Live ready, not afraid
2 Timothy 3:1–3 (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Matthew 24:6-8 (NIV)
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Sounds a bit like today, right? These verses are good for reminding us all where in history, and indeed God's plans, we are presently located. When you read through the list of "end times evidences" you would have to do it with your eyes closed to not see the day and time we are presently in. Also, when you have a good look around at what is happening in and around Israel, at the rise in Muslim and Islamic rights and even with the radical changes to climate, all these things send out a very real call to the dozing Christian: "WAKE UP".
These very real prophetic sign posts, set into position many years ago, should not produce fear in the heart of the believer but rather motivation; they should motivate us to make the knowing of Jesus the greatest priority in our lives, to making His Good news known to all men before His return, to living as the kingdom people He has called us to be in our generation.
Notice that Matthew writes, "When you see these things, don't be alarmed (afraid); they are the starting contractions to the coming of something great", or should we say someone great. He does not say, "Freak out, get scared, and give yourself a heart attack with fear and worry", but that we should realise, with soberness, the hour in which we are living. I don't know about you but these verses awaken me to the destiny I have to live and the true purpose for why I am alive now.
Don't let present day life, with all its distractions, keep you from knowing the hour at hand. Don't let the comfort of modern life coax you into the restful sleep of apathetic living. Rather, awaken your heart and be alert knowing that, as with a birthing mother when the contractions begin, the process has started, there is no going back, only an imminent arrival. Live ready, Champion, for the return of the King.
Don't be afraid, live ready! Bless you,
Andy
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