Something is happening all around us!

 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matt 11:28

Have you felt like things are getting crazy in our world?  I’d like to stick my head in the sand, concern myself with choosing the best toenail polish, or think about my next vacation… but I can’t.  Something is happening all around us.   Prophecies are being fulfilled.  The Kingdom of Heaven is advancing, and the enemy is turning up his guns.   Our everyday lives are filled with tribulation-- the economy is tanking, gas prices are rising, morality is ridiculed, families are falling apart, our country and what it has stood for is increasingly hated,  radical Islamists want to destroy us, natural disasters are increasing, and wars and rumors of wars abound.   Yet God told us all this would happen, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matt 11:12).  God tells us to discern the “signs of the times” (Matt 16:3).  He tells us to look for birth pains (Matt 24 and Mark 13), and He tells us to pick our side – “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” (Matt 11:23).

So what does this all mean?   What does it mean to discern the times and be on the side of Christ?  Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt 16:24).  He says, “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt 10:38).   So how in the midst of this crazy world are we to follow God?    Jesus puts it in simple terms when He simply says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29).   Jesus says “Come to Me” in the midst of all the crazy, hard stuff; and as we are tempted to sit and wonder about all the things we don’t understand, Jesus emphatically cries, “Come to me and I will give you rest.”   He told us long ago, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).   If you want peace you have to run to Christ and the things He has spoken to you in His Word.  You have to know what He has told you.  And you have to do it.     

Are you resting in what He has told you?  Do you shudder when you turn on the news, look at your bank statement, or think about what your kids face every day in school?   Do you find yourself feeling defeated?   Do you want to jump in the bed and cover your head, or distract yourself with mindless TV?   God knows us and says instead, “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:14, 16).   Now is not the time to retreat!  Christian… NOW is NOT the time to retreat.   It is not the time to be politically correct… It is the time to courageously remember who you are in Christ and be “salt of the earth” (Matt 5:13) to a world who is in desperate need of a Savior and whose time may be very short!   Run to Jesus for yourselves and for your lost loved ones!  You are His soldier.   Pick up your sword (God’s Truth), strengthen yourself with daily bread (the Bible), and “encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day (of His Return) approaching.” (Heb 10:25).   As you deny yourself (and the temptation to run from all of this), as you take up your cross (and stand as a light to the world around you), you will find peace!  Real peace! You will find rest for your souls.   You were created with a purpose for such a time as this!   Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph 6:11) and speak truth in love so that others may give glory to the One, to the soon-coming-King, to whom all glory is owed!   What a victory we have in Jesus!

Prayer:  Oh Father, draw me near.  Clean me.  Use me.   Help me to daily live the life you would have me live so others will see You and give you glory!  Oh Father, have mercy on us.   Have mercy on our country.  Bring Revival and let it start with me.  Amen.