Timeline
So it's 2020 and the world has lost its mind.
Earthquakes. Wars. Rumors of Wars. Talk of Peace. Not to mention a world wide pandemic..or the pandemonium of civil unrest .. or the politics of the day .. or social distancing .. or friends and families pitted against each other.
Distractions.
All of it.
Jesus said these things would happen. He gave us fair warning. He said to watch for it. He said these things are signs of His return.
Where we are in the timeline of His return is really not an issue. He put each and every one of us when and where we live and exist. We are strategically and precisely placed where we work and play and worship... where we raise and love our families. We are here for a reason. We didn't just happen to be born into this era.
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and [exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge ]the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17: 24-31 NASB)
No, the date of His return is not the issue. The issue is that we are supposed to be obeying Him.
What a privilege and honor that He chose us to exist on this earth at this time! Even though it appears that the world is in a shambles, we don't have to wonder what in the world we can do or how we are to respond. We have a part to play. We have instructions from the Most High.
We are here to seek Him and find Him and worship Him. To learn more and more about Him and how He works. To reach out to Him and build a relationship that will span all of eternity! He put us here to learn to trust Him with not only our earthly existence, but our eternal being. He put us here to learn that obedience to Him is sheer joy and disobedience is heartbreak.
He put us here not to be distracted by all the evil and plots and plans of the enemy, but to look to Him for instructions, to gear up and make war against all wrong doing.
He put us in this time and place to be powerful and resolved in our faith. To trust Him without a shadow of a doubt. To have an outrageous belief that He has our backs and will never fail us. To face what may come looking up with joy because we know that He did the same.
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2 NASB)
He put us here to know the Truth:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NASB) and "If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8: 36)
He will give us the directions to follow. He is the Way to walk.
He said this: "Don't look to your left or to your right. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left." (Isaiah 30: 21)
He also said: "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may]be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 5-9 NASB)
Take courage. Be strong. He's got this. He's not hiding out. He's right here with us.
He said: "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Matthew 13: 28-29 KJV)
Like I said, the day of His return is not the issue. Just know that He is returning. Being faithful and ready and watching for it is what we are to do.
Within days after He shared this parable about a fig tree, Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples. Afterwards, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and Peter, James and John followed. He asked them to stay and watch while he went a little further to pray.
While waiting and watching, His disciples fell into the temptation of darkness and all of them fell asleep.
When He returned, He found them sleeping.
"And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
"And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." (Mark 14: 34-41 KJV)
He has gone a little further ahead of us, and He is interceding for us, but we have our instruction: He instructs us to "Watch and Pray".
Don't fall asleep. Don't fall into lockstep with the world because of all the distractions.
Fix your eyes, your thoughts, your heart and soul on Jesus.
Watch so we will be aware of what is going on around us, not only what is going on in the world, but in the spiritual realm. Learn to recognize that everything that is going on in the earth is a reflection of what is taking place in the spiritual heavenlies.
Put on your armor and take up your weapons. You have a sword and a shield.
You are not a wimp to be overcome by the dark. You are a warrior!
Pray so that we will not fall to temptation. So that we won't sleep when He asks us to be AWAKE and living in His power.
Share His Word! Because that is how He uses us to affect others.
Why should we worry? Do what He tells us to do. Watch, Pray, Trust. He's got this.
Kathy Ellis
Comments