December 3rd, 2013
How keen is our sense of crisis? ... How acutely do we perceive the dangers facing our lives, our families, and our nation? ... In other words, does the vast majority of folks today have a clue as to what is about to befall us? ... Just looking around, it certainly doesn't seem so! .... So my question to each of you is this ... Does an accurate sense of crisis drive your actions or influence your life in any way today?
It is quite apparent that our nation and planet faces catastrophic dangers that threaten our very survival. .. I often speak about the threat of economic armageddon lingering over our nation ... and also of the spiritual and moral disintegration of our society ... the complete weakness and total ineptness of our national leadership .... our rapidly increasing geo-political impotence ... the dangers we face from increasing crime, disease, epidemics, terrorist threats, and on and on ....... but as I look around and, despite these dangers, I see very little sense of crisis, or urgency .... nationally or individually.
Why, do you think? ... Simply, human nature dislikes the truth when it threatens to disrupt our own interests, desires and lifestyle. ... We will go to great lengths to hide from the truth .. or .. to mold it in our own terms ... especially if the truth demands that we act counter to our desires. ... As a result, this individual and collective lack of a sense of crisis is the result of a culture of self-indulgence, self-gratification and pleasure. ..... Wrapped up in materialism and an unbalanced desire for satisfying the senses, we people have lost touch with reality. .... This is a deadly state of mind!
Ancient history shows what happens when people become consumed by materialism and self-gratification, and lose the capacity to sense crisis. ... Let's look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:36-39 ......
"Know one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. .. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. .. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. .. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
Here we see a passage describing the time of Noah, when people focused on satisfying fleshly lusts and were shocked when the heavens opened and the flood came. ... It is truly a prophecy for today! ... And this is why I continue to press the issue of understanding Bible prophecy! ... In simple terms, it is the primary tool one can use to wake up those who are 'lost' in the crisis ... those are oblivious to what is about to befall this world. ...
My point in all of this? ...
1) Knowing what God says about these times and issues will take any fear we may have away ...
2) Crisis is all around us and this should place a sense of urgency in each of us towards those whom we know that
are 'lost' ... We need to 'witness!' ... We need to 'shine the light of Jesus!
Time is incredibly short so I challenge each of you to start telling your loved ones and acquaintances about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and how He .. and only He .. can deliver them from this coming hour of worldly crisis.
Luke 21:25-28 says this .......
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. .. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. .. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. .. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. .. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." ..... Hallelujah!
The trumpet could sound when you are reading this ... or tomorrow on your way to pick up your kids ... or on your way to the store ........ but know this! ... The time IS upon us! ... Who knows, this may be the last time I get to write to you ... and then, praise God, you will have the Master to listen to for eternity! ..... So ....
Until next time (if there is one),