It really is amazing how fast time goes by. Today is the half-way mark of our Lenten journey where our focus is on repenting, obeying and returning to God’s word / truth so that God will return to the church and once again shine His face upon us. That means that once again the church will do as Jesus did. Since Jesus walked the face of this earth, over 2000 years have gone by and the church is as far away from God’s word as it has ever been. Rebellion always leads to destruction and because of rebellion the church remains desolate and powerless against our enemies and looks nothing like the church Jesus started and empowered at Pentecost.
The disciples believed that they were preparing God’s people for the return of Jesus. They were told, Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Each of us has so many days to live and that is our only opportunity to submit our lives to Jesus and spread the true gospel. Each generation has the opportunity to repent and turn from wicked ways. Once you die, it is too late as Jesus explained with the rich man and Lazarus. The reality is your opportunity for salvation is now because like a heart attack or car accident, lives can end suddenly and there will be no time get ready. 1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” We must be ready for Jesus to return and take those who believe to eternal life.
Jesus gives us this example of being ready. Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” At one point all ten thought they were ready. The church was supposed to continue, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” and Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” And to Ephesians 4:12 “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Most people do not know when they are going to die, but we must be prepared. People make arrangements for funerals and wills which only cover them for this life, but most are totally unprepared for eternity. Because of deceit and delusion, most think they are prepared to meet God but are not. We do not know the day of our death, nor do we know when that final day is when Jesus returns, so we must keep watch. Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
The problem as Jeremiah said is deception. Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the Lord.” Because they were deceived, they did not turn from their wicked ways, just as the church does not turn form its wicked ways. Jeremiah also said, Jeremiah 8:10 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 11 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord.” Following other gospels is detestable conduct. Most carry on with their lives without any concern as to where they will spend eternity because they have been told all is well with their soul, and most people do not check to see if it is. They have blind guides showing them the way, but never do they test the spirits to make sure the way they are following isn’t leading them to death and destruction.
There is a final day coming and we must be ready. Peter said 2 Peter 3:3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” We are told that there are two places being prepared. Jesus said, John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Matthew 25:34 “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Or He will say 41 ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
A lack of fear towards God leaves people unprepared and definitely not ready to meet Him. Many are saying come Lord Jesus come, but they will not hear what they have been told they would hear. As Jeremiah said “prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.” The church is hemorrhaging, and a tiny band aid will not help. This is serious, as deception and delusion are everywhere in the church. Desolation, destruction and death are everywhere in the church, but most are saying this the church, this is the church, so be at peace. The enemy has already infiltrated the church and only a remnant is left, so people proclaiming that there is peace is part of the deception. Ezekiel 13:10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall.” More about that tomorrow. Our only hope is God the creator of the heavens and the earth. Psalm 60:11 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.” Peace will come when we return to the word of God. Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Peace and power will come. Numbers 6:24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
