Tag Archives: eternity

Shattered Power

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Daniel 9-12

Every time I read this portion of Scripture a great sadness comes over me. There are a lot of things about this prophecy and it’s parallel in John’s Revelation I don’t understand. But I do understand that the rise of evil will reach an unprecedented level before Jesus returns.

There will come a time when “the shattering of the power of the holy people” happens, and “life on earth will end.” (12:7)

That makes me sad. The power of the Church will not be be overcome by force from the evil one. That’s not going to happen because greater is He in us than he that is in the world. But He, not the world, has to be IN US.

The only way for evil to win is for Christians to surrender to evil. The power of the Holy Spirit in us will shatter when we compromise, ignore what God says in His Word, when we replace Him with the lies, worship ourselves, our ideals, love, tolerance, inclusion, and redefine sin. It will be we Christians who render the Holy Spirit powerless to save by choosing to be vessels He can’t use.

And then the end will come.

What Do You Do?

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Daniel 8

Looking into the future made Daniel sick. He was overcome by the level of evil that would gain strength, the blasphemous power destroying the saints. When the vision ended, David took to his bed. He laid there for days.

If he were like me, he probably didn’t sleep much with all the troubling thoughts going through his head. He probably had no appetite, no energy, maybe no will to live. How could he function knowing what was in front of him? He didn’t have to imagine the worse. God showed him the worse in his vision. No wonder he was sick.

Do you relate? When you watch the news you don’t have to imagine the level of evil gaining strength. You can read the writing on the wall, can’t you? When you watch your children exchanging truth for lies, when you feel the hatred and growing intolerance for God’s Laws, for morality and good sense, are you tempted to go back to bed and pray, “Come back, Lord. It’s too much?”

We can learn from Daniel’s example in 8:27.

And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.

The lesson? Get up and get busy doing what the King has commanded us to do. We can be appalled by what is going on, we don’t have to understand the why’s and how’s. But that’s no excuse for burying our heads in the sand or pretending everything is hunky-dory. If we aren’t about the King’s business, the battle is lost.

Let’s get off our comfortable couches, quit hiding behind church, stop shaking our heads and shrugging our shoulders. Instead, let’s pick up our cross, the Gospel of Jesus. Let’s arm ourselves with that which God offers us: the belt of Truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fit with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, wielding the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), protected by the helmet of salvation. (from Ephesians 6:10-18).

Let’s, like Daniel, be about the King’s business. You might not be able to change the world. But you can change eternity for that person God has laid on your heart. You can defeat Satan one redeemed soul at a time. And if all of us are about the King’s business, it WILL change the world.

The world is in trouble. Your family is in trouble. What do you do?

Game Called On Account of Darkness

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Ezekiel 17-20

Throughout history people have been trying to get God to accept our idea of what religion looks like. We want Him to accept our rules, play our game. He never does.

He lets us go for awhile running the bases in reverse, but eventually He calls the game and plows up the field. When will we learn that either we play His game or we don’t play at all?

I used to play softball in a church league that played on fields without lights. Very often we would get only five or six innings in before it became too dangerous to continue to play, and the umpire would end the game because of the darkness. I bet you know where I”m going with this.

Playing by our own rules is sin. And sin is darkness. God will only let His creation continue in darkness until He makes the call to stop the madness. Judgment comes. And for some, they wind up in eternal darkness.

The thing is, God’s game is fun. It’s fair. It’s well organized and everyone playing by His rules always wins. No one loses!

We might try to tell Abner Doubleday how to play baseball. What a joke! He invented the game. And God invented the game of life.

This life is much more serious than a nine inning romp around the bases; the outcome more important than a World Series ring. Hear God say obey Him, follow His rules, play His game, then live blessed in this life and in eternity. If you play it any other way, be prepared for Him to call the game on account of darkness. Then He will add up the score, hold you accountable…

in this life and in eternity.

