Journey on the Waters

He set out to sail across the ocean, something that was always on his bucket list. Taking the time to get all his gear ready, he felt he was well prepared for anything that would come his way. He was excited, and very confident that he had things under control.

 

A week went on, and all was well. The sun was shining, the waves were calm, and he was on top of his world. Nothing was going to stop him. Except... there was a hurricane brewing in his path, but he wasn't aware of it. He never thought to check his radio, as everything looked good on the horizon.

 

A coast guard ship spotted him, and  approached his boat. They warned him that trouble was coming his way, and he should turn back. He told them thanks, but he was content with his chosen path. That he would take it as it came. Reluctantly, they left.

 

Several nights later, he woke up to realize the waves were getting rough, tossing him around. Never before had he experienced such turbulence, and he started to get concerned. He looked out to find it raining pellets, and the wind was so strong he couldn't bear to be exposed to it. His mast was breaking. So he closed the door to his small cabin and waited it out.

 

Reaching for his radio, he turned it on.... but there was no signal. The batteries had died. It had been awhile since he last used it since all had been calm.

 

Then, he remembered. The coast guard had warned him that trouble was ahead of him. And he had ignored it. Because of his own pride, and ignorance by trusting his own sources, he was about to enter the storm of his life, and maybe his last storm.

 

Quite a story, you may think. But this can be a true life story of our lives if we don't heed the warnings of others. The Bible tells us in Matthew 24 of things to come in the last days. What people will be like, what the world will be experiencing, and what storms will be brewing. Some people will be scoffers of this as their sources proclaim peace and love. All is well. They don't want to concern themselves with preparing for very rough days in this world because it takes too much energy and frightens them. After all, their lives are going well, just the way they want it. They'll worry about those things another day. People who know the Bible and truly care for them will be warning them to be watchful. But their warnings will be ignored. To their peril.

 

How about you? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ and heeding the warnings in the Scriptures as to what will be going on in this world soon?  Or are you relying on the wrong sources? The Bible tells us that there are some who build their houses on sand, and others build their houses on the rock.

Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a great crash. - Matthew 7:24-27

When the storms blow, the houses on the sand crash, but the houses on the rock stay strong. Are you building your belief system on what the world says, or are you building your life on the true Rock, Jesus Christ? Are you acknowledging the wisdom that comes from the Scriptures that reveals the true "weather forecast" of the days ahead?

 

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) He doesn't want anyone to perish. That's why He gave us His Word in the Bible to prepare us.

 

We still have the time to prepare. And how do we make sure we are? By placing our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the rock that nothing can destroy. Someday, when we least expect it, will be the storm of storms. Sudden destruction will come upon those who choose their own ways. The storm that is talked about in the Bible. While there is time, make sure you have your house built on the rock... the Rock of Jesus. When we find ourselves surrounded by storms, inside there will be the peace that comes from Jesus.

Are you prepared?

 



How Long Are You Willing To Wait?

We are in the midst of a rapture and end times frenzy. What do I mean by that? If you check the You Tube videos relating to the rapture, end times prophecies, the Jewish Feasts, Blood Moons, or videos made by Jonathan Cahn, Mark Biltz, Perry Stone, John Hagee, and others, you will find all sorts of information on what we can expect in the end days, or in other words, the end of the church age as Christians call it. The Bible itself tells us a lot about what will happen, and Bible scholars who have intensely studied this topic of eschatology, are sharing with the viewers information so we can be prepared.

 

As a result, many Christians have been gearing themselves up for the rapture to occur soon. They sense they are in the season, as crazy world events indicate that the birth pains that Jesus described would happen, are indeed happening. Here it is September 2015, and there has never been so many prophetic events planned for this month! It is amazing, and like Jonathan Cahn calls it, 'a perfect storm'. Today as I write, September 14, 2015, is the Jewish New Year, or the Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah. The blowing of the shofar, which has historically been done at this fall Jewish feast, is a foreshadow of the rapture of the church, as some believe. I Thessalonians 4:15-17 tells us that when the trumpet, or shofar is blown, the dead in Christ will be raised, and those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior will join them in the sky, to receive their glorified bodies and be with Jesus. Does this mean today or tonight we may be raptured?

 

What will happen if we aren't? What will happen if 2016 happens and we're still here? Does this mean these so called prophets aren't really prophets at all, but false prophets to mislead the people? What are we to think about all of this?

