Corona Devo 2068
Are we in the "last days"?
It seems like I hear more and more people (and pastors!) saying so. But whether Jesus is coming back today...or in another 2,000 years, we can (and must!) step back and see the pattern and life-change that has surrounded people that have put their faith in God from the beginning of time.
Firstly: Acknowledging that God is supreme. He is the Creator and authority over all things, and over the world and over our lives. Flowers, animals, babies, seasons, oceans--all are the fruit of His creativity, design and authority over the earth and all that is in it. We can't forget Who God is. We cannot become blinded to the wonder, mystery, truth and power of Him: or else we will lose our way, and we will forget that God and Jesus are the way.
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. (6) Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. (7) And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. ~2 Peter 3:5-7
God's the boss, and we are not. His first "law" is the knowledge, acceptance, and faith of accepting that our Lord is above all things, and superior over all things: including us, and our desires and our sin.
The second component in serving our omnipotent God is that we have to spread His Word! We are called to tell others of His truth and promises, just as the faithful that have gone before us have always done. We are the fruit of (other) Believer's labors for the Lord. And if we are living-for-the-Lord correctly, we should have fruit of new Believers trailing behind us and living beside us as well.
This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. (2) I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. ~I Peter 3:1-2
God desires that every person and heart would come to know Him, and to tell of Him to others. God's Truth and promises have been passed down from one Believer to another, all the way back to Creation. Beginning with our forefathers in the faith, and followed by prophets, and straight up until today with you and me. It might be in the Bible verse that we will share with someone today. It might be taking the time to "go-deeper" in discussion with someone about faith.
Or it might be a hug in silence.
Are we in the last days?
I can't be sure, but I know that we are closer to the end today than we were yesterday. And the Bible warns us of misleading-people and scoffers. Let's keep our eyes open for them today, and let's keep our hearts tethered to the truth that the promise that Jesus is coming again
(3) Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. (4) They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” ~I Peter 3:3-4
We can see a common (faith) thread throughout the peoples of the earth that identify as Christ-followers and children of the Lord (us!): Patience in waiting for God's timing and obedience is critical. We want to check off our faith-homework quickly, but (God says) not-so-fast.
He's still working...within us and in the lives of those around us. Many do not know God. And He is working hard to wait for them and for their salvation in Him.
And so, a large part of our call-to-faith is waiting as God (patiently) allows time for others to come to know Him. And in that wait-period...we must tell others about God, and we must live peaceful and blameless lives for Him as best that we can.
As His children: we better be. Each of us are an important spoke in God's wheel of faith.
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. (9) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
(10) But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
(11) Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, (12) looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along...
(14) And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
(15) And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved... ~2 Peter 3:8-12, 14-15
~~~
Generations and decades upon decades have been spent passing down God's Word and He keeps His hand upon the lives of those who believe and trust in Him. Those who have been "saved" by God, in turn share His Truth in the hopes of helping to open the eyes and hearts of others to be saved by God.
We shine for Him, and we wait for others to receive Him, and we worship Him all along the way.
God is the Creator of all things, and He waits (with mankind's best interest in mind) for His highest creation (us) to accept, worship, honor, and to share Him (with others). Since the first days, this was His plan and in the last days, He will complete this plan.
Whichever day today is... the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief... (14) And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight (2 Peter 3:10, 14).
sarah
Https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com
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