The Signs 

It is with great certainty that I say the end is near. We are indeed living in the final days of human history. It is an amazing time to be alive, an exciting time. Never before has man witnessed the awe-inspiring events happening in the modern world. Yet, there is a much to be desired. Available to us is all the technology, entertainment, pleasures and material things that one could wish for. Even with that being the case, why does there seem to be a general air of discontent, strife, or unhappiness? It is because much darkness abounds in these last days.

Jesus was very precise when speaking of the signs that would signal His return. We not only have the words of Jesus, but many signs to validate what is true. After all anyone can say anything right? Without evidence few are sure to believe. What's worse is that some wouldn't believe even if the evidence fell into their laps. The time for procrastination is over. Things are so serious at this point that Jesus' return is immanent. We not only need to ready ourselves but also spread the truth to others before it is too late. It is time right now. Let's take a look at some solid proof that we are in the last days and on the cusp of Christ's return.

Matthew 24:6-7 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

That one scripture is packed with a ton of verifiable events happening right now in our world. I will present some basic facts for you representing current world events. You can do more in depth research if you chose. The information is all readily available from a wide range of sources.

Nation Against Nation

Since the bloody Egyptian revolution began in 2011 between 3,000-8,000 have died. This figure continues to climb. The exact figure of prisoners/detainees in not known.

Since the bloody civil war in Syria began in early 2011 the death toll is between 115,000-125,000. The toll continues to rise.

The United States has been exposed for worldwide spying on allies and enemies alike. This has only further incited tensions between the U.S. and China. In retaliation China recently moved a warship into U.S. waters in Hawaii. 

Sudan has been in state of civil war since 1983 and millions have died. Millions have also been displaced. However, just to illustrate that this is another current conflict...here are some numbers. In Darfur, since the year 2003, roughly 50,000-80,000 have been killed in "ethnic cleansing (aka genocide) and between 1-2 million displaced.

The conflict in Turkey, perpetuated by it's PPK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) has left as many as 870 dead since 2011.

American troops are set to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014. The government there is in no condition to resume responsibility for its own security, as it is still plagued with corruption and factionalism. Though it is not for America to decide their fate, we are sure to hear more about this conflict in the coming days.

Since 2004 the tensions between the United States in Pakistan has boiled over. There have been as many as 339 drone attacks where over 400 civilians have died. 

I could go on and on with the Nation against Nation point but I have no desire. I'm getting disturbed just thinking about it. Besides, I am sure you can see that there is no shortage of conflicts in today's world just as Jesus said there would be before His return.

Famines

Roughly 800 million people suffer from malnutrition and hunger each year. A whopping 1.5 million children die each year from starvation (20,864 each day). That breaks my heart. The news would rather keep you distracted with celebrity garbage than to report on things like this! I just read an article 2 days ago about the poor in Haiti and how they eat mud cookies each day to stay alive. They literally mix oil with the mud and bake it into a "cookie." This is while billionaire aristocrats could easily write 1 check and resolve all of the world hunger!

Earthquakes

In the year 2012 there were an astonishing 16,667 earthquakes worldwide which resulted in 768 deaths. In that same year there were 3836 in the United States alone!

Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

Christians Persecuted

It is no secret that the world has launched an all out war on Christians and just about anything that has to do with God or Jesus! How many of you can remember a few years back when they banned stores from saying "Merry Christmas" and forced them to resort to saying "Happy Holidays?" How many can remember when prayer was taken out of schools? Now the sacred and holy institution of marriage has succumbed to the filth of the world. The world has perverted yet another of God's special covenants in order to twist and poison the truth! Oh, and I dare a Christian to proclaim that gay marriage is ungodly! You'll be crucified so quick you won't even know what happened. In fact, it is becoming more and more unacceptable for Christians to take a stand against anything that is indecent/contrary to God's word. I recently read an article where the united states army was specifically told to target Christians as a hate group and threat to national security. Now Christians are actually being labeled as terrorists! At every turn we are unwelcome, hated and killed. Jesus declared that it would be this way in the days near His return.