 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36 that of the day or hour of His return no one knows, not even the angels. But only the heavenly Father knows. He didn't even know. When He does return for the Saints, or the Church, He will return as a Bridegroom coming for His bride, a pure and spotless bride. A typical Jewish wedding happened when the bride would be ready and waiting for her groom to come and get her. She did not know when the marriage would take place, and he didn't either. But the groom's father did, and when everything was ready, the father would tell his son to go get his bride.

 

Remember the story of the ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to come and get them? In Matthew 25, we read that it was a dark time (midnight) and they had lamps. Five of them were wise and kept enough oil with them to light their lamps, but the other five were foolish and didn't keep enough oil with them. It took a long time for the bridegroom to come, and they were tired of waiting and fell asleep. Suddenly, a cry was heard, an announcement that the bridegroom was coming. They all got up to trim their lamps. The foolish girls ran out of oil, and had to go out to buy more. While they were away, the bridegroom came, and took the five wise girls with him. When the foolish girls returned, they learned the door had been shut and they weren't allowed to go in. Verse 13 in this chapter tells us, "Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour, in which the Son of Man is coming."

 

What does this mean to you, as a Christian? The oil represents the Holy Spirit. And while we wait for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to come for us, we need to make sure we are filled with the Holy Spirit, to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to make Him our first priority. We need to maintain an intimate relationship with Him, and grow in our faith.

 

Even if He doesn't come today, or tomorrow, or next week, or even next month, we need to draw close to Him, abiding in His love, and making sure we are ready. There is nothing that needs to be fulfilled before the rapture occurs, so it is imminent.

 

So, how long are you willing to wait?

 



 

  

A Christian In Jail in America?

This week, we have learned that a town clerk refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple because it violated her religious beliefs. As a result, she is now in jail. She isn't a criminal. She isn't dangerous to society. She is a Christian woman, exercising her faith. And we have already heard that there are a few Christian bakeries who have been sued so heavily over not wanting to bake cakes for same-sex weddings for the same reason, that they are now forced out of business. It used to be that in America, people had a right to worship where they want, how they want, without punishment or limitations. And that included having the freedom to refuse to do certain things that violated their beliefs.

 

Is this fair? After all, surgeons are allowed to refuse to abort babies without penalties. Will women sue their doctors for refusing to perform abortions? Where is this issue of the freedom of committing to one's own beliefs leading us in our society? Why is it that the law of the land now insists that one belief system can impose itself on other belief systems? It is interesting to note that Muslims are against the practice of homosexuality, but aren't dealing with these issues as Christians are.

 

It's all in the Bible. Jesus said that in the last days there will be a form of lawlessness. Wrong will become right. People will turn against each other for their faith in Jesus Christ. Many may be imprisoned, or even killed, as we've already seen happening with the movement of ISIS. Up until now, we haven't really seen these things happen here in America to the magnitude that it is in the Middle East and Europe. But it is coming.

 

Christians over there are being persecuted, and their faith is made strong. Here, Christians are soft and lazy because we haven't had to endure resistance to the practice of our faith. Too many people believe that following Christ is cozy and comfortable. How very wrong we are!

 

God calls His true followers to stand strong for their faith in Jesus Christ. Even if it means losing their freedoms here, being imprisoned, and/or being killed. The time is coming when our faith will be tested.

 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful

trial you are suffering, as though something

strange were happening to you.

But rejoice that you participated in

the sufferings of Christ,

so you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.

If you are insulted because of the Name of Christ,

you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory

and of God rests on you.

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief

or any other kind of criminal,

or even as a meddler.

However, if you suffer as a Christian,

do not be ashamed,

but praise God that you bear that name.

For it is time for judgment

to begin with the family of God,

and if it begins with us,

what will be the outcome for those

who do not obey the gospel of God?

And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and sinner?

So then, those who suffer according to God's will

should commit themselves

to their faithful Creator

and continue to do good.

- 1 Peter 4:12-19

 

 

If you declare yourself to be a follower of Jesus Christ, you can guarantee you will have troubles. But Jesus has overcome them with His death on the cross and the power of His resurrection. If and when the time comes when you will need to defend your faith, the Holy Spirit will be with you, instructing you what to say.

 

Jesus is coming soon. In fact, He is at the threshold to welcome His pure and spotless Bride.