Alarm
God sets the times and the seasons. I often hear people who mistakenly say there is no time with God, or that God doesn't see time like we do. That is simply not true! God is the author of time. The Bible is full of descriptions of times He has set on earth, and in heaven. The time really matters!
I want to agree with God about the time that I live in. I want to know how He sees the time. I want to pray: please tell me what time you say it is, God.
We live in the most intense season of human history. The increase in natural disasters is so dramatic, even before Sandy, insurers were raising rates to account for the unprecedented rising cost of covering natural disasters (http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL5E8LHMK120121017…). Unprecedented is a term you are hearing in the news more and more often. Unprecedented violence, disaster, financial and political situations. This is the indication of a time set in heaven and described in the Bible over the last several thousand years. God has set many times, and we are quickly approaching a very intense one.
We are seeing the contractions, or birth pains, Jesus described in Matthew 24. Natural disaster, financial fear, political calamity. The cycle of intensity is getting stronger and stronger. If you believe the Bible is true, then this is just the beginning.
It is easy to think that the disasters that are happening are some kind of victory of the enemy. As we see the epic struggle between good and evil play out, we tend to think on our terms: evil takes a punch and an earthquake happens, God swings back and all is well again. This is not what the Bible describes.
As hard as it may seem to believe, and as unpopular as it may be to say, the truth is: God allows the intensity to increase. This is HIS plan.
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him ("Believes" in this context means whoever "puts their trust in Him as their only hope to be right with God and their only hope to have a life worth living") will not perish and will have eternal life (John 3:16).
God is serious about this offering to mankind. So serious that He wants none to be lost. He provided the way, and He wants those He loves, humans, to choose His way. But many do not see the critical nature of the choice to be made: live in agreement with God or perish.
Like any good Father, God is not willing for the time of decision to pass by with no warning. God uses the least intense means necessary to wake up His children. He wants them to choose before it is too late. So the intensity of the alarm increases. The intensity of the alarm will continue to increase, in cycles, like contractions before a baby is born, until it is too late to choose the fullness of God's salvation offered through Jesus.
Everyone is chosen for salvation, but you have to choose yourself, too. A relationship requires participation of both people. God doesn't force anyone. Just like I can't force my son to wake up...I increase the sound of my voice and the frequency of my wake up calls until he gets up...I don't want him to be late for school. He finds my help waking up annoying, even mean, but I know the life consequences of him missing school. I see more than he does. What he sees as mean is really love.
But this alarm isn't just for salvation. This is a warning siren for all to draw as close to God as possible. Now is the time to agree with God about why He is allowing the intensity. God describes the increase in intensity as a "shaking of everything that can be shaken."
There is one place that will not be shaken. The place where God is. Draw close to Him now, while there is still time. The closer you are to God, the less you will feel the shaking, and the more clearly you will feel His power and hear His voice in the midst of unprecedented intensity. The Bible says many voices will rise up at this time. Voices of confusion and mixed truth.
But those close to God now will be "hidden" from the trouble as it increases. This is part of God's end time plan. As we and our friends and families draw close to God, geographical areas will actually be shielded from the effects of the shaking that is about to increase. God told Abraham that He would spare the entire city of Sodom for even 10 people committed to living in agreement with God. What would it take for God to hide my city from the shaking? I intend to draw as close to Him as I can to find out!
Zephania 2:1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.
I want to agree with God about the time that I live in. I want to know how He sees the time. I want to pray: please tell me what time you say it is, God.
We live in the most intense season of human history. The increase in natural disasters is so dramatic, even before Sandy, insurers were raising rates to account for the unprecedented rising cost of covering natural disasters (http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL5E8LHMK120121017…). Unprecedented is a term you are hearing in the news more and more often. Unprecedented violence, disaster, financial and political situations. This is the indication of a time set in heaven and described in the Bible over the last several thousand years. God has set many times, and we are quickly approaching a very intense one.
We are seeing the contractions, or birth pains, Jesus described in Matthew 24. Natural disaster, financial fear, political calamity. The cycle of intensity is getting stronger and stronger. If you believe the Bible is true, then this is just the beginning.
It is easy to think that the disasters that are happening are some kind of victory of the enemy. As we see the epic struggle between good and evil play out, we tend to think on our terms: evil takes a punch and an earthquake happens, God swings back and all is well again. This is not what the Bible describes.
As hard as it may seem to believe, and as unpopular as it may be to say, the truth is: God allows the intensity to increase. This is HIS plan.
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him ("Believes" in this context means whoever "puts their trust in Him as their only hope to be right with God and their only hope to have a life worth living") will not perish and will have eternal life (John 3:16).
God is serious about this offering to mankind. So serious that He wants none to be lost. He provided the way, and He wants those He loves, humans, to choose His way. But many do not see the critical nature of the choice to be made: live in agreement with God or perish.
Like any good Father, God is not willing for the time of decision to pass by with no warning. God uses the least intense means necessary to wake up His children. He wants them to choose before it is too late. So the intensity of the alarm increases. The intensity of the alarm will continue to increase, in cycles, like contractions before a baby is born, until it is too late to choose the fullness of God's salvation offered through Jesus.
Everyone is chosen for salvation, but you have to choose yourself, too. A relationship requires participation of both people. God doesn't force anyone. Just like I can't force my son to wake up...I increase the sound of my voice and the frequency of my wake up calls until he gets up...I don't want him to be late for school. He finds my help waking up annoying, even mean, but I know the life consequences of him missing school. I see more than he does. What he sees as mean is really love.
But this alarm isn't just for salvation. This is a warning siren for all to draw as close to God as possible. Now is the time to agree with God about why He is allowing the intensity. God describes the increase in intensity as a "shaking of everything that can be shaken."
There is one place that will not be shaken. The place where God is. Draw close to Him now, while there is still time. The closer you are to God, the less you will feel the shaking, and the more clearly you will feel His power and hear His voice in the midst of unprecedented intensity. The Bible says many voices will rise up at this time. Voices of confusion and mixed truth.
But those close to God now will be "hidden" from the trouble as it increases. This is part of God's end time plan. As we and our friends and families draw close to God, geographical areas will actually be shielded from the effects of the shaking that is about to increase. God told Abraham that He would spare the entire city of Sodom for even 10 people committed to living in agreement with God. What would it take for God to hide my city from the shaking? I intend to draw as close to Him as I can to find out!
Zephania 2:1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.
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