How Near? As Near as Our Hearts.

How Near? As Near as Our Hearts.

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." James‬ ‭5:7‭-‬8‬.

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ isn't going to be wrapped up in a magnificent, loud, outlandish way. 

Each person who lives and eventually dies, steps into eternity.  Their day with the Lord is immediately upon them.  Either to go to their judgment against them in Hell or to go directly into the presence of Jesus Christ in Heaven. 

There's no worldly fanfare as people depart this world like what happens in Heaven for those who came to Christ Jesus for salvation. 

Nor can any in the world fathom the horrors that await those who rejected Jesus Christ as the only way to be saved. 

When Jesus stands from His Throne to receive the saved living and the dead in Christ, the world will only know after it happens. 

Being alert, being aware of the affairs of the nation of Israel.  Being in the Word of God.  Being in prayer.  Lifting up ourselves to the Throne of God as well as others.  Going and making new disciples. Teaching them to follow all that He commanded. These are the deeds done in the body that matter.  Learning to be living life as Jesus wants us to live life like is to be obedient to our Father in Heaven as well.  

There is much to come for humanity and humanity cannot fathom the depths of what's going on now let alone what the future holds.

You think that the current situation in Israel is unique to right now?  That any conflicts concerning them is new or original?

"O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves.  They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones.  They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah. Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,  Who were destroyed at En-dor, Who became as dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves The pastures of God.” O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like chaff before the wind. Like fire that burns the forest And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, So pursue them with Your tempest And terrify them with Your storm.  Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish, That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth." ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭83:1‭-‬18‬.

The names only look different.  The reality is this section of the world wants to push Israel into the sea. To wipe it off the face of the Earth. Why?  Because they are indeed God's chosen people. He gave His word to Abraham and will keep it. He caused His name to dwell among the children of Israel.  He gave His word to King David.  Nothing this world decides in the United Nations will ever supercede the promises of God. 

Speaking of Jesus's promises...He is the fulfillment of a  promise to King David to keep someone from His lineage on the Throne. He is King Jesus. His reign will never end.  Satan's schemes cannot alter that so he is yet still going after those whom the Father’s love resides.  All who call on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation are the beloved of God. We are those outside the lost sheep of the nation of Israel that the Scriptures said would be drawn into the fold.

We join in the delusions of the world when we go about life doing our own thing. 

When the things of this world are more important than the things of God for us. 

When the priorities of the Spirit aren't as important to us as God intended them to be. 

Jesus Christ is Lord. 

Jesus Christ is the promise keeper. 

Jesus Christ is returning and as He asked...will He find the faith when He does?

Will He find you and I ready to go?

Will He find you and I as doers of the word and not just hearers only who delude themselves?

Jesus is going to complete the Word of God's prophecies.  No ruler, no litigation, no political policies, no laws of the land, no resolutions, no words nor armaments, are going to change that. 

Are you really really ready to meet with Jesus?  My Dear Reader you don't know how close to eternity you are.  You might not even draw another breath before you finish reading this and off you will go.

My personal conviction is that it is not an Angel who takes someone to Heaven or Hell.  My conviction is its Jesus Christ Himself.  He said He goes to prepare a place for you and I and He will come back to receive us to Himself. That where He is there we may be also.

If indeed He keeps His promises for life unto Heaven, my belief is He will escort those who rejected Him to their place in Hell.  He is the Judge, there is no Jury, and He is the Executioner of the judgments of God...as well as the blessings of God. 

What are you doing in your life to grow in Christ?  Anything? Nothing?  Do you want to stand before Jesus having empty hands, knowing you had every opportunity to grow in Christ? 

I do believe that at the return of Jesus to take His Church home, there are going to be those with nothing having been done to grow in Christ.  The thief on the cross had nothing at the beginning of the Church. Today he's a resident of Heaven.  As saved as anyone else who's there. 

We do what we do for Jesus out of an abundance of gratitude for all He's done for us.  How's that appearing in your life?  How's that lived out?   Your priorities are all the evidence of what you think about how important the free gift of salvation was to you and is to you. 

King David spent a lot of time with Jesus in prayer.  The Psalms are replete with his conversations with Jesus. 

The book of Psalms has 150 chapters.  If you were writing your conversations with Jesus how many insightful, meaningful, prayers would there be?  

Are you ready to meet Jesus face-to-face?

Are you excited at all for the life to come next that's with Him?

Are you really realizing now that things between you and Jesus need to improve?

Start today.  Forget resolutions about physical health if your Spiritual health is on life support.  

"FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM. '" Matthew 13:15.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.