MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED

Luke 12:48 …For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

This verse is quoted often, usually as a response to someone’s wealth, with the motive of shaming them into sharing their wealth with those less fortunate.  Of course the person doing the shaming rarely offers any of their own wealth and ignores the fact that those with plenty have usually earned it with hard work, but that is a subject for a different blog.  When we read the entire Luke 12 parable containing this partial verse, we see it is not about money at all.

This parable is regarding faithfulness and handling the responsibilities you have been called to, with great care, wisdom and reverence.  The Servant or Steward that fulfilled the responsibility given to him by the Master was rewarded by being entrusted with all that belonged to the Master.  But then there was the Steward that became a little to enamored with his lofty position.  He looked with disdain on the very ones that had been entrusted to him to watch over and began to beat and abuse them.  He then began to fulfill his own selfish desires in consuming and drunkenness, partaking of the Master’s storehouse, all the while neglecting to care for the things and people dear to the Master’s heart.  The Master returned before the expected time and to put it mildly was very displeased.  Punishment was meted out to the Unfaithful Steward and we come to the latter part of the oft quoted verse, Luke 12:48.  With that understanding, I ask, “What has been entrusted to me?”  “What gifts and talents have I been given stewardship over and am I being a Faithful Steward?” 

It is easy to look around at our humble surroundings, balance our meager checking account and get our eyes on those that have been successful by the world’s standards and make excuses.  Excuses are not new to God.  Hebrews 3 calls Moses “faithful in all his house,” yet we find in Exodus 4, Moses making excuses.  Before God could get Moses to Hebrews 3, He had to get him past Exodus 4.  God had given Moses the stewardship over all the Israelites and the assignment of leading them out of Egypt.  One of the first tasks, Moses would undertake was to appear before Pharaoh. Moses began to roll out the excuses. “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?”  “What if they say, “The Lord has not appeared to you.”  God didn’t argue with Moses but answered in Exodus 4:2 “What is that in your hand?”  When God calls you to Stewardship, He calls you to be a Steward over those things “He has placed in YOUR hand.”

WHAT HAS GOD PLACED IN YOUR HAND?

The gifts and talents that God has placed in your hand and the Stewardship God requires from you will be totally different than the Stewardship over gifts and talents God requires from your brother or sister.  “What has God placed in your hand?”  Perhaps God has placed you in a situation that provides you with a lot of SPARE TIME.  Is all of the extra time spent on selfish pursuits or are you a Faithful Steward, using it to bless others?  Maybe God has blessed you with a DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HIS WORD.  Has your insight and revelation become a source of pride or are you a Good Steward of “what God has placed in your hand?”  Could it be that God has placed a SPIRIT OF COMPASSION AND MERCY deep inside your heart?  Don’t waste such a wonderful gift; find the hurting, those that have been cast aside, they are begging you to be a Good Steward.  Whether it is WISDOM, LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, UNIQUE EXPERIENCES and yes, even MONEY that has been placed in your hands, God is calling you to be a FAITHFUL STEWARD.

Faithfulness to the Call of God is never without reward…Luke 12:43-44 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. It isn’t about the riches we have amassed or the empires we have built, the Master requires you to be a Faithful Steward over all that HE has provided. 

Luke 12:48 …For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

SOMETIMES GOD SAYS "NO" SO HE CAN SAY "YES!" (AND SOMETIMES "YES" IS JUST FOR A SEASON)

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN 5 YEARS AGO.  Reading it again today, I realized that sometimes God says “YES” for just a short season and it seems we are right back where we started.  In the five years since I first wrote this, following the will of God has taken a few twists and turns and hasn’t turned out exactly like I imagined.  But I am convinced more today than I was back then that GOD IS FAITHFUL and He does still have a “YES” in his plan for me.

