“Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.” Luke 17:37 (NLT)
If you're around other people who have some familiarity with the bible, you may hear them talk about "last days", "prophecy" or "end times". And if you're not as familiar with the bible or biblical prophesy, you might be wondering what they're talking about and what it means. In short it might mean that they're talking about the signs that mark the end of life here as we've known it. But on the path that we walk through this life toward that end, there are also other signs that may not seem as intriguing, but they have critical value. They're signs we can't afford to miss.
For some, the subject of the end of the world brings with it an anxiousness and a desire to change the subject with an unsettling dread to consider. For some knowing others, it brings a well spring of anxious anticipation. It's an anticipation that for them brings a rising joy to consider. The stark difference between the two types of responses could be based on the completeness of a person's knowledge of the truth and a willingness to act on it in obedience, rather than just satisfying themselves with knowing it...
Complacency is an illness of our time and a disease with a potential eternal mortality rate more dreadful than many diseases that have greater common notoriety. We tend to comfort ourselves and even bank on things every day that provide repetition as a predictable historic normalcy that we build our lives around. We become lulled by the daily commonality. But if it were possible that someone were to come to us with foreknowledge that gave us absolute certainty that our home would catch fire and burn on a given day, it would demand our response to protect both people and things precious to us - to spare not only those things with urgency, but ourselves as well. If as followers of Christ, we claim to know God and believe His word, we have urgent work to do...
I submit that to know a thing is nothing significant in itself. People that claim to have great knowledge, but don't use it are less than useful. It's only acting on the knowledge we hold - actively submitting to it - putting it to use, that bears fruit. And when that knowledge being acted on is the very truth, it's then that the knowledge held has real power.
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25 (NLT)
We may have signs to look for as judgment approaches - Jesus Himself gave us indications of its coming in what He's told us. But as to the exact time it will come, Jesus said that only the Father knows. In the mean time, so many people are left looking intently for those signs and making that their focus. I'm seeing them too, but at the same time, I'm wondering how many of them have seen all of the other signs they've passed along the way - the ones that will lead them to be standing where they really want to be when that day does come. There's a difference between "knowing about" Jesus and having a relationship with Him - actively "knowing Him" and the difference ... is everything.
If you're around other people who have some familiarity with the bible, you may hear them talk about "last days", "prophecy" or "end times". And if you're not as familiar with the bible or biblical prophesy, you might be wondering what they're talking about and what it means. In short it might mean that they're talking about the signs that mark the end of life here as we've known it. But on the path that we walk through this life toward that end, there are also other signs that may not seem as intriguing, but they have critical value. They're signs we can't afford to miss.
For some, the subject of the end of the world brings with it an anxiousness and a desire to change the subject with an unsettling dread to consider. For some knowing others, it brings a well spring of anxious anticipation. It's an anticipation that for them brings a rising joy to consider. The stark difference between the two types of responses could be based on the completeness of a person's knowledge of the truth and a willingness to act on it in obedience, rather than just satisfying themselves with knowing it...
Complacency is an illness of our time and a disease with a potential eternal mortality rate more dreadful than many diseases that have greater common notoriety. We tend to comfort ourselves and even bank on things every day that provide repetition as a predictable historic normalcy that we build our lives around. We become lulled by the daily commonality. But if it were possible that someone were to come to us with foreknowledge that gave us absolute certainty that our home would catch fire and burn on a given day, it would demand our response to protect both people and things precious to us - to spare not only those things with urgency, but ourselves as well. If as followers of Christ, we claim to know God and believe His word, we have urgent work to do...
I submit that to know a thing is nothing significant in itself. People that claim to have great knowledge, but don't use it are less than useful. It's only acting on the knowledge we hold - actively submitting to it - putting it to use, that bears fruit. And when that knowledge being acted on is the very truth, it's then that the knowledge held has real power.
"Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:18-20 (NLT)
It's the truth. Among so many other things, Jesus gave us the example to follow and truly following Christ always bears good fruit.
If we claim to know Christ - what He's taught and His commandments, If we claim to know God and have knowledge of what He's said and understand the true spirit of what He's told us but don't act on that knowledge, submitting to it - to actively put it to use, ... what value does "knowing" have? Remember, the Apostle James declared that even the demons have knowledge.
"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good." Titus 1:15-16 (NLT)
If we're true "followers" of Christ, it's because we have knowledge of the truth and believe it enough to truly act on it - "following" His example, teaching and heart. Otherwise we'd only be people holding onto some knowledge. Over and over the witnesses to the truth throughout scripture - our brothers in Christ, have warned against simply "knowing". These are signs in themselves that speak a truth vital to our relationship with God and our future on the day when judgment comes. It's direction on a path that Father God wants so much for us to follow, one that fulfills His purpose in giving us life.
If we're true "followers" of Christ, it's because we have knowledge of the truth and believe it enough to truly act on it - "following" His example, teaching and heart. Otherwise we'd only be people holding onto some knowledge. Over and over the witnesses to the truth throughout scripture - our brothers in Christ, have warned against simply "knowing". These are signs in themselves that speak a truth vital to our relationship with God and our future on the day when judgment comes. It's direction on a path that Father God wants so much for us to follow, one that fulfills His purpose in giving us life.
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25 (NLT)
We may have signs to look for as judgment approaches - Jesus Himself gave us indications of its coming in what He's told us. But as to the exact time it will come, Jesus said that only the Father knows. In the mean time, so many people are left looking intently for those signs and making that their focus. I'm seeing them too, but at the same time, I'm wondering how many of them have seen all of the other signs they've passed along the way - the ones that will lead them to be standing where they really want to be when that day does come. There's a difference between "knowing about" Jesus and having a relationship with Him - actively "knowing Him" and the difference ... is everything.
Jesus:
"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” John 12:46-50 (NLT)
We're living in a deceptive culture - one that's so powerful that the truth is easily lost and our way potentially perverted as Jesus warned (One of those end time signs). The thing is, we have the actual truth. If we knew all of the bible, we would have within in our reach everything we need to know because our God wants us to have what we need to succeed. But even then, there's a difference between just having that knowledge and becoming familiar with it enough to act in true submission to what He's told us. We need to study it, know it and respond to it truly in order to be truthful when we say that we're "following" Christ to where He is. Jesus submitted to what the Father told Him, so in order to follow Jesus, we must actively submit also.
Submitting isn't popular in a culture rife with rights and freedoms, but it's a characteristic of Christ to continually submit to Father God's direction and commands - not just "knowing" them. The consequence of just simply "knowing" the truth could be that on judgment day, Jesus says to us at that critical moment - "I don't know you" ... in spite of all of our "knowledge" - making our journey and lives here completely irrelevant to Father God's purpose to have given us life.
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." John 14:15-17 *NLT)
Please - Read the signs.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
Comments
Post a Comment