I heard my Mom say, "You can catch more flies with honey," more than a few times in my life.
I get that philosophy.
Hence, I refrained from entitling this post "HEY! YOU! LISTEN UP!" because I figured it was a little too "in your face." 😉
Especially, since I was yelling and all.
Even though I'm softening the blow by politely knocking, there are some things that need to be said.
Just in case.
What you do with this information is totally up to you.
Totally.
If it offends you or you think I'm full of baloney, please, continue reading anyway and try to keep an open mind...
I need to make sure you know
Both the chorus to this song and keep the faith thoughts have been popping into my head quite a bit these days.
Pandemics have happened in the past and, thank heavens, they've been few and far between. But this one isn't sweeping across a nation—or a continent even—
It's sweeping around the world!
Government officials scrambled worldwide to shut down borders in an attempt to contain it.
Citizens have been asked to abandon our lifestyles, avoid public gatherings, and stay at home unless it's absolutely necessary to leave.
If our goal is to kill this thing off, it makes sense. However, in the meantime, there are millions—billions—of people who are quickly falling into crisis mode.
I'm thinking more than a few Christians can't help but wonder if this is it!
If this is what?
We wonder if it's almost time for Jesus to come.
I know what you're thinking.
In fact, I agree.
There have been many catastrophic events in the past where people have thrown up their hands crying out, "He's coming! Jesus is coming!"
Only to realize they were wrong.
Nothing new here
The disciples even thought Jesus would return for them in their lifetime because He spoke in the first person.
Some say Jesus may have thought so too...
In fact, speaking in the first person is a strong argument many atheists use to disprove the Bible's account of Jesus' life.
I'd like to put a different spin on that... Hear me out, will you?
I think He spoke in the first person to make it personal. So that, even now, thousands of years later, if you pick up a Bible, God can use it to speak directly to you... to me... to anyone.
But, it's all up to us.
It's our responsibility to choose to acknowledge Him.
Jesus said with certainty that only God knows the day and the hour of His return.
Something's up
We aren't conspiracy theorists by any means... although, some might beg to differ. 😉
It's just that we've been around the block a few times now. We've opened our eyes to a few things and studied up.
Some of it's God stuff—my area of expertise—and some of it pertains to current events and or history—my husband's into research.
I can't deny that I can see how current events seem to be lining up to usher in events that are prophesied in the book of Revelation.
I haven't figured out where in the world 5G fits into that picture, but if it's truly as harmful as scientists are proclaiming, I can't even imagine that God's going to stand for that!
But, I digress...
I'm really good at that. 😉
Back to the topic at hand
Will COVID-19 prove to be the catalyst that sends the world spiraling into that point in time when God sends His Son to gather the church? As in, any minute, now...
I don't know.
Maybe...
Just in case it's a go, though, you need to know these things.
As I said before, I'm seriously not trying to shove anything down your throat.
I just want to be certain that you know.
Even if you hadn't given this a thought until now—Sorry. Not sorry!—I have to make sure you get this part.
If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior, you're choosing a side.
And, you're gonna' live forever either way. 😩
I never understood why no one ever seems to want to mention that part. Do they worry they're providing more ammo for the scoffers because we're "scaring people" into "salvation?"
Maybe.
I'm not sure about that. As for me, though... I tell!
It's important that people consider that option.
Contrary to a popular opinion out there in the world, you don't just live out your life, die, and, then, float about in the universe checking out the cosmos with your buds.
You'll have a ruler.
And, after Jesus comes... those who haven't chosen Him as their Lord and Savior see their ruler unleashed...
Big time.
You know who I'm talking about, right?
*nodding head in agreement*
It's Satan.
My hope is that non-believers or those who just don't realize believing in God is not all it takes to get into heaven are reading this. If you are...
Scoff if you must, but, please, keep reading.
If you know me, odds are that you have no doubt what I believe. As a matter of fact, I've been called the church lady more than once in my life... because I'm so involved in outreach there. I'm certain it's NOT because I resemble anyone specifically. 😉
If you don't know me, here it is in a nutshell.
There is a God who reigns in heaven. He has a Son and His name is Jesus.
