December 31, 2013

Well here we are at the end of another year ... and what a year it has been! ... In all the time that I've served as a 'watchman' for the Lord, I've not seen one yet to match it. ......... I've many times referred to Christ' teachings concerning the "birth pains" we will experience in these final days before His glorious return .... which simply means the increase in intensity and frequency of prophesied events such as satanic deception of the truth, wars and rumors of wars, kingdoms rising against kingdoms, famines, earthquakes, and all sorts of pestilences,   (see Matthew 24:4-8) ....  One would have to be spiritually and physically blind not to see that this is exactly what is taking place ....

Knowing these "birth pains" will continue to rapidly increase as we go forward in the coming year, I feel an urgent need to encourage each of you to make a concerted effort to strengthen your belief in the one and only thing that can deliver us from the coming wrath ... that being our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ... Quite honestly, I don't think we can even imagine how difficult it is going to get before it is over. ... Jesus said in Matthew 24:22 that ... "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."  .... Pretty scary! ....

Speaking of this needed faith, I want to share an example .... I received this following story from a brother & sister in Christ. ... When I read it, it moved me greatly, and now I want to share it with each of you. ... I pray it will touch you as much as it touched me ..... 

"After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the Church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, he briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.

"In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the Church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. ...... With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak ..... 

" 'A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast,' he began.  'when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore.  The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.'

"The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

"The aged minister continued with his story, ...  'Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life:  to which boy would he throw the other end of the life-line? He only had seconds to make the decision.  The father knew that his son was a Christian and he, also, knew that his son's friend was not.  The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.

" 'As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' .. he threw out the life-line to his son's friend.  By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night.  His body was never recovered.'

"By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.

" 'The father,' he continued,  'knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus.  Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save his son's friend.'

" 'How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us.  Our heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we could be saved.  I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life-line he is throwing out to you in this service.'

" ... With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. ... The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. .. However, no one responded to the appeal.

"Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side.  'That was a nice story,' politely stated one of them, 'but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.'

" 'Well, you've got a point there,' the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible.  A big smile broadened his narrow face.  He once again looked up at the boys and said, 'It sure isn't realistic, is it?  But, I'm standing here today to tell you that the story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been for God to give up His Son for me.  You see ... I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend.' "

Wow! .... Stop and think about this for just a moment! ...  Do I have that kind of faith? .... Do you? .... But I truly believe this is the kind of faith we will need in the coming days to survive this quickly 'spinning-out-of-control' world. ...

So here's what we need to do ... We need to stand together in ALL things! ... We need to earnestly pray for one another each and every day! ... We need to get on our knees and ask God what it is we need to do right now to reach as many as we can! .......  Will we face opposition? ... You bet! ... and it will only increase as we draw ever nearer ... 2 Peter 3:3-4 says this ... "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own desires. 4) They will say, 'Where is this coming he promised?  Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." ... Then in verse 9, he concludes ... "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

We have a prophetically 'tough' year ahead of us, so let us first support one another, and then do as much as we can to reach those who are 'asleep' ....  May our great God richly bless you and keep you in these coming days, and know that I will be praying for each and every one of you every day!

The Lord is coming back at any moment! .... Hallelujah! .... but until then ....

Until next time,

Red