DO YOU SEE IT? Do you
sense it? Have you been feeling it is so
obvious that you cannot help but sit up and take notice? I used to wonder how my elderly grandparents
felt about all the huge changes in their lifetime, especially my one grandpa
who lived to be 95½ years old. I could
only imagine what it was like to have lived in the days when there were only
horses and buggies – and then to have witnessed the invention of the very first
cars and trucks with many, many new models and designs through the decades –
and all the way up to “seeing” the first man walk on the moon in 1969, getting
there via the space shuttle. Just think
… transportation had changed from horses to space shuttles. I often wondered what it felt like to
encompass such change and experience it first-hand in the span of one
life-time. Suddenly it is happening to
me, but in a much different way. And I
am definitely years and years away from celebrating my 95th
birthday! The kinds of changes I am
seeing are in a totally different realm.
Of course, I could say I have witnessed life pre-television and through
the years have seen the metamorphoses to currently being able to watch TV shows
on computers and phones. Every arena of
life has changed from what it “used to be” into what it is now. And even that does not remain the same. Things are continually changing. What you purchase today as the latest in
technology – is outdated within months, not even years. Some changes are incredibly amazing and
wonderful and are truly for the better!
Yet even some things intended for good in the beginning have been
slanted and twisted and tweaked into something that borders on unethical – and
even boasts of being full-blown sin! We
have a right to choose how we want to live our lives, people say. Yes, we do, and it is God who gives us that
freedom. But when our choices have eroded away all
semblance of what is good and right and pure, we have taken on the role of
playing God with no concern for godliness, justice, or morality. From old-time revivals that used to shake
people to the core of their beliefs and awaken a passion within to bow down and
serve the One and Only True God – we now have millions of people worldwide who
bow to any god with any name or even boldly state that “they” are their own
god. From being free to proclaim the
name of Christ in most places around the world – we are now witnessing the
beheading and burning alive of those who will not bow to the god of the
terrorists who have lost all value for life.
From centering life around God, family, and church – now we are seeing
individuals with skewed and sinful lifestyles overtaking the pulpits, politics,
classrooms, and all forms of media – flaunting their rejection of God before
all who will give them audience. I
realize not all of this has taken place overnight; some of it has been a
gradual slip and slide into the dangerous acceptance of sin. So gradual in fact – that many people are
totally deceived into thinking that sin is not sin at all. That’s why evil is being unleashed in ways
that take our breath away. What I am
seeing in these past few months has escalated way beyond what we have witnessed
in the past few years, and that was bad enough! There is a seemingly pent-up
fury of evil being unleashed all around us that causes something within us to
revolt in shock and horror. Or at least
it should – and that something is the presence and power of the living God
within us! There is no way that good and
evil can mix. They are opposites to the
umpteenth degree of definition and reality!
Good is beautiful! And evil is
horrifically ugly. Good is healthy and
wondrous! Evil is destruction, darkness,
and death. Good brings peace! And evil breeds fear. Humanly speaking, what we see approaching on
a daily basis now should send us running into hiding. Confusion and fear abounds. Good is being snuffed out everywhere we
turn. BUT . . . when we see these things
happening, rather than trading our lives as we’ve known them for a fearful
future, God’s Word has a different instruction for us. Please open your Bible to Luke chapter 21 and
read verses 5 – 36, carefully taking in the message. Yes, we are
told that there will be “fearful events and great signs from heaven.” There will
be “persecution and anguish and perplexity.” Humanity will
“faint and be apprehensive” at the magnitude of what is coming. BUT . . . look what God’s Word says
next: “At that time they will see the
Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up
and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (vs. 27-28)
Do you feel the excitement and anticipation of Christ’s coming?!! Did you notice the action words that Jesus
spoke of when He was sharing this with His disciples? What are we to do when this old world and its
former best is disintegrating into the very worst that it will have to
offer? Catch this: we are to STAND UP! We are to LIFT UP our heads! WHY?
Because, dear ones . . . OUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR!!! And let me tell you, when we stand up in
Christ, when we lift up our heads in Christ, and because our redemption is
drawing near – WE WILL HAVE NO FEAR!
Hallelujah! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!! Do you see?!
REMEMBER . . .
“Keep awake
then and watch at all times (be discreet, attentive, and ready),
praying that
you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy
to escape all
these things (taken together) that will take place,
and to stand
in the presence of the Son of Man.”
~ Luke 21:36
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