Jesus came into this world a newborn babe. We celebrate His birth on Christmas.
It used to be all about Him, but the world's kind of gotten away from that and made it more about Santa, gifts, and family... all awesome in their own right... In fact, I'd love to have Santa's job!
The reason for the season
Even so, Christmas is really supposed to be all about that very first Christmas.
The day God gave us a gift like no other.
He sent His Son.
Why?
Jesus was His backup plan.
Like the angels before us, God created us with free will. And, if one who lived with God could turn against Him, what hope did mankind have when the evil one made it his goal to pull us away from Him?
He could have created us to worship Him at all times, but it would have been a little narcissistic, don't you think?
God doesn't play like that.
He's so full of love and goodness that creating little God puppets wasn't even an option.
Sure, He wants us to love and obey Him, but He's not going to force the issue.
He's always watching and waiting though. Always ready to welcome you into his loving presence with open arms.
Jesus is how we get there.
Jesus is the only man who ever walked this earth who did nothing wrong.
Not. One. Thing.
He always made the right choice.
Yet, He was arrested, mocked, beaten, and hung on a cross to die and He did it willingly—he was scared, but he did it—for us.
He doesn't want anyone to be separated from God for eternity.
This is getting longer than I expected, so, I'm going to cut to the chase.
The point
I doubt I'm going to sway your opinion on the matter and, believe it or not, that's not my intent.
I just want you to know that if ever there comes a day when the believers you know really are gone and the moment actually comes when you realize that we were right... all is not lost.
It's not too late.
God will still be waiting and watching... Always hoping...
You can give your life over to Him in a moment. You can pray the prayer of salvation even then.
Admit to God that you are a sinner. Tell Him you believe that Jesus is His only Son and that you need and want Him to be your Savior.
That's it.
Such a simple prayer, but it truly says it all.
I'd be saying, "Welcome to the family!"
But, I won't be here. 😉
I'll be looking for you when we all get together later though. Promise. I'll find you, too, because I'll have eternity to do it!
In the meantime, God will be with you.
He'll connect you with other believers.
The few years remaining after the rapture of the church are going to be rough.
People have a lot to endure, but I believe that those who accept salvation will be met by a God who shows up big time. He will protect His people and use you to accomplish great things.
In case you don't know much about the last of days, I'll tell you this—when Satan is actually wielding the power without the need to entice people into following him, but, instead has the opportunity to force people into submission, he's pulling out all the stops.
I shudder to think about it.
No one knows that day or hour
Just as I see things that seem to be lining up to set the stage for the last of days, I see other things that give me hope that we'll carry on.
Either way, at least now you know that it won't be too late to find your way home if He comes for us.
And, although it would be the most glorious of days for we who believe, I won't be disappointed if it's not in the immediate future. Even though the majority of those I know and love are Christians, some aren't...yet. 😉
It gives me more time to share a little information.
Of course, what they do with it is totally up to them.
Totally.
Let's pray, and then I'm out, okay?
Father God,
I don't know when you'll send Him, but you know I surely don't think you can wait much longer. The world is getting pretty dark... and you know my heart breaks for the millions of children who suffer because of it.
If ever there was a time to ask you to soften hearts and open minds, it is surely now.
I'm asking that you do that in a mighty, mighty way, Father. You know my heart and that I can't take the rose colored glasses off for anything. 😏
I can just imagine how happy you would be if everyone realized that You are the Great I Am. There is an adversary whose sole purpose is to separate us from You, and that the time is fast approaching when You will pour out Your wrath before restoring the world to its natural state.
Shout out to them, Father. Please, send sign after sign...
I know beyond a doubt that if they will seek you with all their heart that you will make Yourself known to them.
Rid our world of the virus, make our families strong, and turn our hearts to you.
It's in the mighty name of Jesus that I ask these things for it's by His sacrifice that I am washed clean and can speak boldly to You...
Amen
Thanks for hanging til the end. Even if you still think I'm feeding you a bunch of malarkey, I know that I've planted some seeds. I'll be praying God uses them to change your heart and open your eyes.
I'll see you next time,
Love,
C