by David Brenneman
“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:32-51.
"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants." Psalms 90:12-13.
It's hard for some to accept the truth of God even as Believers I think. Some may say that the sense of urgency to proclaim the gospel of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ isn't as urgent as it appears to be.
We can easily fall into complacency much as those being written to in the Bible. We can think that His return is far off in the future when the truth is it CAN be any day...when it IS going to happen any day now.
It's oh so easy to get swept up in the moment and not put much effort into the learning we're to be engaged in by the Spirit of God.
There once was a cartoon of a Grandpa being asked by his Grandson why he read his Bible so much. The response was he was studying for his final exams.
God the Father left the Spirit here to teach and I have to wonder if He's a frustrated Teacher! Students who don't listen or try to listen. Thinking they have enough of life figured out and aren't paying attention in class.
They go about their lives claiming to be Believers yet don't try to live out the Christian life. They may go to Church but don't open up their Bible on their own time to learn or get to know Jesus themselves.
Nobody knows exactly when Jesus will return...yet oh so many thousands and thousands of people live life like it wouldn't be today.
Jesus Himself said "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.".
Before He left the command was given to make more disciples teaching them all that He commanded them.
Jesus said that it was good that He was going because the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come and teach them all things.
Are you studying? Are you seeking to learn what you can from the Spirit of God? Do you put other things before your time with Jesus?
Are you ready for that day and hour of which can be at any time now?
Are you only taking in the Word of God when you're at Church?
If so, do you think so little of what Jesus did for you? Is your respect for your Teacher that low?
In Malachi we read of how little respect the people and leaders had for the Lord. They were rebuked for it. Would you be?
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wants to own
All I once thought gain, I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
… Now my heart's desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
… Oh to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death, my Lord
So with You to live and never die
… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
You're my all, You're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord
… I love You, Lord
"Knowing You" Graham Kendrick
Will you be shocked or overjoyed in that instant in the twinkling of an eye that we are found to be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Jesus had a lot to say in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation about lukewarm Christians. None of it was good.
Getting warm by being around Christians isn't it. Living by Christian principles isn't it.
A real relationship with Jesus is what's it. A relationship where we learn from the Spirit to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Ready to leave when He calls, found by Him to be doers of the word and not just hearers only who delude themselves.
How do you look at your life now?
Got some things to change? Priorities to redo? Good.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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