Don’t Ignore the Warning of What’s Coming  

After some recent computer issues, a diagnostic check revealed that my hard drive was failing and there was nothing I could do about it. The device continued to work at times, although very slowly. Periodically a warning would be displayed of “imminent failure”. I used the time to prepare for that inevitable event – backing up my files, copying links to favorite sites, and shopping for a replacement. The day after my new computer arrived, the old one “gave up the ghost”. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to get ready for its collapse rather than it happening suddenly without any advance notice.

We’re living in times in which our nation, society, the religious community, and just the world in general is having serious issues. We see signs all around us warning of “imminent failure”. We seem to be on the verge of a collapse of the world as we know it. Major shifts in morals and values are affecting all other areas of our lives. As families erode, as lawlessness increases, as our freedoms are curtailed, as our economy becomes more vulnerable, and as churches compromise truth, the signs are there that we are heading toward “imminent failure”. So what do we do?

First of all, if there’s anything we can do to help avoid the collapse, we should be doing it. We can pray, repent, and call on others to do the same. We can work to restore our society and the church to what it should be. We can uphold and promote those values which many have forsaken. We can pray for a widespread revival that could repair the damage. Maybe things can turn around. But what if they don’t?

We need to make sure our hearts are right with the Lord. Even if there’s no general revival in our land, there can still be personal revival in our own souls. Let’s use this time to draw closer to the Lord than ever before. Let’s spend time in His Word, committing ourselves to obeying its truths. Let’s yield ourselves more fully to the Holy Spirit, letting Him fill us with His presence and power. Let’s be faithful prayer warriors and witnesses for Christ. Let’s serve the Lord with our time, energy, and resources. Let’s be part of a faithful remnant who are staying true to the Lord and to His Word.

We also need to be preparing ourselves and others for hard times. If persecution comes, we need to be ready to face it and with a Christlike spirit. We need to be prepared for the possibility of putting our lives on the line for Jesus.

We need to maintain a firm faith and hope in the Lord. Although our current system may collapse, we know we have a better world to look forward to. We know that the Lord will be with us to help us through whatever we may be called upon to face in this life, while looking ahead to better days. We know who wins in the end.

Additionally, we need to be warning others. We should be encouraging them to give their hearts to Christ and to get ready for what’s coming, including His return. Many people may see the problem, but they need to recognize that Jesus is the answer.

Our world hasn’t collapsed yet. We still have an opportunity to avoid it or to prepare ourselves and others for what appears to be ahead. The signs are there. Don’t ignore them and go about business as usual. We’re being given a chance to get ready for what’s coming. Will we make use of it?

 

In Times of Crisis Keep Trusting Jesus to Provide  

Did you make it through the recent gas shortage without too much of a problem? Last year it was toilet paper, paper towels, and hand sanitizer. This time it was gasoline. What will it be next? We’ve been shown how vulnerable our society is to having supplies of items interrupted by pandemics or computer hacks. So most likely something similar will occur again at some point. How did we react to this one? How should we respond in comparison to how others act on such occasions?

The predominant spirit that seems to manifest itself at times like these is one of fear. During the midst of this gasoline crisis, I heard one person on a TV news program repeatedly use the word “scary” to describe these times in which we’re living. She seemed to suggest that people are generally afraid and therefore it’s understandable for them to panic when new situations like this arise. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in describing the days before his return – “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). However, even if such a spirit is common, even prevalent, does that mean we as followers of Christ should be joining the fear-filled crowd?

I believe we have a certain God-given desire to survive or to preserve our lives from danger. We can have a healthy fear that keeps us from walking out in front of a moving truck or stepping off the roof of a building. The problem is when we let our fears mushroom into worry and panic. Are those characteristics consistent with someone who professes to trust Jesus and who believes He is going to fulfill His promises to take care of them? We quote verses about God supplying our needs and about Jesus providing for our necessities if we seek Him and His kingdom first, but then we panic over the prospect of an empty shelf of one item at the grocery store or a dry pump at the gas station.

