How often in the past few weeks alone have either you or someone around you mentioned how much things have changed?
We live in day and time where people are not only alarmed and puzzled by current and global events, they are flat out mixed up!
Up is down and right is wrong. People are no longer content living within the image God created them—and as a result, have decided that we, (who take no issue with our own image), must see them as they see themselves or else!
Refuse to issue a marriage license to two people that God does not recognize as a couple and you’ll likely lose your job. Don’t bake a cake–you’ll be fined and may lose your business! Greater, refuse to not renounce the Name above Every name and you will quite literally lose your head. You’ll spend years in jail suffering unthinkable cruelties and torture. And no I’m not speaking of Peter who did endure a death of crucifixion, Paul, beheaded in Rome, or Stephen the first disciple to die being stoned to death. James too was beheaded.
I’m talking about Asia Bibi, accused blasphemer or Pastor Saeed Abedini, who from 2013, spent over three years in an Iranian prison suffering beatings, threats and isolation. Why? Because like his brothers before him, He loved His King more than his own life and wouldn’t deny Him. And yet Solomon reminds us, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc.1:9).
There are times in life that to fully get hold of where we are, we need to understand where we have been—until that understanding bleeds out from our toes…
Allow me to introduce you to Tacitus and Suetonius, both Roman historians. They verify my words by sharing with you what they too knew to be truth, in part, the persecution of Christians at the hand of Nero. Yet,even with their witness neither my words nor theirs are little more to you than shared facts—we each are a mere resource. The Word of God only must be your guide and foundation; the sole Truth you both rely and build on. So to showcase the validity of Gods’ Word, let’s go to it and see where this type of Christian persecution was witnessedin times past.
And yes, it is persecution now, just as it was then…
Immediately after our Lord’s ascension, Peter and John were called before the Jewish senate, and beaten; (Acts 4:6-7; 5:40). Stephen was brought before the same court and put to death (Acts 7:58). James was brought before Herod, and by him put to death; who also laid Peter in prison, intending to kill him likewise; (Acts 12:2; Acts 12:4) that Paul, formerly himself a persecutor, but now converted, was, in his turn, frequently persecuted; that he and Silas were imprisoned and beaten in the synagogue at Philippi; (Acts 16:23;) that he was brought before the great synagogue of the Jews in Jerusalem; (Acts 22:30;) before King Agrippa and his wife, before the Roman governors, Gallio, Felix, and Festus; and last of all, before the Emperor Nero, in Rome, and his prefect, Helius Caesariensis.”
There are those, even as I type and you read, who are being murdered for believing in Jesus and refusing to say or do otherwise. I am reminded of the Words of Jesus in Matthew 8. He is talking to would be disciples concerning the cost one must pay for the privilege of following Him—And it is a privilege, least we ever forget!
Listen to the words Jesus spoke to those who didn’t fully weigh the honor of being called by Him. Who forgot to count the cost—they reacted to Jesus based on emotions. They didn’t respond based on thoughtful consideration and prayer.
As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You Wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Lk.9:58).
Jesus neither owes nor promises us a cushy lifestyle—somewhere it says if you want to follow me, pick up your cross.
Earthquakes, floods, wars and rumors of wars. Foes and friends and friends, foes. All of these things must come to pass—we are that generation spoken of who will not pass away until all these things have happen.
So why are we so shocked when we see these things unfolding? Jesus told us was going to happen…
Didn’t we believe Him when He said, for instance, that there would be signs in the Heavens…
Between April 15, 2014 and September 28, 2015 we as a global society experienced four blood moons. Notice I said, as a global society, and not just in the United States? These signs were given for the whole world to see. Why? So that on the day of judgement, and yes there will be one, believe it or not, no man will be able to say—I wasn’t living in that part of the world, I didn’t see it!
Okay then, did you by chance miss the Blue Moon that showed itself on July,3,2015? Or maybe you weren’t around for the lunar eclipse which took place on March 20, 2015? NASA was. A scientific community was used by God to evidence His handiwork to the world in such a way that no one will be excused from not knowing of these occurrences. Why? Gods’ heart is that not one should perish (2 Pt.3:9).
He’s an equal opportunity Savior.
Listen to how the Lord comforts us concerning all of the events that are happening and will continue to happen in fulfillment of the Scriptures. “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man” (Lk.21:32-34 MSG).
Just as Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17 not to take the Disciples out of the world, or out of the dangers that living in this world hold, He gave them the map to victory over the world and everything that it would throw at them! He knew about the whole lot that was coming, both for them and for us. Yet He reminds us, as He did them, that we are to expect these things; being hated by a world we are only passing through (as He was), persecutions of every kind, gross infringements, and every kind of trial.
Yet as awful and deflating as this may sound to us, Jesus says not to worry about it. Why? Because it has a purpose, a Kingdom purpose. One greater than our limited vision can see, or our finite thinking scarcely take in, listen… “This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me]. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you [skillful] words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute” (Lk.21:13-15).
Yes, we are in the last of times, the end of days, a member of that generation. The Word of God, that road-map given to us by a loving Father illustrates clearly the current happenings in the world. Past, present and those yet to unfold.
But if that is all we get from God and His Word, we have missed the choicest portion! We should be grateful to the point of death for a Father who cares so much for sinful man. Somewhere it is written—Who are we that You are mindful of us?
Yes, the end of this world as we know it is fast winding down. Yes, each of the prophecies foretold have all come to pass. This should however bolster us, creating a joyful hope in that what is written will come exactly as God foretold us it would!
We should not be shocked by the happenings of the world that like their father, are in their final days. Is it such a surprise to us that they are pulling out all the stops?
Picture a Marlin breaking the surface of the sea in one last ferocious battle for freedom. Struggling against the surety of a lure lodged deeply in its mouth.
It knows instinctively, this is life or death.
And so it is with this world. It’s a flailing toddler throwing a feverish tantrum! I want, I want—but it’s my right!
We can choose certainly, to stand by and watch this raucous display. But given the blessed assurance we have in Christ Jesus, are these the signs we ought to choose to focus on in our last hours?
“Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28″But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk.21:28).
Look up! The King is coming; the King is coming!!!
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