Matthew 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

No love

Jesus pretty much summed up the whole of our modern existence with that ONE verse. It is so plainly evident that people just don't care for one another. Hearts have waxed cold and there is no love. When you can look on YouTube and see videos of a person getting hit by a vehicle, and people simply walk by the person laying there without so much as even a blink...you know we are very close to the end. What happened to the you lean on me and I lean on you thing? Those days are long gone. The government has intentionally cut off much needed supplies to families (food shortages) inciting increased fears of riots/martial law in the near future. What kind of wicked government, which has built it's empire off the blood and sweat of the people, would then turn around and destroy those same people? You got it! Yours truly, the United States government. They (FEMA) already have millions of black coffins at a site in Georgia for some upcoming disaster event. What are we not being told? Why is the department of homeland security buying billions of rounds of hollow-point ammunition? Why is the military making preparations to seize the weapons of civilians and detain the American people? 

 Every time you turn around you see stories about parents killing their children through all kinds of evil torture, and children committing unspeakable, murderous acts against their own parents. Kids are hardly able to go to school without fear of an armed maniac coming in to shoot them. Crime seems to be rising at an alarming rate according to statistics and it just seems that people are struggling more and more with making good choices. Television has become completely filled with corruption and darkness. Everything is demonic, satanic or degrading. There are no more morals. Remember you could almost never see nudity or hear cursing on TV shows? Not anymore. They don't even bother to block it out or sensor. Never before in history has evil run so rampant as today. The lack of love and constant betrayal of people by one another is testament to the fact that we are in the final days. 

The end is at hand brothers and sisters. Time is so short. Pretty soon finding work, having money, entertainment, pointless celebrity gossip and technology will be the last thing on people's minds. Soon the only thing people will care about is their own survival! When the riots begin, we will have no choice but to trust in the Lord. Please pray for me during these perilous times and I will cover you in prayer as well. 

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 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 know 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."

As Always, Truth is Freedom, Knowledge is Power!

Will my life get better?

When things are not going as we want them to, this is a question we can't help but ponder. Will things ever get better? Is there any hope? As humans, self preservation is one of our most basic instincts, especially in a time of turmoil. I believe it is safe to say that the days in which we live are overwhelmingly complex. There are scores of unwarranted shootings and killings, confusion over what would seem to be basic common sense moral issues, turbulent financial markets and joblessness, global and civil unrest, and disaster at every turn. People are in a place of desperation and it is easy to see why. My friend, I am only human and must confess that I too share these feelings of uneasiness. However, I need only turn to the word of the living God for hope and answers.

So again I ask, will my life get better? Have you ever wondered when God will show up? So have I! The answer is; right on time. His timing is perfect, and rarely does his timing align with ours. Let us take a look at what God's word says about hope, safety and deliverance. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1 (Nkjv)

We can be assured that in times of trouble that God is absolutely with us, strengthening us and providing a safe place for us, even in the midst of certain danger. When my heart is overwhelmed and I know I am in over my head, I turn to the Lord in prayer. Those who are burdened and weary can find rest in the Lord. We may feel alone at times, stranded in middle of a mess with no way out. Still, we are never alone because God is always with us. We don't have to be afraid. 

The LORD said, "Fear not, for I am with you ; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand." -Isaiah 41:10

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. -Psalm 34:7

As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me. -Psalm 55:16

God is loving and merciful, but He is also just. If anything stands between you and the Lord, first repent and ask to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus, that nothing would hinder your cries from being heard. God will forgive us if we repent and ask forgiveness. In the same light, we should forgive those who wrong us and not harbor bitterness in our hearts. We would not want God to hold a grudge against us for our wrongs. When you have settled those things that stand in between you and the Lord, pray earnestly for relief from your troubles. He will deliver you, though I say again that it will be in His own timing. 

And not only in that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance  and perseverance character; and character, hope. -Romans 5:3-4

It is tempting to give up when we don't get our answer from God right away. Sometimes we may feel that He has forgotten us, or that He hasn't listened to our prayers. He has heard our cries and in time His mighty hand will move on our behalf. God may allow us to go through seasons of challenge to strengthen our faith, build our patience, and develop our testimony so that when we are delivered we can provide hope to those going through the same thing. 