Not Without You

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Isaiah 33-37

The King of Assyria’s representative stood before the people of Israel and threatened them using half-truths, mocking them for their faith in God. Assyria was a strong nation, a very real threat with the power to destroy nations. In fact, they had destroyed many cities and nations, now had set their sights on Jerusalem. The Assyrians believed they were unstoppable. In a sense, they were.

No other nation had been able to stand against them. On the other hand, no other nation had God on their side, either.

We, the Church, have what many think is an unstoppable enemy. So far this enemy has conquered academia, medicine, governments, banking, morality, churches, the media, parents and families. Our enemy’s representatives threaten us with half-truths and mock us for our faith in God. They believe they are unstoppable. And in a sense they are.

But their god of self will never defeat a people whose God is the Lord.

Hezekiah heard the threats and didn’t ignore them. He didn’t hide in the safety of his comfortable home. He took it to God, with humility and trust.

If my people, who are called by name, (that’s you who wear the Name of Christ by calling yourself a Christian) will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (1 Chronicles 7:14)

When you look at the state of our world, are you ready to cash it in? You’ve got your ticket to heaven. Are you praying God will just come back and end it all?

Or are you willing to humble yourself, repent of your sin, turn from your wickedness, and obey God by standing firm on the Truth that is Scripture, by voting, shopping, supporting causes that align with God’s Word? Will you quit being silent and start being His voice, His hands and feet, making disciples of people who need Him, in a world that is lost without Him?

God will save our land. But not without you.

Your GPS

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Numbers 31-33

Do you use a GPS when you travel? Do you ever ignore the GPS when you travel? How does that work out for you? If your destination is your goal, you might do better following the directions. If the journey is your goal, you might enjoy a detour now and again. And if the journey is your goal, you might never reach your destination.

If I counted correctly, the Israelites picked up and moved 41 times from the day they left Egypt until they finally entered the Promised Land. I think I’ve moved ten times since college, and that seems like a lot. I can’t imagine moving on average once a year for forty years.

Looking at the map in my Study Bible I realize they definitely didn’t take the short, direct route. You might say they took the scenic route! Yes, they got to their destination. But if you read about those forty years, you know it cost them dearly. In fact, many of them never reached the destination at all.

My destination is heaven. My goal is a right relationship with God But I look back on my life and see that I, too, have not always taken the direct route. There were times I wandered in a wilderness of rebellion, just like the Israelites did. I’ve made detours, worshiped other gods, got lost… and it cost me.

God has given us a GPS. It’s called Scripture. The Bible can and does tell us the best route to take.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 31:21)

When you come up against a crossroad and you don’t know which way to go, listen for the voice of God who will speak His Words to you. If you are veering off the route, or if you take a wrong turn, a Scripture will come to mind telling you to “make a legal U-turn.” Or you will be reading the Bible, and the Holy Spirit will highlight the passage that will point you in the right direction, re-routing you toward your destination. God speaks through His written Word as clearly as that MapQuest voice in your car.

If you are a young person reading this, take it from one who has been young. Trust God. Obey Him. Let Him lead you. Resist the temptation to take a detour, or to figure out your own route. Your destination may be heaven, if you know Jesus as your Savior. But God has a route mapped out for you that is direct, blessed, and shared with HIm.

Don’t miss that! The years I spent in rebellion weren’t worth the cost. I wish you’d believe me. I don’t want you to make my mistakes.

To those of you no longer young: which route are you taking? It’s not too late to turn your life around, to re-route and obey God’s direction. Wilderness wandering is a waste of precious time.

You see, there is only one route to heaven. To ignore God’s GPS is foolishness, and will end in death. It doesn’t get more costly than that.

It’s so much better, the journey more enjoyable, the time more blessed following God’s GPS.

