Could this be the Year?
1 Thessalonians 5:1 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.”
Could it be this year that our Savior returns? I have been hearing this since the early 70's. Books were and still are, coming out with dates predicting our Savior's return. In God's Word it states that we won't "know the time or the day but He will come as a thief in the night."
I clearly recall the movie “Thief in the Night” which petrified me in my early days walking with my Savior Jesus Christ. I was always making sure of my salvation - many, many times over again. I did not want to die and end up in hell! I wanted to know for sure that I would be with Jesus if I died or if He took us home at that coming rapture of the church!
God promises by His own Word that no one can pluck us out of His hands! Thank God!
What an encouragement to know that our Savior loves us this much and that His Word is Truth and never changing! When I began again to doubt, I remember that most beautiful passage found in my Bible:
God declares, ”There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1
This should make us want to jump for joy and shout “Hallelujah!”
God declares, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief, you are all sons of light and sons of the day." 1 Thessalonians 5:4
Years have gone by since I started hearing about the return of our Savior. Time has flown by since those first days of my walk with Jesus but the scenes of that movie, “Thief in the Night”, stills burns in my mind and heart.
Does this happen to you too?
As we usher in the coming new year, we might be tempted to begin letting our guards down and vacillating in our convictions. This is why it remains an imperative to keep our whole armor on.
God declares, "”Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” I Thessalonians 5:6
Lord, help me to avoid the tendency toward not watching for His soon return. I don't want to grieve Him by my actions or thoughts on that Day! Clearly, we will be constantly fighting off the old nature till He does come and take us home but one thing we are assured, He is coming!
God declares, "He who testifies these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly, Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20
Are you ready to meet Him? If you are then He has a beautiful promise for you and I:
"“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with Him.” I Thessalonians 5:6
Sisters, did you read that great news? God did not appoint us to wrath makes me so thankful that He chose me to eternal life through the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
What do we do with these incredible words of promise to all who are His adopted?
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11
There are times when I am just not as bold to speak these wonderful words to others. God knows this too and in fact, gave us Paul's example of what to do... pray to God the Holy Spirit for boldness!
"But I ask, not being present, that I may be bold with the confidence which I think to be daring against some, who thought of us as walking according to flesh." II Corinthians 10:2
During this holiday season and continuing into the new year, let's stay awake, remain sober and watchful for His soon return! Share these thoughts with others today! Comfort one another so that, even the unbelieving can know where the hope within us comes from and who He is!
Could it this year my friends?
Close and Personal:
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Are you ready to see our Savior Jesus Christ face to face?
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If you are not ready what can you do to get ready?
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Are we using this holiday season to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to prepare for His coming for us His bride or are we pre-occupied with personal pleasures and the gifts to each other that will soon perish and be forgotten?
"My dear Heavenly Father, I want to take this time to tell you I love you! I love you because you first loved me and sent your son to die for me even if I was the only person on this earth you would have still died for me! Lord, to know this but to live this is totally two different things so Lord please help me to live today as you are returning today! Lord, give me boldness as you did Paul to tell others to get ready because He is coming back! Lord thank you this time we have to be with our spiritual families,family and friends and may we keep you in the center of everything we do! We love you, my Savior and King!"
In love with Him,
Labels: accountability, Bible study, Christian walk, Elaine Bateman, Faith, He is "I Am", holidays, Obedience
posted by Anonymous @ 12:15 AM
8 Comments:
Bless you for this beautiful post.
This is a beautiful post Elaine. I believe it honors the Lord and will richly bless the lives of people who read. I pray not only for Christians to read it but for those who are lost in sin, backslidden or just aren't sure where they stand in their lives. This will encourage and draw them into the presence of the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Oh my..."A Thief in the Night" YOu just totally threw me back to my teens when I was trying to make a decision whether or not to serve God! I actually gave my heart completely to him after I saw a youth drama loosely adapted from "A Thief in the Night" called "No Hiding Place."
Scared me to death!
In a good way.
I think we've lost a lot of the urgency of His coming. I don't hear those sort of messages preached nearly as much as I did in the 80's.
Thanks for the reminder that His coming could be today...and I'm happy to reprort I and my family are READY!
Blessings!
Sandy
Awesome post Elaine! I remember " A Thief in the Night". I was terrified and, like you, always made sure I was right with God. I did not want to go to hell at all.
This is an awesome reminder that we need to stay walking on the straight and narrow! Thanks for sharing this today!
Blessings,
Kennisha
Thanks Elaine ..for such a Great Post today !!! All you said is so true ..I yet again heard a minister say recently that the time was nearing ..
Sandy I couldn't agree with you more ..we sure don't hear enough of this preached from the pulpit anymore. I sure think we need to and so does the younger generation coming up or all life will be watered down for them.
Merry Christmas All !!
Hugs ..Sara
I remember when I was little my sister use to tell me He would return before the year 2000. I think she read one too many enquirers as you are right no one will know the hour. However I feel the season is near. My family and I talk about it often. We want to be ready!
I too remember "A Thief in the Night." I too was scared.
I also saw a play put on by Kay Arthur when I was in high school. She used to be an actress MANY years ago. I grew up in Chattanooga and went to her Bible Study when I was in junior high...back when Precept Ministries was called "Reach Out Ministries"... it was made up of Bible studies in an old red barn... The play she did was called "The Quick and the Damned".... it was along the lines of "A Thief In the Night"....
Both of those made me think about life and what it was all really about..
My hope is in Him....
Julie
This is an excellent reminder. Even in my teens, when I first gave my life to the Lord, I had fears of not being ready. I have prayed through the years for courage in Christ and to be ready...always on the watch.
But now, I have a new challenge. Since we don't know the day or hour, I (and every Christian mother out there) have the awesome task of raising God-fearing children who will be equipped to handle what lies ahead. The days are evil and they aren't getting any better folks. Going through the motions won't be enough for our children. They need to know about the full armor of God. They need to know how to defend their faith and know why they believe what they believe - not just because it's the faith of their parents, but because they understand their sin kept them from God, and accepting Jesus' death and resurrection makes them free again. We need to be equipping them to face the tough days ahead, so that when they are faced with false teachers, they can recognize them and turn away. The Bible says many will fall away to false teachers. We need to get our children ready. We need to be reading our Word, for ourselves and to our children, so we can recognize these false teachers. Don't take a day for granted. Be ready and let us get our children ready incase the coming of the Lord happens after we are gone. Thank you for posting this Elaine...excellent reminder and very important.
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