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

My friend, I am not here to tell you  that everything will be lovely all the time. I wish I could promise that we would never face tribulations, trials or pain. I would love to tell you that we will always get our answers immediately, that we will never have to be patient, or that answers will always be what we want them to be. If I told you those things, I would surely be lying to you. Our walk of faith as Christians, servants of the Lord, followers and disciples of Jesus is not for the faint of heart. We are not promised easy lives. On the contrary we will definitely face attacks, dangers, persecutions, heartbreak and ridicule. Thankfully, our God will never leave us nor forsake us!

Our God is greater than the greatest mountains and obstacles we face. He is greater than our worst enemy and His wisdom far exceeds that of the people who try to belittle us. With God on our side who can stand against us? No one! So, I don't promise that this road will be easy, but if we endure...our rewards will be unimaginably great. We shall have victory in Christ!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

As always, Truth is Freedom, Knowledge is Power!

Who is Jesus?

WHO IS JESUS?

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13

Jesus asked this question for a very important reason. Jesus was not uncertain of His identity or His purpose. In fact Jesus was before anything else came to be. He wanted to make certain that those following Him knew His true identity. Many rumors were rampant during the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, and much confusion was the result.

Mark 13: 5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,” and will deceive many.

Make no mistake; Jesus wants you to know Him. He doesn't want you confused about who He is, and why a relationship with Him is critical.  In response to Jesus’ question;

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

Assurance of who Jesus is does not come as a result of scholarly readings or theology classes at an accredited university. In order to know Jesus, there has to be a personal relationship. There must be a connection that transcends head knowledge and dives into

the heart.

Matthew 15:8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

 I would pose the question; how can we get to know anyone without investing time with them on a consistent, personal basis? Don’t allow anyone else to define Jesus for you. Don’t allow the television or Sunday service to define Jesus for you. Get to know Him for yourself. Dive into the word of God and pray.

Many know Jesus as their savior, but few know Him as Lord. A great emphasis has been placed on Jesus as savior. This is understandable in relation to human nature, as it is a natural desire to want to be rescued. It is completely human to want to feel secure and safe. However, Jesus makes it very clear that in order to follow Him, one must totally surrender their life. This means that salvation alone is not the point. It is a selfish standpoint that proclaims, “Rescue me, save me, but I don’t have to give anything in return!” 

Looking at things in that manner makes it about us, when it should be about Christ. Living a life totally surrendered in Christ is not about what you can get from Him, but rather what you’re willing to give for Him.

Matthew 16:24 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 19:20-21 The young man said to him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

This is where many of us miss the point. Salvation is easy, comfortable, and requires little. A life of surrender is difficult, demanding, full of persecution, and trials all for His glory. It is easy to see why most would rather have Jesus as savior, and not as Lord.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Lordship implies ownership and complete rule. This is not what you will hear at your typical Sunday morning service. It is not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear.

You are probably shocked and maybe a bit confused because this is not what you have been taught. When we really dive into the word of God for ourselves instead of sitting down and hearing someone else share with us their idea of the bible, we can really have a shot at the powerful and trans-formative truth that is God’s word.

Have you ever wondered why the world is so harsh towards Christians? Have you ever heard some one saying, “well so and so said they are a Christian, but they do things that a Christian shouldn't do.” This is because it so much easier to hear the word than to actually do. Jesus warned us about that. Likely, these are people who have “accepted” Christ as their Savior but have never made Him their Lord.Perhaps they were not actually saved but thought that they were. Maybe this is why some Christians are seen as hypocrites and not to be trusted. Much of our plight as Christians is due to bad teaching, though we are responsible for the good or bad decisions we make. It reflects back on our Lord because until He returns, the world sees Jesus through His followers on earth. If we represent Him in a way that is false, then we cant expect the world to take Christianity seriously. Instead, if we live out and do the word daily, Christ will be so visible that the world will not even see us. Salvation is also not about acceptance, but rather a declaration as shown in Romans 10:9. So they are not living a life of surrender at all. Salvation should be the beginning, not the end; the result, not the goal.

Look into your own heart and ask yourself do you really know who Jesus is? Is he simply a great moral character from fable, some man who did good deeds long ago, a savior who helped you avoid a fiery hell, or is He alive, present and active in your life each day as your Lord? Jesus may have died, but He rose again and is alive today! We serve the living God!

As Always, Truth is Freedom, Knowledge is Power!