Do You See What I See?

You cannot properly evaluate all that is going on in our nation and the world without using the Word of God as the measuring standard. I'm not saying Jesus is coming back today. (Even though He could.) But I AM saying His return is near. What He said would take place in the last days, before His return, is clearly taking place as I write these words.

The Apostle John speaks of the anti-Christ, and the spirit of the anti-Christ. The spirit of the anti-Christ is that mindset and thought pattern that opposes God; I mean, vehemently opposes God. "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22) Ultimately this spirit will prevail and become personified in one man...the anti-christ. Never forget though, God is ultimately in control as this is part of His plan to judge sin, and bring forth the 2nd coming of the King of Kings. Now is not the time to be afraid. Now is the time to rise up and be bold! Where sin abounds, grace abounds even much more.

Let me say my friend, it is no longer time for "business as usual". We cannot ignore all that is happening in our nation, and the world, and continue to be passive. Some say "Things have always been bad." And yes, always, somewhere on the planet, societies have been depraved and corrupted. But it's becoming world-wide. The spirit of the anti-Christ is working hard to pave the way for the man of lawlessness. And those who have recently had to relinquish control of our nation, are fighting relentlessly to gain back its control. I'm speaking of those who are part of establishments that care nothing of the welfare of our nation, but only for the gaining of control, power, and wealth. Establishments that vehemently oppose Jesus, and His people, the church. The spirit of anti-Christ will stop at nothing to accomplish its mission, the new world order, also known as the one world government.

But this is where it gets good; I mean really good. If you are a part of God's church, the body of Christ in the earth, God has an incredible destiny for you! It's time to get serious with Him. It's time to pull yourself away from the world's system, and follow hard after Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, "Time is so short, that those who use the world, should be as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." (1 Corinthians 7:31) It's so easy to be deeply hidden in the personal affairs of our lives and families (even our churches), and not see or understand the reality of what's happening in our current time.

Understand that you are an eternal creation of the Spirit of God. Peter says "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, by the living and enduring Word of God." (1 Peter 1:23) The time you live on this earth will be nothing more than a vapor, the Word says. Compared to eternity, your time here is almost nothing. Yet God placed you and me here to make an eternal impact. Too many Christians are so involved in the affairs of this world they have no eternal perspective. They see no farther than then end of the present day. But, what we do here effects our eternal existence. We must live with an eternal perspective. We must learn to live beyond today, tomorrow, and this earthly life. This is what living for Jesus is all about.

If we live with an eternal perspective as we live for Jesus, we understand that God is ultimately in control. We understand that we are truly ambassadors for Jesus, and that our purpose here is that our entire life brings glory to Him. We understand that life is about Him, not us. It is about serving not ourselves, but others, as He came and gave us the example. It is about doing what He has commissioned us to do as we win people to Him, and raise them up to maturity in Him.

Draw closer to Jesus my friend. You need Him more that ever before. Make an impact upon this hurting world. You've been called to do it. You've been anointed to do it. Now...just do it.