"THE SKY IS RED & THREATENS" Part III

As noted in the last two blogs Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for recognizing the signs of the weather and not the signs of the times. (If you have not read those blogs, I encourage to stop here and go back to read the last two.) In those blogs, we surveyed the signs given in the Bible surrounding the second coming of Jesus to this planet. Those signs are occurring all around us and the end time prophecies from Scripture are being fulfilled before our very eyes. Do we recognize them and know of their great significance to our lives at this moment? Since these Biblical prophecies are now being fulfilled, we must turn our attention to the most important thing we can do in these very critical days! That most important thing is preparing ourselves, our children and family members to be ready for Jesus' return since "He will return when we least expect it." (Matthew 24:44) His return is imminent, meaning it could happen at any moment and we only have this life to prepare for it. To be ready for His coming means we must have a personal, growing and maturing relationship with God ONLY available through Jesus Christ! Do we have this relationship? We can, since the Scripture teaches us that "Jesus came to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15 and Luke 19:10) and give them "eternal life". (John 3:16-17)

Not only do we have Biblical teaching about the Signs relating to Jesus' return, we are blessed to HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS COMING! First, waiting for Christ's return is Commendable! This is one characteristic of the Christian life. ". . .to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath (Judgment) to come." (I Thessalonians 1:10) Second, while waiting for His return, WE SERVE GOD! ". . .you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. . . ." ( I Thessalonians 1:6-10) Serving God is an aim of knowing Jesus and a characteristic of the Christian life. There is no such thing as personally knowing Jesus and not serving God! In other words, to know Jesus is to serve God! Third, we have the command, exhortation and encouragement to WAIT for the return of Jesus! To WAIT means to be PATIENT! God has His time for Jesus' return already scheduled! Just because we don't know when He's coming back does not mean God does not know either. It is just the opposite! God, the Father knows exactly the day, hour and moment when Jesus is coming back! "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son (Jesus), but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36) The devil does not know either, but he does realize his time of lying, deceit, tempting, accusing and ridiculing is coming to an end. ". . .the devil has come down to you, having great wrath (anger), because he knows he has but a short time." (Revelation 12:12) We can take courage and give thanks that we'll not have to contend with the devil much longer. He is a doomed enemy! We should be content to WAIT for Jesus to return since "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise (to return) as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting that anyone should perish (eternally), but that ALL should repent." (II Peter 3:9) This truth gives us total confidence in His Return!

Believers in Jesus are also blessed because WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, IT WILL BE A TIME OF REWARDING THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS! ". . .walk (live) in a manner worthy of God, WHO CALLS YOU INTO HIS OWN KINGDOM AND GLORY." (I Thessalonians 2:12) Does not the eternal reward of being with God in His own kingdom and glory motivate us to walk (live) in a way that honors and glorifies God?

Jesus promised His faithful followers to reward them at His return with eternal life, authority and a place in His kingdom. We find this truth in various verses throughout the New Testament. So, let's be encouraged!

True believers in Jesus are blessed because THEY WILL BE BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF THE LORD! ". . . may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints." (I Thessalonians 3:12-13) Let us take serious note of the criteria presented here in this passage of Scripture!

• INCREASE AND ABOUND IN LOVE. This is not static love, but an ever increasing and abounding love. The love talked about here is the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD that ONLY comes to us through the Holy Spirit living within us!

• FOR ONE ANOTHER. Unconditional Love for fellow believers in Jesus is meant here. The Apostle John spoke to this truth in his letters. "By this we know love, that He (Jesus) laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." (I John 3:16) "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us." (I John 3:23) Loving our fellow Christians is not just a good idea that someone came up with; it is a COMMANDMENT FROM GOD HIMSELF! ". . .if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. . .if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us." (I John 3:11-12) "If anyone says, 'I love God', and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." (I John 4:20) "By this is love perfected in us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world." (I John 4:17) Let there be no mistake: When we love God, we love His people! Our love for them must be increasing and abounding! The best way to learn how to put this love into practice is by spending time with our fellow believers as we are admonished in this verse: ". . .not forsaking our meeting together as believers for worship and instruction, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more faithfully as you see the day of Christ's return approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) Question: Do we actually understand and practice this Scripture?

