Corona Devo 994

Did you hear about the big snowstorm that hit Buffalo?

No--this isn't the first line of a joke...a huge storm descended on Buffalo the other day and dropped over six feet of snow.  It came quickly and it moved fast.  There were predictions and ample weather warnings...but would we have been "ready" if we were living in that city?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593637300415729668

The news stories and photos of the snowstorm seemed to me like a perfect example of something else that we have predictions and ample warnings for: Jesus coming back, or the day we die.  Either one of these can happen at any time...will we be "ready"?  

The Bible is absolutely clear that we should prepare our hearts (Ask Jesus in!) before that hour, because no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36).  And when we meet Jesus, our life-decisions and sins will not be like a huge snowstorm that we can dig ourselves out of...only by accepting the sanctification (and gift!) of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross will we be "ready", and eternally secure.  It's that easy, but it is a critical choice that we must make now because later might be too late.

God's Word tells us to be ready.

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. (2) For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. (3)When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.  

(4) But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. (5) For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. (6) So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. (7) Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. (8) But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.  ~I Thessalonians 5:1-8

~~~

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me...”  ~Revelation 16:15   

~~~

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows.  

(37) “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. (38) In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. (39) People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.  

(40) “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.  

(42) “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. (43) Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. (44) You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.  ~Matthew 24:36-44  

Jesus told a number of illustrations to bring this Truth home to his listeners so that they might believe Him and believe in Him before their hour of judgment came.  One example He gave was that of a bridegroom coming to look for a bride, and many young women were out watching and waiting for him.  But as night fell, some girls ran out of oil for their lamps, and so they went away to buy more oil, and while they were gone, the bridegroom came passed, and they missed their opportunity to accompany him to his banquet.  (Matthew 25:1-10).  

“Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us!’  

(12) “But he answered them, ‘I don’t even know who you are!’  

(13) “So stay awake, because you don’t know the day or the hour.  ~Matthew 25:11-13

We simply do not know the day or hour that we will meet our Maker face to face.  Why would we delay in placing our trust in Jesus today?  

God loves us.  How and why, I will never fully understand, because (if we are honest), we have ugly sides, and God sees all of our sides.  And yet He loves us madly.  

He has such a deep love for us that He gave His Son, Jesus to be sacrificed as the payment for our sins, so that we could be in Heaven with Him when that day and hour does come.  

And it will come.  Like a thief in the night, or like a huge snowstorm rolling in over a city...Jesus will come back.  And the Bible tells us that it will be quick and fast.  

We have Biblical predictions and ample warnings...but are we ready?  

"...what must I do to be saved?”  (31) They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved..."  ~Acts 16:30-31


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1156

Image
At work, we provide Trainings for customers, so that they can be updated and educated on all of the latest features (and how to use them) within our product.  Many companies do this--sharing "Best Practices" are a way to ensure positive outcomes on the customer and vendor sides of things. My kids often offer me "life hacks" that they have learned from watching an online video promising to "save time" and "make your life easier".  And just this week, my husband enlightened me about the "tear-away" feature built into most plastic rings holding cans/bottles of pop or Gatorade together.  When separated, the plastic rips open easily, releasing the bottle--saving wildlife that might be caught if it is discarded as trash, and saving me  frustration or angst because I no longer have to pull with all my might to get a bottle out of the plastic rings.  ( Who knew? )  Life hacks do save time and make your life easier! Who couldn't benefit from...
Read more

Corona Devo 1217

Image
The unanswered “why’s” of life, the disorder of our days, and even the unfairness of our struggles can cause us to question ourselves and also to question our God. But the order-of-Creation and the systems that God has set in place are undeniable answers that swing back and forth like God’s pendulum-reminder that He set the world in motion, and He continues to keep order, even when it seems as if we and our world are in dis- order.   Job was a man going through some heavy and hard stuff.   Maybe we are too.   Job’s trials had caused him to question the order of life, and possibly God’s dominion over it.   We can relate.   The “Why’s?” and the “Why Me’s” can stack up in our minds and hearts, but like a parent exercising loving-authority over a child, God reminds Job and us--of His power, omniscience and of His ultimate authority over everything: Creation… and us today .   Then the  Lord  answered Job from the whirlwind: (2) “Who i...
Read more

Corona Devo 991

Running low on " good things " today?  Doesn't it (sometimes) seem like/trend like/read like/tweet like/water-cooler-chat or backyard-fence-visit like/intimidate like/depress like... there are no  good things in the land? . I know. It's no secret that many have abandoned  the Law of the  Lord,  and at times, that's us .   It is evident all around us that people have  followed each other  in this sin.  When we look around...or when we live our days...we can wonder: Are there  any  good things  left in the land? There are still some good things in the land ...and no matter how bleak we feel the "forecast" for today is...there will always  be  some good things in the land, because God is in the land.   T he Bible reminds us of that today.   ~~~ The Israelites (and their king, Rehoboam ) were God's people, but like all of us at times/seasons of our lives...they wandered from Lord and His ways....
Read more