Friday, April 8, 2016

Looking Up - What Matters



The news tonight was just too dark. It's getting that way more and more now, to the point where it can become frightening as you consider what is going on in the world and what we may have to experience on this side of the gathering up. Casual conversation these days may involve possibilities of financial collapse, martial law, starvation, brutal warfare, riots, roving gangs, and on and on this list goes. The growing tyranny in the U.S. is palpable right now. I'm sure our brothers and sisters in Europe and the rest of the world are feeling the same thing at this very moment. We are seeing the step-wise march towards a totalitarian form of government which is growing ever so rapidly, and their methods are becoming grossly apparent. 


But we have good news and we also have distinct instructions during these very days. Its worth a brief break to consider what really matters while considering these instructions (and comfort):





28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
(Luke 21)


29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
(Luke 21)



10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
(Revelation 2)



They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
(1 Thessalonians 1)



No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with youI will never leave you nor forsake you.
(Joshua 1:5)



For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5)





“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
(John 14)




22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”


22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lambare its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
(Revelation 21)



20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
(Revelation 22)









12 comments:

Mindy said...

Amen

WVBORN56 said...

Even so come Lord Jesus!

Thanks Scott

sunny said...

Uplifting scriptures for these trying times...

Anonymous said...

At the moment I feel depressed with what is going on in the world but really spending time in reading these verses puts a longing in my heart for the lords return even more. I can't understand how some people are blind to this world condition

Unknown said...

Daniel 12 - look at the 3 time frames

Scott said...

Carol - I can relate....I was mentioning to a friend that covering the news is getting darker and darker and more ominous. Sometimes I think we can just use a break from it and focus on what really does matter....A friend of mine just had a stroke, and its a reminder of what matters. The ONLY thing that matters in this world - our relationship with Christ. At the end, nothing else matters - not job title, status, money, cars, houses, career, etc.....It only boils down to Jesus and nothing else.

Also - I intend to post more scriptures and take more departures from the news. I hear a sermon the other day and the speaker was basically saying that we don't really need to spend time "proving" the signs of the last generation as its so widely accepted (in a general sense, that things are really really bad in the world right now. Even to the non-Christian - it seems that almost everybody is seeing it now.

We're blessed that God put us here at this time...I've been taking comfort lately in reading about the lives of the prophets - don't forget, they typically lived in similar times. Its inspirational to see how they handled the adverse conditions that they were placed in.

Caver said...

Wow! Thanks for the encouragement. Come Lord Jesus.

Mrs.C said...

Amen Brother! NOTHING can EVER separate us from His Love! Day after day, we are astounded at how evil things are becoming, but this is exactly how Jesus said it would be in these Last Days. I have to share, one of THE BEST SERMONS given by our WONDERFUL Pastor, Dr. Billy Cashwell, this previous Sunday 4/3. He gives one of THE BEST explanations, understandings, of the Spiritual death and "decay" that is occurring in this world during these Last Days, right before our eyes. "Decay" doesn't stop,it only accelerates. WOW it is excellent! :)
God Bless!

"The title of his Sermon is "God Is Not Dead, You Are"...

http://bensongrovebaptist.org/sermons/2016/04032016am-god_not_dead_you_are-dbc.mp3



Gary said...

You're right Scott, the only, the one and only most important thing in life is your relationship with The Lord...nothing else matters...nothing!

GG2013 said...

So sorry to hear about your friend. Thank you as always for the words that speak the love language of our Awesome God! May he continue to inspire your writings.

God Bless!!

GG

HISservant said...

Thank you for his particular article. Things indeed are going from bad to worse quickly. At times, fear will try to grip my heart but, I remember all that Jesus said and that fear is quickly replaced by peace. I keep looking up because I know that is our only hope. God bless!

Scott said...

HIS - i think we all experience those feelings and when i do, i feel compelled to return to those scriptures. I also take comfort invreading about the ancient prophets and how they coped. Its very inspiring as they were facing similar situations that we are facing (secularism, apostasy, evil rulers, persecution etc). Hang in there, it wont be long now, i am convinced of that. God bless