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Last Days |
Dear Brethren,
What are we to be doing in these last days? Jesus
Christ said, "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing." (Luke 12:43) Some say
that we are to be doing the Work. Others say that we are only
to pay and pray. What is it that God would have us "so
doing?" These times are described as perilous
times for Christians. It would be well if we would take heed.
God describes these days as perilous times because of the
adverse affect that they have on us.
"Know this also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of Godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
(2Timothy 3:1-5)
These are not the days to sit back, relax and become
complacent. What should we be doing as Christians? People
think that they have plenty of time to, get their lives
straight, to repent, and to produce fruits of the Spirit. The
apostle Peter also warns us of these hazardous conditions in
which we live: "Knowing this first, that there shall come
in the last days scoffers, walking after their
own lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for
since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation. "
(2 Peter 3:3-4)
Jesus tells us that is a wrong attitude and state of mind to
fall into. He expects us to be accomplishing a great deal -
with a sense of urgency. "If that servant say in his heart,
My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to
beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to
be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he
looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and
will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with
the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will,
and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:45-47) These
verses go on to explain that much is expected
of us. God expects a lot from us.
Let's look at the signs of the times so that we may establish
firmly in our minds that time is indeed short
until the return of Jesus Christ. When asked by His disciples:
What would be the sign of the end? Jesus responded by telling
them to be alert for religious deception, and to take a look at
what would be going on in the world. Jesus’ disciples asked
Him, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be
the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
(Matthew 24:3)
“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
rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these
things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, earthquakes, and
natural disasters in divers places. All these are the beginning
of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:4-8)
This is exactly where we are today. There are very rough days
ahead, not only for our nation, but especially for the people of
the Church of God. The tribulation that is coming on all the
world is a God-send for the Church of God in that it is the
final wake-up call to those who’s zeal is simmering.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the
sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory... When ye shall see all
these things, know that it is near, even at the
doors.” (Matthew 24:29-30,33)
Jesus is not delaying His return. We, the
people of God, need this time to develop spiritually. God is
showing us how to have Godly relationships with each other in
the called out family of God. At the same time, we realize that
this calling is a tremendous blessing that we are privileged to
be a part of. What will be the impact on the members of the
Church of God as society around them unravels?
As the world slides into oblivion, we find ourselves in a
similar decline. We must be exercising God’s Holy Spirit, so
that with the help of God, we are overcoming the world. We will
not receive the approval of the world, which only loves its
own. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of
me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of
him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
The correct thing for us to do is to actively live by the
principles Jesus Christ taught us. We are supposed to exhibit
the attributes of true Christianity – all the more as that day
of Christ’s return approaches. As we approach the tribulation,
we are being given more and more opportunities to live our
Christianity. Even at this moment, God blesses those who choose
to practice and follow His way of life. There are spiritual
principles involved.
Catastrophe, disease, natural disaster and destruction follow
those who set out to beat God's system by breaking God's rules.
The Bible refers to these results as, “blessings and cursings.”
God lead America and Great Britain into becoming the greatest
and most powerful nations that have ever existed. But now,
America and Great Britain are experiencing the beginning curses
that follow the rejection of God and His law. "All these
curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake
thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkened not unto
the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his
statutes which he commanded thee." (Deuteronomy 28:45)
What can we, as a people and a nation, expect as a result of our
rejection of God and His Ten Commandments? We can anticipate
God beginning to remove the national blessings and the
protection He has, thus far, afforded us because we, as a
nation, have rejected His perfect way. As society deteriorates,
the people of God will be facing the greatest challenge of our lives.
These are the last days. We will be called on,
more than ever, to come to the aid of our brethren - not only
physical aid, but also spiritual support. It will take our
utmost in spiritual discernment because so many will be going
along with the world. And yet, we of God's Church have a
responsibility to set the highest example in our behavior and
conduct. Unless we, the brethren, learn to lay our lives down
for our fellowman, we will not have a part in the Kingdom of
God.
Let’s understand that the time of Jacob’s trouble is near.
“Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall
send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness,
and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon
thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.” (Deuteronomy
28:48) “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like
it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be
saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7)
"It shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in
the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it." (Isaiah 2:2)
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| Sermon: |
"Last Days"
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