by David Brenneman
"For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." Matthew 13:17-23.
There's those who have lived through horrors that most will never know. Even in this very hour in which we live! A second chance, another chance, is what they hope for.
In recent years we lived through this pandemic. Many cried out to get their freedom back. Many cried in hospitals because of what either they or their loved ones or friends were going through.
In most cases diseases, famines, earthquakes do not discriminate. The mere rare survival is sometimes referred to as a miracle, maybe even an act of God.
Decades ago there was a pop rock song with a line in it "every breath you take I'll be watching you".
Horrors unimagined even by the standards of Hollywood are on the horizon for mankind.
To those paying attention to the Word of God and having been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ...they look forward to the return of Jesus. That calling away of His Church before the great and terrible day of the Lord which is yet to come.
I am a firm believer in the Rapture of the Church before the events of the book of Revelation.
I know in my heart of hearts that just like "but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”" 1 Corinthians 2:9, eye has not seen or ear has heard of how things are going to be after this taking away of the Church of God from the Earth.
In that moment, after this happens, billions will only then "get it". Only then will a lifetime of bad choices ring loud in their minds.
Crying out as loud as they can for God, for Jesus, to come back and give them another chance!
My Dear Reader...oh my Dear Reader...your second chance comes with every single breath you take! Right here, right now. There will be horrors coming that will be on a scale never seen. People will be dying on a scale hitherto unheard of outside the sacred writings of the Scriptures. People will be beyond emotionally spent. Craving hope from whomever has a plan or exudes peace of mind that they believe they can live with...as long as it brings something resembling normal to them...they'll pay the price.
But oh those immediate moments after the Rapture of the Church.
Those moments will burn into the minds of billions of people. They won't soon forget the global disasters that overtake everyone. They won't soon forget watching people vanishing right before their eyes. There is an explanation that will surface from so-called world leaders as to what happened to all those people and it will be believed!
Oh how it does not need to be that way for anyone!
Impossible! You might be saying to yourself. Look back before the year 2020...would you honestly have thought that was possible? Look at what's going on in California...the ravaging fires, what happened in North Carolina, Florida. Oh my Dear Reader...these things are extremely possible.
What can you do? I sit here and I sigh a long sigh. Many will still disagree and dismiss what's going on in the world as well as being gravely mistaken that they have time. That they'll see it coming and in that moment turn to Jesus and He will take care of them.
Tell me, my Friend, if even Jesus says it will be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, how will anyone prepare for this? Hmm?
Time is not on the side of anyone still running away from Jesus.
For those who read and study the Bible...they know that there nothing left prophecy wise before Jesus will return. N o t h i n g.
My point of view is this...at this moment of time...all that remains is for the last person who is going to be saved is saved. That is it. My personal view goes further that it might even be like bookends. The thief on the cross was the first. Never did anything but truly believe and trust in Jesus. Was never baptized. Never attended a church or Sunday School. Never attended any classes. This last person whom the Father knows is the last member of the Church will choose life in Christ and that's it.
A grave mistake billions make is that they have time.
My Friend this topic has been on my heart for days. The urgency is there. We absolutely do not know the day nor the hour of the return of Jesus but...but...we are to live every day as though today were that day.
Don't believe for a moment that you're ok without Jesus right now. Nobody who isn't saved is safe. Regardless of how beautiful their lives may look. Satan's not going to bother with people who have no interest in Jesus.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
Your second chance happens with every breath God has graciously granted to you. Millions woke up in either Heaven or Hell during the night...or during the day...depending on your part of the world.
All thought they had another day...another chance...another opportunity. They breathed their last because they were out of chances...they had all they were going to receive.
Jesus has been knocking at your heart for your entire life. He's known you since before you were born. He knit you together in your mother's womb. He watched you take your first breath. He watched you cry your first cry. Take your first step. He's so in love with you that He stepped up to take your place and die for you. He took your place.
He wants a relationship with you. Wants to save you but...you...must ask for Him to do that.
"But...He might ask me to..."
Really? A choice between Heaven and Hell and you're concerned about what He might ask you to do? My Dear Reader...if you're trusting Him to save you...can't you trust Him with the rest of you?
You took a great many breaths while reading this. A great many second chances were given to you.
None were promised to you. They were given by the grace of God. You didn't earn any of them.
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell 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 will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where 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." 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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