ARE YOU GROANING?

From Romans 8:

I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Are you tired, weary, heavy laden, looking, seeking, desiring rest?

Christian, are you tired of this world and growing in hope and desiring for the Lord's return?

Are you groaning?!

I am.

To those who have been of the mindset, that the purpose of the believer in Jesus here on earth, is to fix the earth, sweep it of sin, elect the "right" officials to make a "pure" society for Jesus to usher in His kingdom, I say... How's that been working for you?

This world is dying quickly my friends. It too is groaning for the Lord. All of Creation groans for His return to finally make all things right. That's been His job from the get-go. And He promised that He would from the beginning, since Man's fall. It hasn't been our job to fix the earth or fix people by forcing society, using our wit and wisdom to make it "Christian."

Are we tired enough of this place yet?

I am by no means being a pessimist, or worse a fatalist. No, not at all. I am simply recognizing the fact that a greater reality awaits the believer in Christ. And while we spend so much time trying to fix this planet and it's unsaved inhabitants, we miss this reality.

So what then - do we just not care about others, about things? No, I mean we take time to assess ourselves and seek the Lord to readjust our focus. Are we so fixated on our present circumstances that we are missing His bigger picture? There is an immense picture being broadened right in front of us, but many are asleep to it. The signs of the times of prophecies past have been screaming at us to pay attention.

This is not a call to fret or worry, but simply a call to seek Him with all our hearts... to lay down our differences in the Body of Christ, between brother and brother, sister and sister. Get away from the noise of the daily grinding wheel, the rat race hamster wheel, and quiet yourselves before Him. It's time we ask Him for directions without our own agendas getting in the way.

Let's be quiet for Him and listen, really listen to what He is saying.

More to come. More to say. As He allows.

Peace

Life Changes

Life is frustrating. It changes and often goes in different directions than you'd expect or than you'd like. And God is at the helm, busily frustrating and changing us, taking us into different directions, many which we'd just rather not go.

But we go.

On the other hand we do a pretty good job of taking ourselves places we should just avoid. We think we're on the right path because, well, there's so many others on that same path.

I was so focused for so long on all things "end times" and drawn into all the hoopla where those in the eschatological camps dwell.

I've had enough.

I've gone back to my Roots. His name is Jesus. And I want to live There.

I've grown tired (thank you so much, Lord) of living in the End Times. I believe we are in the end times, have been in them probably for since the Ascension. But I no longer desire to focus on all that. It did a number on me. A very bad one. It left me feeling helpless and, pessimistic. It left me feeling that all is futile. Jesus is coming back, the world is going to hell, so what's the use?

Lovely, eh?

And this is eternal life... that you may know Him.

That's where I want to live... to know Him, ever-increasingly so.

SO, if you happen to stumble upon this website and read a lot of nail-biting stuff regarding End Times stuff, please know that I am someone in transition. I am not the same person I was six months ago, six days ago, six hours ago.

To be continued, sometime, maybe here in this blog, maybe not. We'll see.

Signs

I have been doing my fair share of reading prophecy sites as of late. Many I find seem to be more interested in selling their latest books then they are with presenting sound argument for what they write. I have found Bible Prophecy Today to be an exception and have gleaned much from their biblical perspective on the news.

From the website: BIBLE PROPHECY TODAY
Seven Major Prophetic Signs
Of The Second Coming

By Jack Kelly
There are seven major prophetic signs of the Second Coming, and for the first time in history all seven are in some stage of fulfillment. As in years past, I’ll list the seven with their primary biblical references and offer commentary from current events.

1. Israel Will Be In The Land… Ezekiel 36:24, 37:21

2. Jerusalem Will Be In Jewish Hands… Luke 21:24

3. A Moslem Coalition Armed And Led By Russia Will Attack The Holy Land… Ezek. 38:2-6

4. The Ancient Roman Empire Will Re-Emerge As A Political Force… Rev 17:9-10

5. The World Will Embrace A Single Religion… Rev 13:8

6. The World Will Accept A Single Government… Rev 13:3

7. Babylon Will Re-Emerge As A Prominent City In World Affairs… Rev 18:2-3

Read the whole article here.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:

"As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." MATTHEW 24:32-35

No, no date setting here. We are told that we cannot know the day or the hour but the season is something different. Jesus told us to be watchful. To look and listen to the times.

Back in the 70's and 80's prophecy and end times discussions were all the buzz in Christian circles. The Lord used Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth" to draw me to Him. I was fascinated with that book and became very interested in eschatology. The year 2000 and the infamous Y2K came around, I prepared for the worst, then nothing happened. So my eschatology got put on a shelf. I swore to myself that I'd never get hyped up about end times again. Well now I can't help myself. It's all just too obvious to me where things are headed.

Today prophecy is being fulfilled in front of our eyes. One just has to read and watch the mainstream news to see the signs. Global economic chaos, increasing tensions in the middle east, more and more threats of severe storms, earthquakes and signs in the heavens, and growing apostasy. The leaders of the world are all looking for a man to save us and are calling for a unified economic system, a one world government. This isn't fodder from some conspiracy website but it is in fact disclosed in the daily news. Meanwhile it seems that the Church is asleep at the wheel.

Where is the Body of Christ? Where is it's focus? Are we more occupied with church growth and ministries to please every pew sitting individual? Are we looking up? Are we hungering for the Lord and for His promised imminent return? The Church used to be, before it entered into the Laodicean mode.

"Peace and safety" is the mantra people are hungering for but there will not be peace until the Son of Man returns to set all things right. And if the Church doesn't wake up it will be looking for that wrong man as well.

No man knows the hour. The fig tree may be dormant now but summer will come and its leaves will soon appear.

I'm ready to go Home. How about you?

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

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