I Love You

If you have been blessed with children, then you no doubt know full well the marvelous feeling of having them fall asleep in your arms. If, as am I, you are doubly blessed to have four grandchildren, then you know it is even more wonderful the second time around.

This evening I held my second oldest granddaughter beside me while all of us watched a silly little movie Bedtime Story. Snuggled there on the sofa, she would alternately hold on to my hand watching the movie, and lean over putting here arm around me and say, “I love you papa.” How could it not melt one’s heart?

What do we do that rewards us with such joy? We take over an occasional meal, spring for an even rarer group night or day out, or bring our beloved little ones a gift here and there. We wink across the table, hold them when we get them in reach and tell them we love them. On the wide scheme of things, we don’t do much in exchange for times like tonight. Tonight was special in that her affection was so sincere and generated by her.

As I considered just how touched I was by that bit of attention from her, the thought struck me: is it possible God appreciates rare times like that from us? I am certainly not suggesting that the Sovereign of the Cosmos and beyond needs anything from His creation. I do not know enough about the Supreme Being to assert any such thing. On the other hand, I do not believe it is inappropriate or demeaning to Him to ask myself these things.

Certainly, based upon all He has done for us, He should be loved by us at least as much as we receive from our own loved ones. Of all the items I listed that my wife and I do for ours, what among those does God not provide us daily? Then, add to that list the unimaginable: the gift of life itself, a celestial plan and purpose, the sacrifice of His Own Son for our redemption, the drawing of us to Him by the irresistible working of His Spirit, the gifts of grace and faith and eternal security in the hope of eternal life with Him.

As I am want to do when thoughts of this nature take hold, I look to the Scriptures. It did not take long before I had a picture that makes me comfortable with the thoughts at hand, I believe they paint a picture of our Father that undeniably, at least in my estimation, links the image of our Creator with us in the desire for intimacy. Here are just a few verses that left  me convinced.

Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lay down and sleep, for you alone Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” 

Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Matthew 22:37: ‘And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”’

Having come to the conclusion that spontaneous and sincere expressions of love from His children may please our Heavenly Father, I believe it is time for me to say the words. It is time for me to spiritually lean in to the Everlasting Arms and say, “I  love You.” I need to do it just like the little child did with and for her papa. I need to do it, for He deserves that and more and more and more. I am going to go do exactly that. As I leave you to do so, please read through the words to the following song, as they have a direct bearing on this matter. 

May our Father bless you with His fullest blessings!

Sheltered in the Arms of God

I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender.

They're leading me in the paths that I must trod.

I'll have no fear for Jesus walks beside me

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

So let the storms rage high,

The dark clouds rise,

They won't worry me;

For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God.

He walks with me,

And naught of earth shall harm me,

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

Soon I shall hear the call from heaven's portals. Come home my child,

It's the last mile you must trod

I'll fall asleep

And wake in God's new heaven

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

So let the storms rage high,

The dark clouds rise,

They won't worry me;

For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God.

He walks with me,

And naught of earth shall harm me,

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

A Reason to Hope

If you are like me, there are times when you just need a reason to hope, a way to look beyond the myriad problems and cares of this life, and a just a bit more encouragement than usual. Sometimes it is because you are tired, occasionally because of illness and still other times when you feel a sense of personal failure. It doesn't matter if it is brought on by internal or external factors: you are just at a loss.

I hate to admit such times, as my entire life up until the last one or two years, I have been an A+++ personality. Sure, things bothered me, hurt me, and weighed me down, but in my generation, "real men" were not expected to show emotion, fatigue or disappointment. It was our job to defend everything and everyone but one - ourselves. We were expected to control the situation, not be controlled by it. We were to succeed for God, family and country. Let me tell you, such expectations were exhausting, depleting and frankly, irrational. Still, most of my generation did exactly those things, or at least we tried.

In so doing, we genuinely missed out in many ways. Well, I should speak for myself. I missed out. In not showing my concern I was deemed heartless even by members of my family. By placing mission before individuals I was even considered rude and aloof. The result was that I was misunderstood, isolated and viewed as a loner and curmudgeon. Of course, all this did was create a vicious circle in which I distrusted others, withdrew and appeared even more curmudgeonly!

Poor, poor, pitiful me, right? Unfortunately, it was even worse than that. There was no self-pity. There wasn't much of anything. There was a darkness of soul and spirit that was at times crushing. There was a sense of loneliness that can only be described as lethal. There was no one to blame, because for my generation, it was just the way it was. It was true for my father's generation as well, for he had taught it to me, and he was an excellent teacher. It was the role of the man. "Real men" didn't complain. We were doers. Like my father, I did what was expected without regret.

What a shame. I missed out on so much. Oh, success was not a problem, or maybe it was. In constantly striving for the next mountain to climb I continued to allow the A+++ personality to rule over personal relationships. I didn't know it, but even if I ha
d I would have made an excuse. I was the "bread winner," and I intended to be the "best" I possibly could. Then, after years and years of it, the body broke down.

It has been on a long, continual downward spiral ever since. High blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, coronary arteriosclerosis, two bypasses, stints, apnea, diabetes, neuropathy, congestive heart failure, onset of kidney failure and now anemia have joined together to take a couple of the "pluses" from behind that alpha personality. Funny things begin to happen once you are forced to slow down. You re-evaluate. Ultimately, you reconsider and then you regret. It is when you finally hit this stage that you need that reason to hope, to escape from the realities you created, and seek encouragement.

What you find is it was never far off, you merely were so absorbed in what you were doing that you didn't let yourself think on it. You needed it then as much, if not more, than now. You just didn't avail yourself. It is there for everyone. It is there for those of you who know of it but have refused it. It is there for those of you who are too busy to think about it. It is there for those like me. It is right there, it has been there all along.

Yes, if you are like me, there are times when you just need a reason to hope, a way to look beyond the myriad problems and cares of this life, and a just a bit more encouragement than usual. Sometimes it is because you are tired, occasionally because of illness and still other times when you feel a sense of personal failure. It doesn't matter if it is brought on by internal or external factors: you are just at a loss.

It is right where it could be seen so easily and it still can be right this very moment. I have shared with you some of my failures, please let me share with you what I have learned. The answer to us in our times of need can be found by looking up. I don't mean far up. No, we need just lift our eyes from the ground and raise them slightly above eye level. There, we can clearly see a cross, but that is not satisfy us, or at least it is not what satisfies my need. Look at it with me, and gain hope and joy and peace.

Look at the cross. Look at it and tell me what you see; no, tell me what you don't. My hope comes in the fact that that cross is empty.He is not there. His job was finished. I have hope in the empty cross. Whatever my failures in this life, He finished it and forgave it. There is no need in any regret on my part. I take complete refuge in an empty cross, Look at it! See what is missing? Because the cross is empty, all our reasons for despair ate also gone!

        God, most merciful Creator, thank You for the lessons of this life. Thank You for 
        circumstances that draw us away from thoughts of self to thoughts of You and Your 
        magnificent plans for the redemption of all Your creation. Thank You when You show 
        us that this life is not about us, about our idea of success or even less about our most 
        abject  failures. Thank You that we learn that everything in this life and the life to come 
        is about You and Your beloved Son, Jesus, Who bore in Himself our just reward of 
        eternal damnation. Thank You that the greatest sign for us of the hope we have to 
        come is found by looking on an empty cross, because that empty cross tells us, as He 
        spoke from it, "It is finished." Now, we call You Father, because of Christ's 
        finished work for us. So we thank You and praise You, our Triune and Eternal God, 
        now and in the ages to come. AMEN.

What in the World is Going On?

God's glory in the heavens

Do you get the feeling that something sinister is afoot? Do you question the rapidity of moral decline, the acceptance of prevarication, the legalization of perversion and the disdain for Christianity? Are you concerned about the economy, the intrusion of government into our lives, legislation from the bench and a general erosion of our Constitution? 

Are you alarmed by what is happening in our churches? Do you buy-in to the un-Scriptural prosperity gospel? Have you heard teachings adhering to what is termed open theism? Have the sermons from the pulpit become so watered down with feel-good “how to better your life” messages? Has repentance been re-labeled as merely deciding to turn around and move your life in a different direction? Do you notice attendance dropping, especially among men? Is your church accepting those living a lifestyle that is in opposition to Scripture?

Does it just seem like the world, and for our purposes, America, is going to hell in a hand basket? Do you ever ask yourself, “What in the world is going on?” You are not alone. Your fears and concerns are supportable by statistics. The evidence paints a picture of cultures - all cultures - in crisis. The earth itself is speaking out with natural disaster after disaster. 

There is something going on. It is the rapid movement to the end of all we know by look, touch or taste. If we are the Lord’s children, washed in the blood of Christ, we need not fear. We are approaching the Day of the Lord, when He will make all things right. This does not mean troubles are not ahead - they are. Our strength, however, is not of ourselves, it is from Him. Scripture tells us what is coming, and there are many that do. These speak to our question. It has all been prophesied.

Ezekiel 39:21 "I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them.”

Daniel 12:1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.”

Isaiah 27:11b “For this is a people without discernment; therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them; he who formed them will show them no favor.”

Matthew 24:3-8 ‘And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”’

We should take the words of our Lord to heart. We are witnessing the “beginning of sorrows.” How long will it be from this beginning to God’s glorious end? That is one of His mysteries. He alone knows, but He has given us signs. Those signs say we are coming to a cosmic climax, and the time of it grows nearer every day. This is “what in the world is going on?” Take heart and keep watching the signs.

Blessings!

Marriage by Design

Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. There, I said it as succinct;y as I think I can. This is not an area I dwell on and it has nothing to do with having a heart. I have a heart. I have a heart for people. Admittedly, I too often hide it behind a tough exterior and words of sarcasm. I protect my heart, because it is easily broken. The issue of marriage, however, was settled before my heart took a beat. It is not about what I think and especially not about what I feel. That is true for you, as well. It is about what God thinks and about what God feels.

I am glad that I don’t have to make pronouncements against those who chose to live a lifestyle contrary to the Maker’s design. To do so would hurt some very kindhearted people. People who otherwise live lives that too often are better toward their fellow man than those who bear the name of Christ. I do, however, have the responsibility to speak what God has inspired in His Word. For this purpose, the reception of the words I must speak is the responsibility of the hearers and it is between them and the Almighty.

Marriage is sacred. The Word of God makes this very clear. The bond between a man and a woman is according to the design of the Creator. This is taken up in the second chapter of the first book in the Bible. The pairing of man and woman is not about emotion, it is about design. This is something for those of you seeking a marriage partner to remember, Romance is a matter of emotion, but your pairing is about design. Read the Scripture with me:

And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  

        Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, 

because she was taken out of Man."  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to 

        his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:22-24

Now, for all those who will proclaim me harsh in my follow up statements, I will tell you now, reread the inspired account provided by the One Who accomplished the design. Where does Adam ask Eve out on a date? Bring her flowers? Wine her and dine her? Go to a movie, a dance, a concert, etc.? Where is the romance? Design accounts for none of this - these are man’s additions to the Creator’s design. Mankind has added so much to His work that today it is unrecognizable. It has gone from rib to romance to ribald to revolting. Oh, Pastor Larry, you have no heart! Read on if you dare.

See, the Bible speaks to marriage again and again. It does talk about the love between man and wife, but always and only within God’s design. If we put God’s design first, relationship follows and romance blossoms. This is my  oversimplification of how it works, distilled from the following Scriptures:

Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,   a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love Proverbs 5:18-19

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. Proverbs 12:4

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22

House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10

He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,  and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:4-6

Can you see the pattern? A good wife is from God. This follows God’s design. Jesus stressed design in the passage from Matthew and it is echoed in Mark 10:6-9. What was one flesh in creation became two, but in marriage returns to one flesh. Design. The Apostle Paul speaks to marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, Ephesians 5:22-23. Colossians 3:18-19 and Hebrews 13:4-7. I encourage you to read them as well, but for our purposes we will move on.

So, one may ask, what is wrong with a marriage between the same genders? God is a God of love, after all, and love conquers all! If my argument for design does not answer this question, a further look at Scripture should, but in all likelihood won’t. Still, I am called to proclaim the whole counsel of God. Here is what the Almighty, the Creator and King of the Cosmos and beyond has to say on the subject:

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:13

And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 1 Kings 14:24

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Romans 1:26-27

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. 1 Corinthians 6:9

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:9-10

These verses are harsh, aren’t they? We don’t like words like abomination, but here it is, used to convey God’s attitude toward those who chose not to follow His design. We don’t like to think about matters that speak to other than God’s love. Well, whose problem is that, ours or God’s? But you say, “God is love.” Yes, that is Scripturally one of God’s attributes. Others are wrathful, jealous, holy. righteous, and on and on. 

The Scriptures are adamant that the Creator finds efforts by His creatures to upset His purposes comical. They are doomed to failure. His will cannot be thwarted.

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Psalm 2:

Many are      Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

The LOR       The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand" Isaiah 14:24

For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Isaiah 14:27

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Romans 9:20

Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. This is the will and the Word of God. The matter is settled and nothing can change it. Not the temporal powers of the air, not governments, not men’s laws and not the hearts and intentions of men (read woman, also). Sure, man can put the appearance of acceptability on other lifestyles, but they will not be approved of by the Creator, He will not sanction them, He will not change His design. In the end, it will go as mankind’s failed attempt to reach the heavens with the Tower of Babel. It will end in man’s frustration and confusion. It is against His design.

Every time I look at or into creation, I am amazed. I am amazed by its beauty, but I am blown away by the unity of design. Marriage is one of those beautiful things that brings unity and unity by design. God has ordained it and blesses it, but only as it falls within His purpose, His will and His design. May we live consistent with His design.

Who Died and Made You Boss?

This old saying seems to be taking on even more significance in our postmodern world. The Id, so long spoken of in psychology courses, has risen to god-like importance. You hear it all the time: you don't respect me, I deserve such-n-such, I won't do that, you can't tell me what to do, that's not fair (a relativistic assessment), I just want to be me, and the list goes on and on. Listen to the Occupy Wall Street crowd. They weren't really saying the system was wrong, they were just saying they deserve greater consideration by the system.

It is a problem eating at our society. I deserve, I want, but, I shouldn't have to pay my dues. It is owed me. REALLY? When did society begin to owe anyone anything? What happened to the thought process that told people to work hard and achieve? How do you achieve before you pay your dues in hard work, learning the requirements of the job, building trust and respect? When did an entry level job ever pay a "livable" wage? In my first three jobs I worked part-time along with going to school and I lived at home. What did I make? Minimum wage, of course! Could I have lived on it alone - no. What it did was teach me responsibility, accountability, reliability, honesty, truthfulness, consistency, teamwork, timeliness and, humility. I learned all this and even got paid for it!

Not so today - no, employers are now expected to give to that new employee with no expectations. No matter that productivity goes down while another employee takes time away from their responsibilities to train the newbie. It is of no consequence that the new employee is not capable yet to contribute to the bottom line. It's all okay, however, because the employer is making an exorbitant profit. Because it is deemed excessive, it should be shared with the new employee, right? Wrong on so many levels.

Anyone who has actually worked in the management of a business knows the profit margin is almost always much lower than the general public suspects. The raw numbers may give the appearance, but their are corporate taxes, insurance, and payroll taxes. There are advertising costs, overhead burden and facilities and utility expenses. This list can go on and on depending on the industry. Then there is the cost associated with keeping competition down. A curse of a profitable industry is that if the margin is reasonably high, there is constant entry by smaller, leaner competitors. The higher the margin, the more competitors. Established companies are forced to reinvest earlier than usual to maintain a competitive edge, find technological advantages, invest in training strategies and even cut profits. To the uninformed, these considerations have no meaning.

Oh, and do NOT expect the same level of employee loyalty and behavior that was prevalent before we entered the postmodern age. No, this is an "I do my job" and nothing else mentality. That is, if the job is getting done at all. A supervisor approaching a lackluster performer will be quite blessed to hear, Who died and made you boss?  or,  You're not the boss of me. More than likely, the employee uses profanity end route to the Equal Opportunity director claiming hostile work environment. See, if anyone dies, the employee thinks he/she should be the one to be promoted. Who died and made you boss?

Scripture seems to at least partly support this, especially 1 Timothy 5:18. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." Okay, so by not muzzling the ox, it is being allowed to consume freely from the farmer’s crops - or profits and this ties in directly to the worth of the hireling. 

So, is this the overall idea of Scripture? The answer is a resounding NO. The preponderance of occurrences paint a portrait that supports hard work, condemns grumbling, laziness and questioning. These provide noteworthy examples.

☛Proverbs 13:4: The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the 

          diligent is richly supplied

☛Philippians 2:14-15:  Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be 

          blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked 

          and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

☛Proverbs 12:24: The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to 

          forced labor

☛Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is 

          no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

So, the answer to the lead-off question to this blog is this: the Lord God, the Lord God Almighty is not dead. He has not abrogated His throne. He has not delegated His divine sovereignty to any other. He is the One Who inspired the Scriptures above, which give answer to “Who died and made you boss?” That answer is no one. We are to work as if for the Lord of heaven and not for men, so His rules apply. Next time you hear someone tell you what they deserve in a work situation, keep this in mind. God is not dead, nor does He sleep. What He says remains in effect. It is past time we man up, grow up, shut up and let our work speak to our relationship with Him and those around us.

What Is Integrity?

Integrity. Integrity is an underrated quality these days. It is defined simply as doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Yet, in practice it takes on a much greater burden for those seeking to adhere to a life built on it. Having integrity demands doing the right thing WHILE others are watching, DESPITE the pressure they bring to go along and knowing there are PERSONAL CONSEQUENCES in standing up against these pressures.

Integrity, then, is not well-served by the simple definition. It is best to think of the word as a host word: a word that encapsulates other related words or thoughts. A host word is, then, quite complicated. Integrity is one of the more complicated. It draws together other complicated thoughts. A sampling of these are:

1. Responsible
2. Accountable
3. Truthful
4. Reliable
5. Consistent
6. Transparent
7. Honorable
8. Trustworthy
9. Empathetic
10. Just

If a person has integrity, they must have and exhibit these qualities as well. Integrity, then, is inclusive of them: if any of these are lacking, so is integrity. You should note as you review the list, each of the qualities listed, like integrity, encapsulate other necessary qualities. They, too, are complex host words. Basic logic should reject the simplistic definition of integrity, then, in favor of a highly complex, involved and demanding quality.

No wonder it is not pursued by others, It places a person in a vulnerable position, requires constant self-evaluation, demands too much and costs too much for those looking for immediate gratification or to please others. It is much easier to refuse responsibility, shift blame, lie, shift positions with public opinion, hide one’s motives, or treat others in a shallow and ultimately uncaring manner to reach one’s ends.

Integrity comes at a cost to the one who pursues it, not to others. It is about standing for right and accepting the scorn of others. Integrity establishes the reputation of the man. It carries with it a promise those without it cannot claim. Those who practice it can expect no less than the protection of the Almighty. It is not the easiest way, but it is the only right way. It is complicated, yes, but the reward is straightforward.

Proverbs 28:18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

Biblical Truths About the End Times

There is increasing talk among TV ministries and social media concerning the end times. Too much of it is just that - talk. Unfortunately, this talk does reference Scripture, but in a manner that attempts to claim authority that the Scripture just does not allow. Should you read or hear one calling for a time when God will act, or attempts to narrow the end into the next few years, proceed with the utmost caution. History is replete with the unfortunate actions of those disappointed by such bold end times prophecies.

We have not been left completely in the dark on this subject, but it is still one that demands we approach it humbling, admitting that we are not given specifics, I believe this is so we do not suspend our work in building the Kingdom. We have a proclivity to do that. There are too many examples of cult leaders taking his group to the mountains to await the Second Advent, or mass suicides when it does not occur, all of which hurt the name of the church universal. No, we are to continue to speak truth to a dead and dying world, a world that is dead spiritually, and dying physically. The answer to the world is not the end, but the new beginning in Christ Jesus.I am convinced this is why the Lord Jesus told us, “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)

This is not to say the Bible leaves us without clues, When it comes to the last days, however, it tells us less than it does in other areas of knowledge. Still, it provides telling warnings that we are to look for, Here are a few:

Joel 2:28-32

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Matthew 24:7

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21:11

There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:25

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

2 Peter 3:3-4

Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Upon reading these, you will, no doubt, determine we are in the last days. You would be correct. You should know, too, what was said by Christ’s early the disciples in regard to their time. John the Beloved said, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.” (I John 2:18) The Apostle Paul said, “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11) Are we nearer now? Of course! Still, based upon their understanding of the times, we should tread humbly in our understanding. 

After all this, what should we say and do? Has our duty to our Lord changed in the least? Not at all. We are to proclaim the Good News. Proclaiming the Gospel was Jesus’ last command to His disciples, followed by, “...surely I am with you always.” (Mark 16:15) There is little value to a lost and dying world to stand on a street corner wearing a sandwich board proclaiming “The End is Near.” How much better to declare along with Paul, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

What do you believe will be more pleasing to our Lord, more fitting for our talents, to sit and trim the wicks of our lanterns preparing for His return, our shining the Light of the World into the darkness? Yes, the end is near. Stop listening to those who claim to know when, Stop letting the knowledge of it cripple your service. Recognize the times and determine to make the most of what is left. We know time is short and that is all we have been told. Let us work as the Spirit desires and be found working when He returns!