“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:35-37)
The world around us is crumbling. We are seeing the Book of Revelations come to life right before our eyes. Even the unsaved are talking about things being biblical in proportion – famines, hurricanes, floods, wars, financial collapses, etc. The heathen can even sense that the end is near.
As a child growing up I used to hate it when preachers talked about this subject. Partly, I suppose, because I didn’t feel like I hadn’t had a chance to see what life was all about for myself yet. I didn’t want Jesus to return yet because I wanted to live a little first. The truth is I was afraid Jesus would return, find me doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing, and I would miss heaven. When I think back to my childhood I can remember mom and dad being so strict about everything. They refused to eat in a restaurant that also served alcohol, they refused to by food from a grocery store that had a liquor department, dad refused to work on Sundays. There were all these rules to follow and I didn’t “get it.” To me, as long as you weren’t the one buying alcohol it was no big deal. If you weren’t sitting at the bar in the restaurant ordering beer with your meal, so what? And as far as working on Sundays, not that many places around us were even open on Sundays to begin with, let alone factories, etc.
Paul wrote “ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Now I get it. To me that was always just an easy verse to memorize and it was kind of cute. But now I see. What I once thought of as quaint or quirky on the part of my parents was really them trying to set a godly standard for their lives (and an example for me) and live by it. Dad had long ago stopped drinking and wasn’t tempted by it in the least, so that wasn’t the problem. The problem (if you want to call it that) was that they were trying to influence their community by supporting those businesses that stood for what they believed. What a concept!
As I look around me now it is hard to believe just how far the world has sunken – to what depths of depravity we have actively dug ourselves. I know, I know, I sound like an old person talking this way, but guys when even the world is recognizing how bad things are – that is our cue to step up to the plate and be a light. We may talk a good game and put on a good show, but the truth is – it’s just a show. We have become actors on a stage portraying something we really aren’t. There was an old-time word for this behavior – of putting on a facade and playing a part in a play. It was a Greek word for an actor: hypokrites, from which word we get hypocrite. Ouch!
Like I mentioned earlier, we are seeing the books of prophecy fulfilled daily in our newspapers, on TV, and online. Even nature is beginning to convulse under the curse of sinful man, writing in distress as it awaits the revelation of the sons of God. We can no longer play the old routine of “well, I’ve got plenty of time…” NO! Time is coming to a close. If you read earlier in Mark 13 you will see that Jesus is talking to His followers about this very subject. We have the talking heads telling us of coming disasters in our nations and in our world – warning us to stockpile food and water, keep cash on hand for when the banks crash. No if, but WHEN. It is time for the end-time John the Baptist to return to preach his message of repentance prior to the return of the Lord.
I’m getting this devotion out rather late today, for which I apologize, but maybe it’s just in time for you. I encourage you, I beg you, I dare you to sit down with God, spend a little time with Him, and see what you need to get right today. Before it’s too late. Soon the trumpet blast will sound. Jesus tells us He doesn’t even know when that time will be – only the Father in heaven knows. I just know that when that happens, there will be no time to get right, there will be no second chances, there will be no one to save you.
To we who are ready this will come as a surprise, sure. But it will be a welcome surprise! Instantly, suddenly, we will be in the Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And all will be well. Please make sure you come with us.
Be blessed.
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