Our hearts are stirred within us. We are all being checked and examined, to become aware of our own condition. The whole world knows that something is coming, but few have any idea what. Confusion has gone forth over the people, and evil is abounding. The Bible tells us what is coming... but the majority of people do not have ears to hear and hearts that are open to understand. What does God require of us?
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 11:27-28 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
God's requirements of man have not changed. From Genesis through Revelation, His plan never wavers. Man is the same also. Today, we are just as stubborn and willful as the people of old. The temptation and lusts of the flesh have not disappeared nor been conquered... they are flaunted in our faces every time we turn on the T.V. or open a newspaper. We have historical records of how God has dealt with man for over 6000 years, and we need to stop treating them like fairy tales and start applying them to our lives today.
The Lord has impressing upon our hearts the critical need in this hour to get back to the basics. Today, we are not ready, or prepared for what the Lord is about to do. Many are looking for "deeper truths." In so doing, we run the risk of becoming 'puffed up' with our 'acquired knowledge,' but not growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ. God repeatedly is bringing to our attention our need to check what the Word says about Believe, Obey and the Fear of the Lord, and honestly examine ourselves.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Romans 9:22-23 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Let us not be deceived about our own 'goodness.' We might look good when compared to other people, but our standard for comparison is not other fallen men... our standard of comparison is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. We see in Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 23:20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
The only way to prepare, is to seek God's face. Preparation must be in our hearts, bringing all our thoughts into submission to God. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
If we seek Him, we will find Him. He has given us all that we need to survive the coming judgments. We see in Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Isaiah 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Of all the multitudes of doctrines in the world today, there is only one that can save you. That being every word that Jesus spoke. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is our ark, our place of refuge from the storm that's coming. It is only in an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we shall be able to stand, and even to overcome in the troublous times ahead. Let us all strive to enter in while it is still light, for the night is fast approaching, the door will not be open forever. Time is a gift we no longer have to squander.
Job was a righteous man, whom God allowed the devil to test. We are being tried and tested today, to see whether we will serve God... or not. Let us not provoke from God a response like Job did, Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Be encouraged, we are not to succumb to fear of that which we see and hear around us. Neither are we to live as the heathen do, caring only about the things of this world. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. We can rejoice when we are chastened (tried & tested) by the Lord. For He is dealing with us as with sons. Continuing on with vs. 26-29, Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
There are few left that would disagree with the fact that we are in the last days, yet how many are doing anything about it? Where are we hearing the call for repentance, for brokenness? Isn't it ironic that we are nearly out of time, and yet that is the reason most people would give for why they can't stop and examine their hearts?... they just don't have the time? They are too caught up in this rat-race called daily living in America to take time out to get serious about their relationship with God. How sad is this? The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. We would do well to find the time, to make the time, to get our priorities in order. We are in the days Jeremiah spoke of. We would do well to consider it perfectly.
