When I was a little girl, we played a game called Hide and Go Seek! My brother, my sisters and I would take turns seeking while the others hid and the count down would begin, "Ten, nine, eight..." and you could hear excited giggles as we all scampered to our secret hiding places, hoping not to be discovered. Then the final call, "Ready or not, here I come!" And before long someone would look behind the couch or in the closet and we would be found!
Jesus is not playing a little game with us, but I can assure you that the count down has already begun. The time is ticking! As we hear that count down, we need to be preparing ourselves, not to hide, but to be found! Not to duck behind a closed door or big piece of furniture; we are to let our light shine! We are called out to sound the alarm! This is a warning for the lost and dying world, but it's an exciting time for the born-again believer who is letting Christ lead their life!
Matthew 24:3-14
And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
Just imagine for a moment, the opportunity these disciples had here. This is a BIG moment. They are alone with Jesus and they get to ask Him the same question that many people still ask today. When are You coming back Jesus? Tell us some signs to look for so we can know what to watch for!
And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
We can turn on the radio and hear about wars and rumors of wars right now. But Jesus said not to be troubled by that because these things have to happen. Then He says but that's not the end! We are to be careful that no one deceives us into saying they are Jesus. I know in my lifetime there have been several cases of hundreds of people believing a lie that a man was Jesus, and they died in that deception! Sound the alarm!!!
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Again, turn on the news channel, pick up a newspaper, or look online at social media; you will find these things are happening. There are earthquakes in different places, even places they have not had earthquakes at in years! Listen carefully! Can you hear the count down?
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
If the world cannot see this part of scripture being fulfilled every single day it is because Satan has blinded them! More and more rights are being taken away from Christians. If we serve Jesus and stand by the Word of God we are called haters, intolerant, and offensive! Nations of this world hate us not because we are American but because we are Christian! We are targeted but Jesus told His disciples and He is telling us that this is going to happen before He comes back. Well, if it is already happening, then don't you think the time is drawing to a close?
And many false prophets shall rise, and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
This is already happening in our world today. Men and women stand up claiming to be a messenger of God and spew lies and half-truths from their platforms. Watered down messages and compromises will never change hearts and will never change lives. Only God's Holy infallible world can reach a dying, hurting world and turn them around! And because of all the sin that will be in abundance, the love of many will turn cold. This has happened, too. The compassion and love for one another, for humanity, has turned into pure hatred if you believe anything contrary to the world! You must blend in or be ripped to shreds! But there is good news!!!!!
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
I am not God. I do not know how far the good news of the Kingdom of God has spread. I know that technology continues to increase and communication is better now than it has ever been. In an instant, we can speak to millions of people through social media platforms, televised events, and satellite technology. I do know that the end is very near! That is not scary! That is great news for those of us who strive to make Heaven our Home! Jesus is coming back and the ones that make it until the end will be saved!
Don't give up! Don't give in! Don't compromise! Don't settle! Read the Word of God ever single day. Stay in prayer and keep Your heart in tune with God. Because before we realize it, we are going to hear the announcement, "Ready ...or not, here I come!" We don't want to be left waiting around, hearing about how masses of people have suddenly disappeared from the earth with no explanation!
If you are not a Christian, and you have never asked Jesus to come into your heart, you can do that right now. You don't have to be in a church, or even at an altar. Just believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on a cross to save you. Confess that you believe that and then ask Him to come into your heart. Ask Him to save you and set you free. He already paid the debt for your sin at Calvary. It is free! All you have to do is invite Him into your heart and trust Him to help you through. Ask Him to forgive you and tell Him that you recognize you are a sinner, lost and undone. If you call upon the Name of the Lord with faith, you will be saved! Jesus wants to take you Home with Him. He is coming back ready or not.... please get ready!
~Bridgett
