my mind-set. May I be ever watching and ready for the return of Your victorious Son. EXODUS 12:11; MICAH 2:10; HEBREWS 13:14; HEBREWS 4:9; LUKE 12:35–37; 1 PETER 1:13; PHILIPPIANS 3:13–15 Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God 

I was having a conversation yesterday that saddened me greatly.  Someone was asking me some serious questions about what in essence was questions about faith.  On the surface it was questions about some end times events.  Did I think this medicine was the Mark of the Beast referred to in the Bible. 

Then that question branched off into some things that were what saddened me.  Somewhere people are being taught that when Christ returns that a great many Christians would be left here to teach others about Christ throughout the Tribulation.  In no way is this Biblical!  The language of the Bible is clear.  When the Father says it's time, all the dead in Christ rise first. Then those of us who are alive and remain will join them in the air.  In no way is there any teaching about leaving believers behind on purpose.  The Spirit's role only slightly changes during the Tribulation.  He will still be about the Father's business of saving lives.  He just won't be restraining the Antichrist that was created by Satan for that hour of mankind.  A great many people will be saved after the Rapture due to reality hitting that they missed out due to being deceived in the places they thought were real Churches. 

Being ready to leave is important. Being about the Father's business in seeking the lost is right there as our primary goal.  That's the Great Commission call to believers.  It's not fancy houses or cars. It's not grand vacations. It's not even retirement life. Most assuredly it's not false teachings that lead people into a state of fear and anxiety about being left here to endure what happens after the Rapture.  

In Romans it's clear that there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  Condemnation is a judgment against.  It's a ruling against. It involves punishment. We who are justified in Christ by the work of the Spirit are not viewed by God as condemned. 

In Thessalonians we read about the promise of His return and that we will be going with Him. We will not see the Mark of the Beast.  We will see things that will lead to it.  

When challenged about paying taxes Jesus replied to render to Ceasar the things to Ceasar and to God the things that are God's.  In regards to this medicine.  It's not a means of control.  In all reality this is a new type of flu and combating it has to start somewhere.  For decades it's been a serious concern of the Medical world that our reliance upon antibiotics would someday create a bug that's impervious to them. This isn't that.  

As an example goes that I have shared before.  A woman was crying out for God to save her. A truck comes by to offer to take her to safety. She says no, God's going to save her. The waters rise, she still cries out to God. A boat comes along and they offer to save her. She says no, God's going to save her. Standing on the roof of her house a helicopter sees her and wants to save her. She tells them no. God's going to save her. She dies. Stands before Jesus and is complaining to Him. Why didn't you save me! To which He replied, I sent a truck, a boat, and a helicopter, what more did you need?  You can make use of this medicine or not. But don't complain to God if in choosing not to use what He has provided to help you that you go through things that you didn't need to. 

God gave you a brain with the expectation of us using it.  We often use it incorrectly. 
We fear things we shouldn't and don't fear what we should.  

Resting in Christ Jesus is what brings peace that passes all understanding.  If you aren't experiencing that...it's time to pray n ask why you aren't.  In Psalms 23 we will be lead THROUGH things, not lead TO things.  We won't be left in some situation without Christ. He will be there, leading the way THROUGH whatever is in your life.  The choice of going through those things kicking and screaming is on us.  But for those of us who are saved, we are given this:

2 Timothy 1:7 — English Standard Version ( ESV) ... God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.


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