It’s certainly tempting to let our fears get the best of us when we hear reports of an interruption in service on the news and we see the people around us kick into panic mode. We feel like we’re foolish and may miss out if we don’t join the rush with everyone else. Maybe we need to just stop, take a breath, say a prayer, rationally evaluate our situation, and reaffirm our trust in God to take care of us. We still may need to wait in line for gas, but we ought to be able to do it with a spirit that’s different from the wild-eyed mob surrounding us. We may need to pray for the Lord to give us grace and patience at such times. Could He bless us with such a calm spirit and a sense of peace that it could be a witness to others that there’s something different about us? After all, our relationship with Jesus should make a difference in our lives, shouldn’t it? Instead of pushing our way through the panicked masses with desperation written on our faces, maybe we can patiently endure the inconvenience with a smile and even looking for ways to be a blessing or encouragement to those around us. Fear can be contagious, but so can a calm, trusting spirit. Could we be a soothing presence in the midst of stressful situations?

Remaining calm when everyone around you is panicking isn’t easy, but I believe God can give us grace to do so. Do what you need to do, but do it manifesting a spirit of peaceful trust in Jesus. 

 

Be a Climber in Your Walk with Jesus  

Our one-year-old grandson has been aptly described by his mom as a climber. I’ve witnessed his aptitude along those lines firsthand on several occasions, the latest when we were together last weekend. The toddler decided he wanted to climb up on a large wooden bench since a couple of his older cousins were sitting on the other end of it. So he tried to swing his leg up to get leverage while straining to pull himself toward his desired destination. After several moments of determined effort, he just couldn’t quite do it. So I attempted to distract him to go elsewhere since for safety reasons he really didn’t need to stand up on that bench. However in a couple of minutes he was right back at it again. This time he managed to get his leg a little higher, which made all the difference. After a few more strenuous attempts, he was successful in achieving his goal. He was even allowed to revel in his victory for a few seconds before he was removed to safer ground.

Could we be appropriately described as “climbers” when it comes to our spiritual lives and our walk with the Lord? We certainly don’t want to be known as backsliders or those who are heading in the wrong direction. But are we striving to reach greater heights in our relationship with the Lord? Are we continually looking to draw closer to Him? Or are we simply staying on comfortable ground, maybe even having grown somewhat complacent and satisfied with where we find ourselves? Are we looking to grow, to reach for new challenges, and to climb to higher levels in our spiritual journey?

We need to cultivate the attitude expressed by the Apostle Paul of “reaching forward to those things which are ahead” and pressing “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). God calls each of us to keep seeking to move upward. This world will try to drag us downward. Our own natures will tend to get us to settle in ruts or comfort zones along the way. However, God calls us to keep traveling upward – to be climbers who are determined to seek more of Him in their lives.

Such an upward journey requires focus. In that same passage of scripture, Paul declared that it was the “one thing I do”. We have to decide what is really most important to us. If we’re going to climb to greater spiritual heights, such a trek will need to become our priority. We can’t let other things distract us. Like my grandson, when something or someone pulls us away for a moment, we’ve got to doggedly get right back on track again. Making a closer walk with the Lord our top priority will mean that other pursuits in our lives will need to take a secondary position. Some activities may need to be cut out altogether. We shouldn’t let anything hinder us from seeking to ascend to higher ground.

I like the words of the old hymn: “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day…my prayer, my aim is higher ground”. Too many are satisfied with just squeaking by spiritually. Too many want just enough of a relationship with God to keep them out of hell. God calls us to more than that. We need to be seeking to love Him more, to get as close to Him as we can, and to serve Him to the fullest of our ability.

Let’s not settle for the minimum needed to get into heaven or to have peace with God. Let’s keep climbing.

 

Hang in There Through Tough Times  

There was a poster that was very popular around the time I was a teenager. Although there were different variations which developed, it generally showed a cute kitten dangling in the air while its front paws were clinging to a rope or a tree branch. The accompanying caption read, “Hang in there, baby!” Every once in a while a version of that image will still show up on the internet today.

We all need such encouragement at times, don’t we? Therefore it’s not surprising that God often offers such inspiring reminders to us in His Word. The Bible directs us to patiently endure and to persevere. One such passage is found in James 5:7-11. It’s addressing people who are being oppressed and tells them to keep holding on because the Lord is coming back. It’s basically saying, “Hang in there, baby, because Jesus is coming!”

However, let’s not get the wrong idea about this connection between persevering and the Second Coming of Christ. It’s not pointing to this approaching event as our way to escape hard times. Unfortunately that seems to be the way many people view it today. They focus primarily on the idea that Jesus is going to come back to take His faithful followers out of this world so that they won’t have to deal with some of the hard times that are on the horizon. Many appear to be counting on the hope that they won’t have to face intense persecution, specifically not having to put their lives on the line for Christ.

