I have mentioned previously that we begin our day by reading God's Word. Of course, there is a a hot cup of very good coffee right there, too. As a side note I ground the beans the night before and put them in the coffee maker with the timer set. So when we get up, it is ready to go. We grab our Bibles and we are ready to go.
Currently, we are using a systematic approach in reading the Bible thru this year. We are doing so chronologically and I must say it is a very interesting way as you read about events and people from various Scriptures. Presently, we are in the time of David so we have read in the books of Chronicles, Samuel and of course the Psalms.
As I am reading today, a thought and an observation came to my mind. It was about God, time, people, and life. Now we all understand that God is not bound by time. He always has been and always will be. We say He is eternal which is no beginning and no end. Now for us that is not an easy concept to grasp but then we are not suppose to grasp it, we are to accept it by faith and we do.
People on the other hand can present quite a challenge for us. We know that God loves them all. You know the song says red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. Well, He does but that is not as easy for you and I. This last Sunday I spoke about that in the message and what Paul said in Romans 12. We are to love one another, and we try. However, we find those that we have a hard time loving. It may not be because we don't want to, but the other person makes it so hard to love them.
When I think about life and I am probably like you. I think of it in a very wide expanse. I think of it in terms of length, you know I have been around a long time. Well, actually from God's perspective of time the Scripture would say it is but a mist. Like the dew here this morning then gone. Elaine and I were talking yesterday about life and how it has changed over the years. Life has changed not only for each of us but for all of us. We would have never thought the world would be in the condition it is now in our life time, but here we are and not so much for the good.
I find myself this morning wondering how my Dad and Mom felt about these same things when they were here. Dad went home to be with the Lord in 2008 and Mom in 2012. A lot has changed and I have to admit not for the better. They had always believed and taught that Jesus was coming soon and that we were in the last days. Our pastor when I was a kid was saying the same thing.
Jesus Himself spoke specifically about it in Revelation 22:12-20
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Here Jesus tells John, over 2,000 years go "...I am coming soon." John hears that and his thoughts are probably like ours, this won't be that long. Give it a little time and He is coming back. So much so that John responds to Jesus, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. I know that I say that a lot, even so come quickly Lord Jesus.
I am intrigued by God and how He chooses to handle this world. It certainly isn't getting any better. It is actually getting worse but you know that and you know it by what Scripture has taught you and what you see happening all around you.
In Luke 17:26-30 Jesus says
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
So with this in mind, the question is are we in the end times? Well, if we consider the question from God's vantage point and Scripture the answer is yes. Our challenge is in the time it takes to accomplish the end He has determined. It is not on our time line, but His.
You do know that even Jesus doesn't know when He is coming back. Matthew 24:36 we see that Jesus says-
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Now I don't think for a minute that Jesus is surprised that He has not come back yet. He is waiting until all that God has planned is completed. Then He will be sent for His bride, the church.
So in further thought and observation I am clear on what is going on and how we got here. Even more so I am at peace that God's got this whole thing under His control.
Let me close today from Reveltion 22:21
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Have a blessed day and I look forward to sharing with you again next week.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy