As in the days of Noah
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:18
I’d rather stand alone, than to stand condemned.
As I was reading Lamentations 5 this morning, I’m reminded of where we are as a country. How did we get this far off track? Will it ever be the same again?
The answer is pretty simple, we got far away from God. We got off track. We turned away. We stopped putting God first and center long ago, and now, here we are. The only way to get back to God is to repent and turn back. I don’t know if it’ll ever be “the same” again. I think not, BUT, two things I am assured of:
1: God is Who He says He is and He never falls off of His throne. All power still belongs to Him. He may have given us over to our will, but He still sits enthroned.
You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19
2: Jesus is coming back. That’s no question. But, are you ready?
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelations 22:12
We cannot merely live how we want to and expect to be rewarded. Just because we call Him Lord Lord doesn’t mean that He is Lord to us. He forgives and He’s looking for the faithful. The doers, not just the hearers. Those who will turn, not those who are perfect. Who are they anyway? We all have flaws. That’s why we have a Savior. How are we applying His word to our life and how are we applying ourselves accordingly to His word? Are we being honest? Until we are honest with ourselves and God, we will lived deceived.
The Bible says that the end time will be as the days of Noah. What was going on in Noah’s day? Read to find out. It looks a lot like now. Noah listened to God. He cared more about what God said and thought, than what was going on in the world. You can fear man, but it’ll cause you to not please God and not do your part. You can watch the news all day and it won’t change a thing. But what it will do is cause you to get so caught up in what’s going on, that you miss out on getting involved in what you are supposed to do: to actually lead lost ones in.
The problem is not just about the problem, but more so the solution. The devil has all kinds of traps to keep our focus on the wrong things, to keep us trapped in sin and lured into wrong thinking.. We must keep the main thing, the main thing. To live for Him. He told us in the world we would have troubles, but that He overcame! So why do we fixate??? Who do you look to? Fox News, CNN, YouTube, market reports, Facebook or the Word of God? The world will tell you one thing, but God would clearly tell you another. It’s all in who you listen to. The devil ALWAYS has and offers a counterfeit. I hope your hope isn’t in the wrong place.
It’s not God’s will that we be or live deceived, but you have to listen to what He’d say to you. Have you asked Him as much as you’ve asked others? Have you searched the word and prayed? I encourage you to read Revelations 22 and ask God for fresh eyes to see.
He is coming back. So, no matter how bad the world gets, we have hope assured if our trust is truly in Him. The anchor holds.
If we aren’t living with an urgency, then we are complacent. There’s a lost and dying world and we are to be a light house. If we saw someone drowning would we just stand there? Not only are we light houses, we are life guards. If we saw someone about to fall into a fire, would we not snatch them out? Why are we just depending on others to do it? If we truly believe that we’d help these people in these desperate situations, then why aren’t we living with the same reality that people need the Lord? He is the solution. He is the answer. He is the way. We might be one decision away from destruction or salvation, and you and I might be the only connection between someone else and hope. Are we not His hands and feet?
I haven’t been a great example lately but I refuse for that to keep me back. Everyday we have a choice and His mercies are new daily. At any given time, we can come back to Him, until we can’t….
No One Knows the Day or Hour
Matthew 24 36-44:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD IS COMING. BUT KNOW THIS, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
It’s not enough just to say we are believers, true believers live like it. It’s not enough to say Jesus died for my sins and still live like the old version of us. He gave all, why aren’t we?
We must be and live ready. He’s coming back for the well prepared, not the ill-prepared. I’ve personally lived life off track for a while now. It seems that I’m somewhat still on track but barely hanging on some days, if I’m being honest. Since the world has been flipped upside down, it’s flipped us around also. Just maybe it’s to get us right side up and prepare us for His return. As in the days of Noah…… You might look goofy and sound unrealistic to some, but keep doing it anyway!
Don’t be caught unawares. Lead people in. I’d rather look stupid to the world than to not be loyal to God, and not be ready on the day of His return. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want those doors to be shut on me. That would be the scariest thing ever. One thing I think we can all agree on is that life is precious, time is fleeting and it’s not worth wasting another day. The time to repent is now, the day of salvation is today. I would say that this is not to scare anyone, because scare tactics don’t work. Grace does. BUT, the reality is, it is scary if we don’t know Him, because we aren’t promised another day. I would be scared if I was or saw someone drowning, I don’t know about you…..
Yet, who would let their child drift off in the ocean without doing what it took to bring them back to safe waters. That might get messy for a minute. Are you where you are supposed to be? You are His child and He loves you. He’s bringing us all back in to shore because we’ve been too far adrift for far too long.
For anyone reading this, I hope this doesn’t sound like a preaching session but I want you to know that God loves you and He loves me. Shame never draws In but rather pushes away. If I have a finger pointed toward you, it only means that I have 4 more pointing back at me. I’m telling you the truth in love. That’s why He had 2 arms stretched out wide. He didn’t come to condemn, that’s the enemies job and he’s a liar. God sent His only begotten Son to save all, all because He loved us this much. It’s not His will that even on perish but that ALL COMES TO REPENTANCE
. Don’t believe the lie and stay in your guilt or shame. He’s a loving God, but sin will destroy if we let it have its way. The road might be narrow and tight but it’s worth the fight. The only way out is through Him. If we could do it on our own, we would not have needed Him and He would not have laid His life down. Are we willing to lay ours down? To surrender it all at the feet of Jesus and put our hearts back in His hands, so He can lead us to a better way and get us back on track again.
I love you too much not to share what’s on my heart this morning, no matter how long it is. If it helps only just one….. it’s worth it all.
He is coming back for the prepared and those who are ready. He’s giving us time to get ready. He said “Behold, I come quickly.” Don’t wait, repent. We must heed and not ignore, or to live like He might or might not be. We must live assured. The time is now. We aren’t going to hear well done unless we’ve done well. He will say: “Well DONE”, not well heard or well said. That’s the words I long to hear, not “depart from Me, I never knew you.” Do you know Him today? Please don’t turn Him away.
“Dear Lord God, please forgive me for living laxed and not faithful. Lots have been deceived and maybe I was for a while, but I don’t want to miss out on what You have for me: I want to live for and unto You. I’m not perfect but I’m Perfectly Loved. If and because I know this, it helps me to make better choices and want to please You. Anything else is a temporary fix and won’t last. You are for me, not against me. If something’s breaking me, You’ll break it so it don’t break me. Help this world to wake up and see. We’ve been asleep for far too long. You use ordinary everyday people to bring this truth. Thank You Lord for laying down Your life so that I might live, and for Your truth, the truth that sets me free. In Jesus Name, Amen.” 🙏🏻
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
♥️Leah
