Suddenly

 

Suddenly

1 Thessalonians 5: There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. ² For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. ³ When people say, “Everything is quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. 

 

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Driving to do some Christmas shopping, my sister and I discussed what we were going to get. I was at the wheel of my first car, which was previously hers. We played Christmas music on the radio. Rounding a slight curve, I hit a patch of ice. I stepped on the brakes hard and slid into a light pole. Her head hit the windshield. Fortunately, we both walked away from the accident.

 

• I had no idea this day would turn out the way it did.
• One moment things were going great, the next not good at all.
• Things had changed so quickly and I was not prepared.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote about the “Day of the LORD.” They had previously taught about this devastating day and mentioned it in this letter. When the LORD returns, destruction will hit those who do not believe in HIM. There will be no time to prepare.

 

My Observations

• GOD is giving me time to be prepared for CHRIST’s return.
• I should be on the lookout for the LORD each day.
• Quiet and safe are the times that I should be the most nervous.

 

Being relaxed and secure seems to be a pursuit of life. I mean, work is set up to pay bills to one day retire and live out the rest of life quietly. Sounds nice. BUT GOD has a different plan. HE wants us to know this place we live on is temporary and filled with pain.

 

HE wants us to know that one day, JESUS will return and destroy this place suddenly. HE wants HIS believers to be encouraged that destruction will not happen to them. I am glad GOD protects us from HIS wrath, and accept life’s purpose to pursue HIS people and bring them into a saving relationship with the LORD.

 

Challenge

• What do the writers mean by “quiet and safe?”
• Have you ever experienced a time when things were going well one moment, and the next something very difficult happened?
• Will you become prepared for the LORD by establishing or strengthening your relationship with JESUS today?

Proceed with Caution

Proceed with Caution

1 Corinthians 7: ²⁵ Now, concerning what you wrote about unmarried people: I do not have a command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is worthy of trust.

 

²⁶ Considering the present distress, I think it is better for a man to stay as he is. ²⁷ Do you have a wife? Then don't try to get rid of her. Are you unmarried? Then don't look for a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you haven't committed a sin; and if an unmarried woman marries, she hasn't committed a sin. But I would rather spare you the everyday troubles that married people will have.

 

²⁹ What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married; ³⁰ those who weep, as though they were not sad; those who laugh, as though they were not happy; those who buy, as though they did not own what they bought; ³¹ those who deal in material goods, as though they were not fully occupied with them. For this world, as it is now, will not last much longer.

 

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Driving in an unfamiliar area, I saw one of those familiar temporary construction signs except this time it had more words. “Proceed with Caution Icy Roads” was the glaring warning. Having driven on icy roads before, I slowed down. A car sped past me. Hours down the road, I saw that same car flipped over in the ditch, surrounded by emergency vehicles.

 

• Many times I have seen warning signs.
• Many times I have been told “Proceed with Caution.”
• Many times I have had the chance to correct what I was doing so I could remain on the road.

 

Paul continues addressing many concerns written to him. He tries to explain living with purpose versus should a person get married or not. He then gives an answer. “Time is short.”

 

• GOD wants me to live my life as though tomorrow were the last day.
• GOD wants me to live my life with purpose rather than only seeking pleasure.
• GOD wants me to live my life looking for JESUS to return, rather than seeking solving the “present distress.”

 

Looking for JESUS does not mean giving up on life and sitting in the corner. Well, not for everyone. I mean, JESUS’ return is imminent and every moment is numbered. But Paul wrote this a long, long time ago. What does he mean by “not much time left?”

 

Two things will happen. Either I will die or CHRIST will return in my lifetime. Either way, I do not have much time. A person’s life is short compared to eternity. I can choose to fill it with life’s pleasures and bear little to no fruit for JESUS or I can surrender my life to HIM. I gladly give my life to HIM because of HIS love for me.

 

• Are you so focused on this life that you never speak about JESUS?
• Do you think the warning signs have not flashed in your face?
• Will you heed the warnings of the present distress and allow GOD to guide your life through HIS SON JESUS, who will give you the HOLY SPIRIT as your comforter today?

What’s Important

 

What’s Important

Acts 27: ¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵ The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, ¹⁷ so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸ We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹ On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

 

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When the thug put the gun down, I was scared and relieved. He walked away laughing as it was not really a gun, but a cigarette lighter shaped like a gun. Still, I thought “What if I got shot?” “What if I got killed?” “What if this was my last day?”

 

• There have been times when I did not see what was important.
• There have been times when I carried useless anger, hatred and worries around.
• There have been times when I thought I was going to die, so nothing else was important other than survival.

 

Luke continues to document the treacherous trip. A hurricane tossed the ship around with ease. The experts tried everything within their knowledge to keep the ship and the cargo together to no avail.

 

They soon realized the cargo was not important as their lives so they threw it overboard. This was not enough. They had to tear down parts of the ship that made them money, namely the cranes to load the ship.

 

• GOD allows storms in my life to grow me.
• GOD allows storms in my life to force me to throw away unimportant things.
• GOD allows storms in my life to show me where I really place my hope, but gives me a way to see I need HIM.

 

When life is really easy and I have plenty, it seems like I don’t cry out to GOD for help as much. I mean, I may mumble “Thank you” in a prayer here and there. But I also mumble “forgive me” as I fall into the sins of wealth.

 

GOD allowed storms in my life that seemed to last for years. Day after day, the worries of life would beat on me. I felt like giving up. BUT GOD showed me where to place my hope. The HOLY SPIRIT said “In the middle of the storm, praise GOD.” I did this and the storm felt less scary. I am thankful GOD is there with me in the storm.

 

• Are you going through a long period where things are going wrong?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Will you place your hope in JESUS, because HE is there with you, feeling your pain and knowing how HE will deliver you if you place your trust in HIM today?

Enjoy the Ride

Psalm 92: ¹¹ My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³ planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵ proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

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“May I be successful” was my prayer and I was thrust into a whirlwind of huge successes. But then life became very distracting and soon I had little time for GOD. I had too many worries I had to attend to and the pressures of life didn’t seem to afford quality time to spend with GOD.

• Sometimes my trials are caused by my expectations.
• Sometimes my trials are caused by my desires.
• Sometimes my trials are caused by something I asked for.

Finally I decided to put my trust in GOD for a change. I mean I decided to go out and “street-witness” for the first time in my life. This was met with trials as well but I asked GOD to remove the barriers and people responded to our message. I realized that GOD will defeat my adversaries when I sincerely focus on HIS kingdom.

• GOD wants me to be wildly successful while spreading HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants me to understand what true success looks like.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom first and all ‘these” things will be added.

When I seek my kingdom first it seems to be a road that quickly forgets GOD but when I seek HIS kingdom first I have to depend on HIM and HIS sovereignty. I become weak and HE is made strong in my life. I can then watch HIS power unfold before me for HE is my ROCK.

• Are you waiting for the trial to end?
• Do you think you have the answer to your trial so you constantly pray for “your” answer?
• Can you ask GOD “What do YOU want me to do in the middle of this trial?”
• Will you let GOD go before you, defeating enemies and allow HIM to raise you up in HIS time?
• Can you let go and enjoy the ride?