The day of the Lord is described in Scripture as a time when:
- The proud will be brought low (Isaiah 2:12)
- There will be destruction and wailing as sinners are destroyed and the Lord's wrath is poured out (Isaiah 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15; Zephaniah 1:15-2:2)
- There will be vengeance from the Lord for what has been done against His people (Isaiah 34:8; Jeremiah 46:10)
- The house of Israel will need to stand in battle (Ezekiel 13:5)
- It is cloudy and the heathen will be addressed (Ezekiel 30:3; Obadiah 1:15)
- There shall be trembling as the Lord arrays His army for war (Joel 2:1,11)
- There is darkness upon the land (Amos 5:18-20)
- The righteous shall be hidden from the Lord's anger (Zephaniah 2:3)
Yet, how are Christians supposed to feel about this day?
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, LOOKING FOR AND HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, SEEING THAT YE LOOK FOR SUCH THINGS, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." II Peter 3:10-14
The Heavens shall pass away with fervent heat and the earth shall be burned up. Both as we know it will be destroyed and replaced with a new Heaven and new Earth!
Everything you have down here, all that you have accumulated, will be burned up. This world will be no more. For some, that is a very sorrowful thought. It is a message of gloom and doom.
But what does the Scripture say? The Christian is to be "looking for" and "hasting unto" the coming of this day. Why? Because this world is not our home! When the Day of the Lord occurs, we are joined with Him as His Bride and will be eternally with Him.
"Looking for" means to be looking expectantly for something, to be waiting and hoping for it. "Hasting" means in a hurry, to quicken or speed up. We are to be looking expectantly for the return of the Lord with the intent of hurrying it up if we can. THIS is the hope of the true Christian. THIS is the manner of person we ought to be!
Why would any ministry that is ordained by God be preaching to you about setting up your permanence down here?
If God is going to destroy this world, then why would He anoint men and women to teach you how to have your best life now in this present age?
Why would He send you prophets who turn your affections to the things of this world?
False prosperity hirelings such as Frederick K.C. Price have said that they don't want Jesus to return anytime soon because they are too busy enjoying this life. Don't you know that when people make such statements they are letting you know that they care nothing for the things of God?
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." II Timothy 4:8Are you yearning for the Lord's appearing or are you too busy laying up treasures for yourself in the Earth? According to the Scriptures, the heart of the Christian is yearning for Jesus' return and the END to this evil world!
Do you feel saddened by the thought of this world coming to an end? Or are you preparing by being diligent to be found of Him "in peace, without spot, and blameless"?
This is not just a message about the Day of the Lord for the end of your world can happen at any time. When you die, this world has ended...for you. Will you be ready or have you spent all of your time overtaken by the cares of this life?
"Oh, I don't want to think about this. There are things I still want to do down here. God wants us to enjoy our lives in the world. I want to get married. I want to see my children married. I love Jesus, but I am really not ready for Him to come back yet."Does that mean that you cannot have hopes, aspirations, dreams? No. I am saying don't make this world your destiny or your reality. Everything that God desires for you to have will be yours as you submit in obedience to Him. Just don't make the mistake of being sidetracked by having your hope in life tied up in the things of this world.
If the thought of this world ending brings you grief, then know that your own heart bears witness against you that you do not love Jesus. You love the world more than you love God.
God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish. Take the time He has allotted to you this day and repent. Turn your whole heart to Jesus and let Him make you into a new creation.
If God tells us what manner of person we ought to be, then how can we call ourselves His and be otherwise? You cannot make yourself this way. It only comes by being born again and sanctified unto the Lord. As you present your body to Him as a living sacrifice, He is faithful to complete the work He has started by transforming you into the image of His Son. As He does so, His desires will become your desires.
With all of your daily striving and living, what home are you investing in and preparing for?
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21
You may also want to take time to review this insightful article by David Wilkerson: WE ARE TOO EARTHBOUND.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIts not that the end of the world, or his coming brings me grief, its just the days leading up to his coming--that is, if im still alive--that brings me down. Im just
afraid and anxious because i have young children and would like to have more; and its just worries me that something would happen to them.
Hi Mummie,
ReplyDeleteI totally understand. As a Mom, I have dealt with those issues too. Not only concern about their personal well-being, but concern over whether I was even prepared to deal with that possibility.
The thing that brought me comfort is remembering that children are the inheritance of the Lord. Scripture seems to indicate that the love we have for our children pales tremendously in comparison to the love He has for us.
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11
The love we feel for our children might as well be called "evil" when compared to how much God loves us.
We must have faith in the character, honor, righteousness, and holiness of God. He is TRULY our Father.
One of the quotes about the day of the Lord is that the righteous shall be hidden from the Lord's anger (Zephaniah 2:3).
I do believe that Scriptures state there will be hard and trying time for the saints of God in those days...even death. By He has all in His control. These momentary and light afflictions give way to eternal glory in Him.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't have any more children or people should not get married, etc. No one knows the day or the hour.
The point is not to have your affections down in the things of this world. Whatsoever God brings into your life - spouses, children, friends, blessings, trials...it is all for His glory and for our good.
I pray that He brings comfort and peace to your heart on this. It doesn't have to be a discussion of the day of the Lord. Sometimes, even things as simple as your children going to school, going to a friend's house, or going to the mall can be enough to make one worry because the days are evil. Yet, God has all in His control. He loves them even more than you and I do. :-)
thank you so much, that gives me some relief; sometimes you forget that God loves our children too.
ReplyDeleteblessings
Hi Mummie,
ReplyDeleteI know that I am no where near understanding God's love for us. It is beyond my comprehension.
I heard the following yesterday and it is so true:
"Because of Christ's death, you can be adopted by the Father you rejected, forgiven by the Husband you cheated on, and embraced by the Friend you betrayed."
Now what kind of love is that??? :-)
I hate to be inconvenienced even by a friend, let alone an enemy. Yet while we were enemies, Christ died for us. Awesome!!
unconditional love, its hard to even imagine it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the Beyonce possession vids! You are doing a great work!
ReplyDelete