When the crash of a falling oak is heard in the forest, it is a sign that the woodsman is abroad—and every tree in the area might tremble that the sharp edge of the axe should find it soon. We are all like trees marked for the axe. The fall of one person should remind us that for everyone, whether as great as the cedar or humble as the fir, the appointed hour is coming quickly. I trust that, by often hearing of death, we do not become callous to it. May we never be like birds in a church steeple, building their nests as the bells toll and sleeping quietly when the solemn funeral peals startle the air. We should regard death as the weightiest of all events, and be sobered by its approach. We are foolish to make sport while our eternal destiny hangs by a thread. The sword is out of its scabbard, so let us not trifle with it. It is polished and the edge is sharp, so let us not play with it. The one who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool, he is a madman. When the voice of God is heard among the trees of the garden, let the fig tree and the sycamore, the elm and the cedar alike hear the sound. Be ready, servant of Christ, for your Master will come suddenly, when an ungodly world least expects Him. See to it that you are faithful in His work, for the grave will soon be dug for you. Be ready, parents—see that your children are brought up in the fear of God, for they will soon be orphans. Be ready, businesspeople—take care that your affairs are correct and that you serve God with all your hearts, for the days of your earthly service will soon end and you will be called to give account for “the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). May we all prepare for the great King’s court hearing with special attention, a care that will be rewarded with the gracious commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
One of the chief distractions of Satan and his minions is to keep people from believing the shortness of the hour in which they live.
Oh I have plenty of time! I am not dead yet! I have plans! I am healthy! I have nothing to worry about!
Said just about everyone who has died in the last hour.
Nobody wants to believe in the shortness of life. In Christ or not in Christ your life has a set number of years, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Everyone.
We don't have a say in the matter. In regards to a 'life extension' throughout my years of praying or hearing others pray, they ask for grace and mercy in regard to someone at deaths door. That if it be His Will that they may live longer. Our time here is always in His hands. Our time here has a purpose and it's not to whimsically enjoy all the perks of life and family or to see the world. It's to become Christ-like. It's to grow in Christ. When we came to Christ we became His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared for us.
We see all kinds of protests about death these days. All the while ignoring the facts that some of those protests had to do with people quite possibly dying because of the evil they had done. Just because it was on camera doesn't mean that God didn't say enough is enough.
Some protesters don't even know who they are protesting for.
The truth is nobody has ever accidentally died. Nobody. Life and death are in the hands of Jesus Christ and nobody else.
Satan tries to manipulate the thoughts behind that, but only the Creator decides.
Truth be known I groan within for the day of the return of Christ. He tells me it's very soon. The day is fast approaching. Prophecy is being fulfilled at an incredible pace. There is nobody that I have lost in this world to death that I would ever wish to be here now....save those who now reside in Hell...and those I only would wish could change their minds. But Scripture is clear. It is appointed unto man once to die then comes the judgment.
You have but one shot to get it right in the eyes of God. One life to live for Jesus. One.
You who are in Christ must still choose daily to live for Jesus. You who have not decided, you will continue to hear that call to you to come to Christ to be saved...until...as it was in the days of Noah...the Lord closed the door of opportunity to get into the Ark. There will be a day, soon, when the door to Salvation, prior to the Rapture, will close. After that day, it will be possible to be saved, but oh the horror of life until those 7 years are completed. There will be no second Rapture of the Church after the first one. There will be thousands of martyrs.
These things happening in the Middle East are not coincidental. They are prophetic.
More evidence of the existence of God.
Take life and death seriously. I struggle every day with things to do or needing done. I struggle with my failures in this body to live as Christ intended for me to live, but in Christ is my hope that these days are drawing near to that glorious day when I am one again embracing my Savior.
Look at your life. Look at your priorities. Do not be ignorant of what is going on around you. Knowing football won't get you into Heaven. Being a college or university fan will not get you into Heaven. Being one and having that association being more important to you than being an Ambassador for Christ in its importance should alarm you. There is no harassment or berating behavior that is acceptable for a child of God towards another person for any reason. In God's eyes it's NOT all in fun.
Look at how your life's priorities are. Look at what things you call important. Are they important to you or God?
Today is the day to make changes.
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