Category: judgment

End times

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:7-8

No matter what position a person takes regarding the Second Coming, all agree we are closer than we’ve ever been. Peter said that knowing the end is near should motivate us to be alert and self controlled so that we can pray. And as we pray we must remember to love. Are we praying? Are we loving?

End places

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Act 1:8

Are we thinking about those who have never heard of Jesus? God intends the Gospel to go to the ends of the earth! And we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish his will. Are we depending on the Holy Spirit? Are we Christ’s witnesses every where we go?

End promise

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

As Jesus gave his great commission, He also gave a great promise: “I will be with you.” We know this promise is for us because we have not reached the end of the age. Do we really believe Jesus has all authority? Are we holding to his great promise?

“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” Isaiah 9:10

At first glance this verse might seem an appropriate statement for post 9/11 speeches. In fact, it was quoted by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle on the Senate floor the day after the twin towers fell. Then in a speech in Washington DC on the third anniversary of the attack, vice presidential candidate John Edwards quoted this passage from Isaiah as the ‘word of the Lord’ for America as we continued to recover and look to the future.

However, there is a problem with this verse as it is read in context. It was actually a statement of defiance against the Lord. God had allowed Assyria to attack a rebellious Israel, but instead of confessing their sin and turning to God, Israel revealed a hardened heart. “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. All the people will know it — Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria — who say with pride and arrogance of heart, ‘The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.’” Isaiah 9:8–10

Jonathan Cahn is a Messianic Jew who recently wrote a book called The Harbinger. Written in story form, Cahn shows the way God warns nations. A broad lesson of the book is the real possibility that God’s Word can be used in totally inappropriate ways. We know this is true as we notice Satan quoting Scripture to tempt Jesus on the highest point of the temple… “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus was not deceived.

The specific purpose of Cahn’s book is to sound an alarm for our country to turn to God. The historical facts he mentions in his story make the warnings impossible to ignore.

God gives a simple responsibility to those He chooses to voice his warnings. He basically says: “You can’t control whether others heed my warning, but you must speak out. If you don’t speak, I will hold you responsible.” God’s ways don’t change. He loves enough to send wake-up calls to those who are asleep. “The Lord disciplines those He loves.”

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.” Ezekiel 3:16-19

My eyes filled with tears as soon as the music began and the bride stood with her father at the end of the aisle. I later asked my wife Susan if she thought anyone noticed I was really struggling to get it together before I had to speak, but she reminded me of the obvious truth: “No one was looking at you.” Of course, we were all looking at the beautiful bride who had prepared herself perfectly for her husband. She was spotless, without blemish.

Just as Jesus presented himself to his Father as a spotless Lamb so we are to present ourselves to our Savior as a spotless bride. “‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)”

Of course we understand we did not make ourselves spotless; that miracle was accomplished at Calvary. When writing to husbands and wives, Paul said the mystery of Christ and his church was also being proclaimed. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Our challenge is to remember two pieces of good news: the incredible sacrifice that made us spotless and the reliable promise of a coming Day. The uninvited enemy is constantly throwing mud at the bride, trying to ruin the present and future. But he is a defeated foe and we remind ourselves to constantly rely on the blood of the Lamb. Daily we should present ourselves as living sacrifices; this is our spiritual act of worship. We are not to conform to the pattern of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As Jesus understood his purpose, so we want to know the Father’s good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives. (See Rom 12:1-2)

I imagine Jesus is more excited about the coming Day than any groom has ever been. Let us be just as excited and “let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

“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 in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” II Peter 3:10-14 (see also Revelation 21)

In three days I’ll have the honor of helping a couple recite their vows to one another at an elegant outdoor wedding. Amanda and Jadon love one another and are so excited to finally reach this long awaited day. I’ve not told anyone, but I’m going to look a little different at this wedding. Though it is indeed a dress-up affair with tuxedos and fancy dresses, I’ve decided to just wear casual clothes. You see, what really counts is what’s in the heart. In my later years I’ve realized this more and more. Besides, I’ve worn so many ties in my lifetime that, to tell you the truth, I am sick of them. So I’m going to be foot-loose and fancy-free at this wedding and feel totally comfortable as I carry out my duties.

The father of the bride is a good friend of mine. If I show up Sunday evening wearing tennis shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt, I know exactly what he’ll say: “Dana, what’s the deal? You’re not participating in this wedding looking like that. Give me your notes, I’ll get someone else to take your spot. I’m sorry, but you need to leave.”

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 22:11-13

Don’t be shocked at this passage. There is a definite dress code at the great wedding feast. It is an incredible outfit we’ve been given, but we’ve got to wear it. In fact, these clothes, though perhaps not well recognized on earth, are to be our every day attire. Read the Scriptures below and remember why we are so beautiful in the eyes of our Father.

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27

“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14

“These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” The piercing words of Jesus always hold this powerful advantage: He knows everything. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” The disciples must have cringed when their Rabbi directed Isaiah’s words to the religious leaders of their day. They asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” But what is more important… feelings or the truth?

The blessing of God is always the truth. He does not exaggerate or spin or apologize. While we spend lifetimes building reputations, he knows continually how things really are. The Proverb says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, but what if my good name is a facade? When God shakes the earth… or shakes our lives… facades crumble. If we stand humbly before him, resisting the temptation to build back an image, God gives the greatest gift: freedom. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

“Dana, you have the reputation of not caring too much about the praise of man… but I know you. You care far too much about what others think.” The Lord said this to me last week. So what do I do? Is he being mean or uncaring? Of course not. If the Pharisees had received the truth about themselves they could have received sight. Instead, they remained ‘blind guides’ leading others astray. If I am shown the truth and receive it, he will set me free from the fear of man. If I do not argue with him or run from his Word or despise his discipline, he will allow my identity to be totally shaped by what God says rather than the opinions of others.

The letter to the church in Sardis was a tender message of love calling a group of believers into Light. “Wake up!” is the call to life and purpose. “Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” I must stand humbly before my Maker and Savior. “Show me, Lord. Wake me up. What have I forgotten? What have I failed to obey? Where must I turn around?” A perfect Father listens patiently with open arms. His ways are beyond our understanding and his call is always to himself.

“Remember who you are. You are my child and you are in my Son. Jesus is your righteousness, your wisdom, your holiness, and your redemption. As my Son listened to me and obeyed everything I told him to do as he walked the earth, so you can do the same. I have given you my Holy Spirit as a Helper and Comforter and Guide. Walk in the Spirit and turn from those things that are of the flesh. I have given you everything you need to be an overcomer. The Wedding Feast is being prepared… be dressed and ready!”

“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let he who boasts boast in the Lord.’” I Corinthians 1:27-31