• FOR ALL. This means Unconditional Love for everyone and is a criteria defined here: "Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (I John 4:7-8) Jesus taught that we must love even our enemies. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45) Our love for all others, even our enemies, must be increasing and abounding. Let there be no mistake: When we love God, we love other people with His Love! And this, too, is Unconditional and Sacrificial Love! Think of it! This means genuinely loving with God's love those who are annoying, those who despise and hate, those who hurt and persecute people, those who disagree with us, those who have personally offended us, those whose life-style and behavior are repugnant, those who are unlovely and hard to get along with, those who don't meet our expectations, etc. These are ALL recipients of our growing and abounding love when we are in Christ!

• HEREIN IS HOW OUR HEARTS ARE ESTABLISHED BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS! 1) "Before our God and Father" and 2) "at the coming of our Lord Jesus." (I Thessalonians 3:13) There are no excuses! If we want our hearts to be blameless and established in holiness before God at the coming of Jesus, then we must be obedient to His Word! Our assurance in this IS GOD'S WORK WITHIN US; HE ALONE ESTABLISHES OUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS!

  Time for a spiritual check-up: How are we doing at meeting this Scriptural criteria? How is our Christian love-life; do we love as God has commanded?

  Now, let's note this about Jesus second coming! He will return "WITH ALL HIS SAINTS." Those true believers (saints) in Jesus who have been resurrected and who have been given incorruptible (eternal) bodies will return with Him! What a glorious truth to anticipate!

  Followers of Jesus are blessed with HOPE THROUGH THE RAPTURE! While the actual word "rapture" is not found in Scripture, it is clearly taught. "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep (dead) that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep (died). For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds and so we will always be with the Lord."

  (I Thessalonians 4:13-17) We are instructed to be without sorrow as others sorrow who have no hope. We have the hope of abundant life here and now, peace in death, or a miraculous change from the corruptible (mortal) body to an incorruptible (eternal) body in the "twinkling of an eye" (see Scripture below), the resurrection from the dead and eternal life with Jesus and a host of His people in heaven.

  (I Corinthians 15:51-53) "Listen carefully, I tell you a mystery, a secret truth, decreed by God, previously hidden but now revealed; we will not all sleep in death, but we will all be changed, wondrously transformed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead who believed in Christ, will be raised imperishable, and we will be completely changed. For this perishable part of us must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality. . . ." We are instructed to "encourage one another with these words (truths)." (I Thessalonians 4:18) I hope you have been encouraged and challenged by these blogs!

  Now in closing, let's ponder the PREPARATION FOR HIS COMING! "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. . .so that we might live with Him." (I Thessalonians 5:8-10) LOOK: "Be Sober" - serious, alert, awake, attentive, watchful, on our guard in the night as well as in the day. Put on "the breastplate of faith and love" - practice faith and Unconditional, Sacrificial Love for our fellow Christians and for all people. Put on "the helmet of salvation" - Protection of our mind and thoughts with the garment of the Redeemed.

The Oak Ridge Boys sing this song that is pertinent for us to be encouraged by.

"After all this life is over and our burdens have been lifted, and we stand upon that mountaintop so tall,

Looking over into that city that the Savior is preparing, Gives me faith that I can make it after all.

Trials here sometimes seem like many, and at times my feet grow weary, Till it seems I'll almost stumble and fall. But the tender hand that leads me is the hand that keeps me steady, And by faith I know I'll make

it after all. By myself I cannot make it, but I know He's there to help me, He will hear my cry if only I will call, Just keep trusting, keep on believing are the words I hear Him whisper. Just a few more days to labor after all."

Post Script: Sixteen days from today is Election Day. I urge you to vote. Local, County, State and National issues and candidates will be on our ballot. Regarding candidates, the differences are great; the choices are clear. One side is more in line with Scriptural principles while the other side is far from Scriptural principles. It is reported that only 40 percent of evangelical Christians vote in an election like this one. Let's not be like the 60 percent who don't vote! Let's vote!