“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
Matthew 24:35-42 KJV
I had been taught this scripture referenced the rapture! I, like everyone else, embraced the idea of being rescued from the wrath of God to come. God had done it for Noah, He'll do it for us! Then it was pointed out to me that those that were taken away were not in the ark!
I had a real hard time with this, you see, for God had promised the following verse to me!
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.” Psalms 27:13 NKJV
I had just began my first read through of my Bible, and I realized so many things I had been taught were not quite right! I had been lied to, deceived, just like Jesus said!
What wasn't a lie is that He had indeed provided a way of escape from the wrath to come, through the Cross! And He gave instruction on what to do!
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:38 KJV
That means denying your fleshly desires and surrendering your will for His! Obedience to His Word!
“For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:” Colossians 3:6 KJV
You no longer live your life for you. You live for Him! He gave His life for you, so you WANT to do the same!
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Matthew 16:25 KJV
When you truly become a servant, out of your own free will, you surrender everything! When you truly grasp what Jesus did for you on the cross, any sacrifice you are asked to make is minuscule in comparison. Your desire now is to please your Father, just as Jesus did! You belong to Him.
When you live for yourself, refusing to obey His Commandments, you are living like the world. It doesn't matter how often you are in church or what your denomination says you can do, if it is contrary to God's Word, you will be disappointed when Jesus does return, at the end of time!
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” Romans 2:5 NKJV
Examine your heart! Repent of the unforgiveness, bitterness, judgments, anger, fear, unbelief that is hiding there! Obey His Word!
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 KJV
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
I have many times over seen the goodness of The LORD since I humbled myself in submission to the Lover of my soul! I have peace that passes understanding and joy unspeakable and have repeatedly seen His unfailing love shed into the hearts of those who come to Him in repentance!
Repent while there is still time!
Even so - MARANATHA!
1/10/17
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