I don’t believe the Bible assures God’s people of such an exemption from severe hardships. It indicates that His followers may very well have to go through at least some of the acute trials and tribulations this world is going to suffer as Christ’s return approaches. We may have to face persecution, possibly even being forced to pay the ultimate price of giving our lives for the Lord. Remember, there are believers who are dealing with those situations in parts of our world right now. So we aren’t guaranteed immunity from that possibility ourselves. We certainly shouldn’t be counting on Jesus’ return as our means of avoiding such trials.

The point of this passage in James isn’t that the Lord is coming back to spare us from hard times. No, it’s encouraging us to hang in there through whatever trials we may have to face because the Lord is coming to reward those who have been faithful to do so. It gives Job as an example. He certainly didn’t avoid suffering. On the contrary, he lost his possessions, his family, and his health – virtually everything. Yet he endured until the end when the Lord showed him compassion, blessed him, and restored what he had lost. That’s what we need to do as we go through hard times. Keep being true to God. Keep trusting Him no matter what. Know that in the end the Lord is coming and will bless you for having endured faithfully to the end. 

Additionally, let’s not think of persevering only in terms of surviving or getting through “by the skin of our teeth”. This scripture also encourages us to “establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand”. You can grow stronger and more stable through these times, no matter how tough things get. As a matter of fact, the very trials which test you can also make you stronger. So don’t just hang onto the Lord through difficult times – draw even closer to Him.

Hard times are here. Harder times may be coming. Hang in there, knowing that the Lord is coming to reward those who stay true to Him.

 

We Need Our Light to Be Repaired and Renewed  

Recently I noticed that the streetlight in our cul-de-sac was broken. It wasn’t simply that the bulb had burned out, but the lantern-like globe was actually off the top of the pole and was hanging upside down being held only by some wires. Therefore due not only to the lack of light but to the safety hazard of the situation, I called the electric company to report the problem. I’m glad to say that they responded quickly, replacing the lamp the same day. However, after they had finished the job, I observed that the light’s appearance wasn’t quite the same as before. I was interested to see how it would look when darkness fell that evening. It didn’t take long for my curiosity to be satisfied as the sun disappeared below the horizon. When our streetlight came on, it was blinding, at least if you tried to look directly at it. What a difference! I guess this is a newer LED version of the device. It now feels like we’ve got a lighthouse situated in our cul-de-sac.

I wish we would experience such a revitalization of light in our world today. We certainly need it. Spiritual darkness is spreading and the sources of light seem to be growing dim. Such an observation points directly back to the church – to those who claim to be followers of Jesus. Jesus professed that He was the light of the world (John 8:12). He also declared that those who would put their trust in Him would similarly be lights in this world (Matthew 5:14). Their light would emanate from His light residing within them and shining forth through them.

So what’s the problem? Why do our lights seem to be so dull and ineffective these days? There’s nothing defective in Jesus’ light. If He could shine forth unobstructed, His light would encompass us all. The problem seems to be with us, the reflectors of His light. Some of us have allowed our relationship with Christ to become so cold and distant that our lights have faded and are flickering. Others have intentionally obscured their light out of concerns of becoming unpopular, being ridiculed, or even persecuted by those who prefer the darkness. Others are simply broken. If they ever had a real relationship with the Light, they’ve forsaken it as they’ve turned away from His Word and aligned themselves with those who dwell in the darkness.

There is a famous quote attributed to various individuals that refers to how we ought to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. Some of us have become very adept at denouncing the darkness in our day. While such condemnations may be needed at times, it’s even more important that we deal with the darkness not just through exposing it, but by overcoming it with the light of Christ. Instead of focusing so much on condemning our dark world while our pale light is barely visible, let’s focus more on getting our lights shining brighter. The light of Christ shining through us will not only accomplish the purpose of exposing the darkness, but will also expel it.

It falls back on us, the church. Are we willing to forsake the darkness and seek a closer relationship with Christ the Light? Will we humble ourselves and submit to God’s Word rather than following our own ideas or the philosophies of today’s society? Will we courageously let our lights shine even though we know there will be negative consequences from both the secular world and the darkened religious world?

Let’s pray for and seek a renewed, brighter-shining light in each of our lives and in Christ’s church today.