The Day and Hour Unknown
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and 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. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:36-51)
We all worry about the future. We spend alot of time, looking at the future, planning for the future, replanning, worrying about our plan, worring that our plan will not work, worrying that we haven't planned enough. The funny thing is that all the planning in the world will not help us. We cannot plan for the future. We cannot possibly account for all the variances that can happen in order to have a successful future plan. The reality of life is, the future is not in our hands.
Only God knows the future, and the most comforting truth I can tell you is that the future is in God's hands -- and His hands alone.
We can take comfort in two very important truths. First, the future is in God's hands, and nothing takes Him by surprise. He is sovereign, and behind the scenes He is still at work to accomplish His purposes. The Bible reminds us that "The Lord reigns forever" (Psalm 146:10). Even when the future seems dark, we can turn to God and trust the future (and our lives) into His hands.
Second, never forget that even when the future is unclear, God is with us and helps us when we know Jesus. The Apostle Paul faced great danger and uncertainty, but he could still say, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). No matter what the future holds, we do not face it alone if we know Jesus.
What does that mean for us? It means simply that all will work out for the best because a benevolent force is in charge. It means that we should surrender to the direction of God who possesses a broader perspective. The comfort comes from the conviction that God always has the best interests of the faithful at heart.
So we must give up the idea that we are in control. Thank God for that!!
Peace and love,
Sue
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
"...For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them." (Luke 21:8)
ReplyDeleteJesus is warning believers to pay attention and not to be deceived. In the first half of the 70th week, many will be teaching Christ's coming is near, at any moment. The Lord tells us not to believe in them (go after them). Why? Satan's strategy to deceive the saints concerns the timing of the Antichrist. During His Olivet Discourse Jesus highlighted the events believers should be watching for that will signal His coming is near (Mat. 24:3-33). Clearly, the Abomination of Desolation and his armies must invade Jerusalem (Mat. 24:15, Luke 21:20) before the elect are gathered to heaven (Mat. 24:29-31) We aren't to believe in anyone falsely teaching the resurrection comes first (2 Thes. 2:1-4) Only the saints getting the victory over the Beast will be ready for the coming of the Son of Man (Rev. 15:2; 13:7, Mat. 24:15-31).
"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand." (Mat. 24:15)
ReplyDeleteThe Abomination of Desolation (Antichrist) is going to defile the Holy Place in Jerusalem before the elect are gathered to heaven. This is what the early church believed concerning the timing of the Antichrist (Mat. 24:15; 30-31). The saints victorious over the Beast will be delivered to heaven by the Lord (Rev. 7:9-14; 15:2). This doesn't faze the author of the Left Behind Series, Tim LaHaye. He isn't worried about the persecution by the Antichrist because He believes the church will be gone. [1. The Rachel Maddow Show-Apocalypse Now, T. 6:08-6:23] Pastor John Hagee also believes the church will not be here. [2. John Hagee-Glen Beck Bible Prophesies 4, T. 0:32-1:10] LaHaye and Hagee teach Jesus can come at any moment. They insist there isn't another event that has to happen for the rapture to take place. Is this what our Lord taught? Why should believers be watching for the Abomination of Desolation if Jesus could come at any moment? Many say it doesn't matter; let's just be ready. So how does one know they are ready for His coming? If you died today and your sins are washed away by His blood (Rev. 1:5), then you're ready to join the Lord in heaven. You're not necessarily ready for His coming. If being saved meant you were ready for His coming then the warning by Jesus to repent and watch would be meaningless.
That’s a little too much doom and gloom for me. Lighten up and see Jesus as love, instead of all that hell fire and brimstone.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age we need a hopeful message, and not one that has us throw up our hands and say what’s the use.
Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-30
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
This is my Jesus and the one that I preach. This is the Jesus of hope and love.