by David Brenneman
So many people live in the moment, without regard to what the Spirit is trying to teach them. Not asking, not seeking, not knocking. People who are certainly looking after themselves rather than what it is the Lord Jesus Christ has in mind for them.
People going around as if expecting nothing because they seek nothing.
Jesus, as the Bible says, isn't being slow in keeping His promise of returning...He's unwilling that any should perish but that all would come to Christ to be saved.
Our lives ARE part of something bigger, much bigger, than anything we can possibly fathom. There's none in this world who escape the notice of the God of this Universe.
There are no insignificant people.
You are not insignificant in the eyes of God.
You, my Dear Reader, are on the mind of Christ at this very moment. Yes, you.
There are none who escape His notice.
You were on His mind when He was on the cross. Every single person who has ever lived was on His mind then, and is on His mind now.
People are why He left Heaven to come to Earth to live a sinless life, die a horrific death, and go through the agonies of the resurrection.
People who disregard Him and people who look to the sky to see if today's the day He comes back for them.
Jesus has kept each and every single promise that He has ever made.
Jesus promised that on a day of His Father's choosing, He would indeed return, call from Heaven for all who have died in Christ to arise first and then all who are alive and remain.
Do not live your life in any way but in expectation of that day. This is written in the Bible in many places. To be alert, to be wise, to make the most of your time. To be found by Him as a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.
Yes, we have likely jobs to do, families to care for. But outside of those Biblically important things, are we making the most of our time?
Governments love to redact documents before releasing to the public. They even often have committees that spend inordinate amounts of time and money to redact information they don't want you to read.
Jesus hides nothing from you that's beneficial to you. He may not disclose present and future things to you or things about others to you, but He will disclose what you need to understand to grow in Christ.
For His reasons, it seems that Jesus has often given me various off-the-wall insights into the world around me. Figuring out puzzles is often something I do to kickstart my brain in the morning after my coffee. I see many things in this world differently and know these things are things that the Spirit is opening my mind to see. Satan's working overtime to prepare for the return of Jesus. Read that again. Satan's not wanting to be caught by surprise when Jesus stands up to give the command for the saved to come home. Satan's causing the manufacturing industry to be so redundant that should the Rapture of the Church happen, the impact will be minimal. He’s driving the current computer revolution. Yes, I certainly believe right now we're in the midst of another computer revolution. The thoughts that were around in the 80's of bringing global powerhouses like Microsoft to court for monopoly charges are not happening today. Today their work is being encouraged. The drive to create the perfect AI is all that's on the minds of all mega-companies with an interest in it. Windows 11, Windows 12 will have integrated AI into them. I have been convinced that AI, Artificial Intelligence, is certainly not of God. Satan's wrapped elements of it into things like ChatGPT. That fruit of the tree of knowledge is being gift-wrapped for all who want a bite.
People who ought to be looking to see if today's the day that Jesus might return are so involved with their schedules that they will indeed be taken by surprise. People who are Christians are embracing rather than questioning things this world is offering that are not God honoring. People who are Christians who are, in all reality, introducing idols, into their lives. In their own wisdom they see no harm in what they are getting mixed up in. They aren't seeking to ask Jesus what they ought to do with or about it...coincidently...neither did Adam or Eve.
We who are in Christ are told in the New Testament to be of sound mind. This means to be thorough in our thoughts and intentions. Paul taught on taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Essentially not forgetting how easy it is to decide things apart from the wisdom of God. Hezekiah used his own wisdom in not wanting to die. Hezekiah indeed was granted extended life. Hezekiah was walking in his own wisdom and setup a horrible future for the nation. He wouldn't see it but his actions would lead his people into some of the most horrific years of sin that the nation would ever see.
We ought to be seeking the wisdom of God before we trust our own or that of others. Our wisdom tends to make us think that the return of Jesus is oh so far away, and in the case of some people, think that it's not going to happen in their lifetime.
Is your house prepared?
Are you really ready to stand before Jesus in the next few minutes, hours, days?
By your house, I mean everything about you. Should you stand before Jesus, will you be embarrassed?
Realizing that you have never spent true time with Jesus in prayer?
Realizing that you haven't taken the signs He spoke of seriously?
Realizing that you've never read through His Word, the Bible, even one time?
Realizing that back in what was your physical world, that you left behind all sorts of idols?
Jesus said clearly:
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." John 14:3.
Do you take this as the promise of God or as wishful thinking?
"Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:50-57.
Do not believe every thing that the world tries to convince you of. Satan's the defeated ruler of this present world. Everything from psychology, to medical, to the physical world, he is trying to use to usurp the power and authority and purpose of Christ Jesus.
As was a phrase a long time ago, perhaps it should be renewed for today.
Jesus said it, I believe it, that settles it.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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