september 2022

     Jesus told His disciples about the world's intent to kill them physically, emotionally, and spiritually because of Him. For us who read the Holy Bible in these times, we can read it like any newspaper or fiction we pick up. I understand people are done with mask coverings and hand washings, and that we're out of this pandemic so don't bother us to mask up because the vaccines are in. The news goes in and comes out like our change of clothes. However, as a Christian who intends to become Jesus' disciple, His warning should become more than just any Amber alert on our cell phones. Hence, it should be a wake-up call to say this is life or death. 
     In today's times, with all the modern technology in our pockets and desks, along the streets with neon signs and rhythmic music we walked on for years, our minds can take a toll with everything up in our faces all the time. We can end up on the left or the right side of things even when either side doesn't help us draw closer to God. I understand we can be dull to the bells and whistles for attention. 
     So what was Jesus saying to His disciples or us? Why did Jesus warn His disciples about the upcoming threats? Remember that the Sadducees were uptight at the new rendition of "cleaning of one's sins" by accepting Jesus' ways through baptism. They not only prefer the old methods, but they also don't like changes. "Our father is Abraham," they told Jesus. Their hypnosis on Moses' and their self-made commandments; the stuck-ups on Abraham's heritage (I have to mention in their times, other things drew their attention the same way our cell phones do) maneuvered them away from Jesus. If you take away the time and technology differences, their lives were not that different from ours. What some of the "Christians" claim, and I am using the term loosely here, are that their lives are grand. They would not change a thing. But that is the problem with "Christians" today. No one can tell the difference between the baptized and the one who isn't.  
     All Christians were taught to carry the cross. I have wondered if this upside-down logical reasoning turned the stomachs of so many from genuinely following Christ. So ask yourself this question: Why call yourself a Christian if you follow this as your religion but do not carry your cross? 
     Let me digress a bit. Have you noticed that Jesus touched the hearts of ordinary men to become His disciples so quickly? Yet those who supposedly have known the ways of God refused Jesus. Why is that? You would have assumed these "holy than thou" men would be thrilled when Jesus approached them. According to the witnesses, they were not. Only the humbled lives of men and women heeded Jesus' call. What does that say about your life when you are busy with family, work, church or other things? Are you as dense as those who refused in Jesus' day? 
     I hear people grunt and moan when I tell them Jesus will return soon. They said to me that not until so-and-so will come to pass—hopefully. This list from several people comprises a better retirement, a new home paid in full, and until their young children are fully grown. They added they would pray for it. Wake up, people! Jesus will be here regardless of where you are and what you will do at the time of the sound of the shofar. 
     "But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." (Matthew 24:36 - 41, NIV)
     Are you God that your word will defy the Almighty's? Know that this is not a competition between you and God. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you received God Himself, who created the earth, sky, and everyone on it. If you had kept up with the Holy Scriptures, you would have witnessed the arrival and departure of those 144,000 as written, among other events. God's mouth opens to speak; everything comes to pass. You don't have the same capability as Jesus Christ when you talk. Repent from this sin! Ask God to convict your hearts. Turn away from this sinful approach. 
     I want to add that the pandemic isn't over. There are still people sick because of the variants. The variants are present because of the mutated coronavirus. Just because you are in your little world where no one you know is sick doesn't mean the pandemic is over. Before December 2020, one person suffered and died from this virus from the other side of the world. We are in 2022 with people still suffering and dying from it. 
     I have only one answer for you: Read the Holy Bible daily and be conscientious about it so worldly things will not sway you away from our Saviour and Lord Jesus. 
     "Therefore, keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
     "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly, I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time, and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:42 - 51, NIV)