Entering God’s Rest

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Hebrews 1-4

This morning, a dear lady from my church entered the rest the writer of Hebrews describes. She may have struggled to take her last breath in this life, but she is now breathing freely in the arms of her Savior. The cares of this life are over for her, because she followed Jesus in the midst of heartache and physical pain, with the joy of the Lord.

But her’s is not the same end for those who choose to live this life apart from God. These chapters in Hebrews not only explain who Jesus is and what He did, it explains who it is that can receive the eternal blessing He offers, and who will never receive that blessing.

Today when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (4:7b)

You might want to believe there is nothing after this life. But there is.

You might want to believe everyone goes to a better place when they die. Not everyone does.

You might want to think that identifying as a Christian is your ticket into God’s rest. It isn’t.

Ii might be a good idea for all of us to take time to read the book of Hebrews because the lines between right and wrong, truth and lies, good and evil are becoming so blurred we are all in danger of falling away. “Don’t harden your heart” applies to you.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (4:12-13)

I Guess That Depends

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Luke 17:20-18:8

As our world continues its rapid downward spiral into sin and insanity, we Christians look toward the sky, expecting, hoping to hear that trumpet and see our Savior descend once again, this time to take us home. We see the signs and believe it could happen any minute.

But it could be another 10,000 years. Only God knows when life on earth will cease to exist. So what do we do in the mean time?

Jesus used the examples of Noah and Lot to remind us that the people in those days were living life; parties and weddings, eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building until they weren’t. They were doing their thing until God came and judged their sin, found them guilty, and demanded the death penalty they deserved.

But there was a difference. The people in Noah’s day heard the Truth and rejected it. They died in the flood. The Ninevites heard the Truth and accepted it, repented, and were spared.

Jesus tells us that, much like those examples, “it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

It won’t be just sinners living life as usual. Christians will be doing the same. So what does ‘life as usual’ look like for you? Parties and weddings, eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building?

Of course. All of that is part of living this life. But shouldn’t we all be the Noahs and Jonahs of our time, too? As we go through our day, meeting our responsibilities, enjoying our blessings, shouldn’t we also be the ones shouting out the warning? THE END IS NEAR!

Very few people alive today will still around 100 years from now, a fraction of a millisecond in eternity. The end for all of us is near whether Jesus returns today or tarries another millennium.

Jesus clearly states that when we die we will face the Judge who will bring perfect justice to everyone. Our fate is sealed the moment we take our last breath, depending on our acceptance or rejection of Jesus in this life.

Christian, do you believe that? Then what are you doing in these last days to warn the people around you?

When the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?

I guess that depends on how many people hear and accept the warning from me and you.

Jesus Will Be There

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Matthew 10:37-42

Some people think about, and make choices considering the “rewards” they will receive in heaven. Jesus Himself said that if you receive a prophet you’ll get a prophet’s reward, if you receive a righteous person you’ll get a reward like a righteous person, if you give water to the least of His followers, you will receive a reward. So if Jesus says we will receive a reward in heaven, I have to believe it.

What is a reward of a prophet, or a righteous person? What is a cup of water worth?

I’ve heard the interpretation of John’s revelation as describing the crowns believers will receive in heaven. The focus being on the crowns. God, through John clearly says that for those who endure, there will be a reward. People can get excited wondering what their crown will look like. Diamonds? Rubies? Gold?

But if you look at Revelation 2-3, and if you think about the reward promised to the people who endure, you’ll see a theme.

Rev 2:7 LIfe
2:11 Salvation
17 Manna
28 Morning Star
3:7 Belonging to Jesus
12 the Name
28 Victory

Do you see it? All of these crowns or rewards describe Jesus Himself, who HE is and what HE has done.

What is a prophet’s reward? JESUS! What is the reward of a righteous person? JESUS! What is a cup of water given to a thirsty soul worth? JESUS!

When people talk about mansions or crowns or streets of gold, I want to remind them that Jesus will be there.

In Matthew 10:37ff Jesus tells us if we love anyone more than we love Him we aren’t worthy of Him. If your whole life isn’t lived for Him, if anything is more important than Him, you aren’t worthy of Him.

I personally believe that if you look forward to seeing anyone in heaven other than Jesus, you don’t get it. JESUS WILL BE THERE!

Jesus Himself will be your award! Jesus won’t be one of many things to see, being with Him won’t be one of many things to do. Jesus will be everything! And it will be glorious!

The reward for a believer will be Jesus. Can you think of anything more important? Think again.

Revenge. Seriously?

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Joel

I know someone who, because a member of the church his parents attended said something that offended him, quit going to church. He was a teenager at the time. He’s in his thirties today. And he will give that incident as the reason he still doesn’t go to church today.

I’ve heard of others who see injustice in the world and say, “If God causes such bad things to happen, I don’t want anything to do with Him.” or “There must not be a God at all.”

Do you wonder how God feels when people convince themselves of such?

What do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon and the cities of Philistia? Are you trying to take revenge on me? (3:4a)

Do people who judge God and find Him guilty think they have the upper hand? Seriously?

If you are (taking revenge on me) watch out! I will strike swiftly and pay you back for everything you have done. (4b)

Everything YOU have done.

Joel goes on to remind us we all enjoy the blessings of God. We all live in a world where the sun shines, the rain falls, wounds heal, crops produce fruit, hearts beat…

But we have taken those blessings and carted them off to pagan temples. (vs 5) Instead of using them to glorify God, instead of being grateful, we turn it around and use them against Him

But be warned. Especially when God repeats Himself:

… and I will pay you back for everything you have done. (verse 7b)

Here’s the good news:

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (2:32)

If you have any excuse why you haven’t called on the name of the Lord, if you have put yourself above God, found Him guilty, or blame your present circumstances on that old church lady who hurt your feelings – get over yourself!

Are you trying to teach God a lesson? Get even? Punish Him? That, my friend, is foolishness. Do you have any idea who it is you are dealing with?

Here’s the deal: obey God according to His Word, the Bible. Or not. Just remember your decision will stay with you for eternity. And in the end you won’t judge God. He will judge you.

I pray that when He does, He will be able to judge you according to the righteousness of His Son Jesus. The flip side of that is unthinkable.

The Writing Is On The Wall

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Ezekiel 5

We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “the writing’s on the wall” to indicate the inevitability of something happening, usually referring to something bad happening. That certainly was the case for Belshazzar who watched the hand of God write a proclamation on the wall of the dining room about the king’s impending death. That very night, the king was killed.

The writing was on the wall.

Does that speak to us today? Has God written a proclamation concerning the death of civilization? Are we looking at the end?

Yes. And no.

God has absolutely proclaimed the edict that this life as we know it will end. It’s been rushing to that end since Adam’s sin. The inevitable end of this world is getting closer every day. But nowhere in Scripture does it say that event will happen in 2022.

Oh, it could be today. Or it could be 1,000 years from now.

The sad thing is, some Christians see the writing on the wall and think, “Things are awful out there, but there’s nothing I can do about it.” So they sit back and wait for the end to happen.

That seems to be the case for Belshazzar. Instead of reading the writing on the wall and allowing it to convict him, to drive him to his knees in repentance, he threw a party for Daniel. That night his reign was brought to an end, just like God had written on the wall.

Friend, we can look for signs, complain about the state of the world while we sit comfortably in our homes, living life as usual, resting in the assurance of our salvation. But is that what God demands of us?

The signs we see all around us ought to drive us to our knees, light a fire in us to reach as many people as we can to introduce them to their only hope, Jesus the Savior.

Jesus is coming again. He’s promised us that in His Word. When He does, many, many people will go to hell for eternity. Many, many people you and I know will face eternity without Him.

Do you know what else is written on the wall, so to speak?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Let’s take that message to our world that needs Him. Because, dear one, the writing is on the wall.