There is nothing more fulfilling than being involved in the work of God.  It is so awesome to realize that you are a small piece of God’s master plan.  Each morning I pray that God will open my eyes and help me to accomplish what He has planned for that day.  This prayer has led to some strange and interesting situations at the grocery store, a nursing home, my office, the subdivision where I live and other places I frequent.  It is so amazing while meditating on God’s goodness in the evening to suddenly realize that the events of the day were not strange or coincidental at all. They were orchestrated by God and I was a part of them!!!

About 7 years ago, Steve and I felt led to start a small group in our town.  Although we are surrounded by many churches, there is no church that teaches the Acts 2:38 message in our immediate area.  It began as a small group in our home where we met once a week to study the Word of God, share testimonies of God’s goodness and pray for each other’s needs.  As the group expanded we began to look for a building and held our first services there about 5 years ago.  For the next 4 years we continued to minister to people and reach out to the community.  Although many people visited, our core group remained small.  About eighteen months ago, the core shrunk to 3 individuals and we felt God telling us, “NO.”  Our last service was Easter Sunday, 2009.    It took several months for me to go back into the building because I was not ready to let go. I was sure it was the will of God but still I grieved.

As the months continued, Steve and I prayed, wept and sought God for direction.  During that time we learn to see opportunities one day at a time and allow God to use us for that specific situation.  We felt a burden for small churches and traveled on weekends to minister in them.  I was privileged to complete 3 different Bible Study series and to teach them in small group settings.  God allowed me to speak at some ladies meetings and seminars.  I volunteered at the Rescue Mission and worked with hospice.  I was blessed every time I saw God work in a situation or we enjoyed a powerful service in one of the small churches, but still something was missing.  I had a longing to be a pastor’s wife again!!! I wanted to walk beside precious people as they worked out the issues in their lives, cry with them as they let go of the pain and rejoice when the joy of the Lord filled their heart.  I was not very good at “lovin’ and leavin’.

Some opportunities began to present themselves.  Every time we were optimistic; could this be the place God wanted us to minister?  As we prayed for direction, it seemed as if God had forgotten that YES was also a word.  The door would always shut with a resounding NO.  There was one opportunity we were so sure would be perfect.  Everything seemed to be falling into place except for one important detail.  This had to be God’s plan for our lives, but to be sure we put a “fleece” before the Lord.  We soon realized that although the fleece was wet the ground was very dry.  We continued to pray about this one, because it was so “perfect” for our lives.  One more “fleece” went before the Lord.  This time, you guessed it, the ground was wet but the fleece was dry.  God had not only answered our “fleece” but had taken the desire for this opportunity out of our hearts.  So we continued to seek God’s will.

When we come to the end of our own imagination, God shows us His.  God slapped us upside the head with an open door that we never saw coming, could not have imagined or even dreamed up.  On August 22, 2010 we had our first service as pastor of Cornerstone Apostolic Church, Morristown, TN.  Even as I write this, I am overwhelmed by the goodness of my God, tears fill my eyes and I may have to take a little praise break right here.  God reached way up north in Saginaw, MI, touched a seeking pastor and his wife, filled our hearts with love for a beautiful congregation way down south in Morristown, TN.  He has not only given us the desire of our heart but is allowing it to be fulfilled in one of the most beautiful areas in America.

  ADDENDUM…Little did we know that this YES would be for a short season.  We said YES to God, delivered all that he asked and one year later found ourselves on Interstate 75, headed north to Michigan, convinced that God would provide another “YES” in our lives.

All of the months of uncertainty allowed us to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ as we let go of our plans and sought His purpose.  The miles of traveling to small congregations on weekends gave us a new perspective on God’s love for His people.  Struggling in “Home Missions” for five years with little “success” in man’s eyes, taught us that, “there are no throwaway’s,” every soul is precious and you may be in that individual’s life for just a moment in time along their spiritual journey.  All of the closed doors and God’s answers of “NO,” fine tuned our hearing so that when God said “YES,” the answer was unmistakable.    

God has confirmed His “Yes” to us over the last month in unbelievable ways.  I am so thankful for all the times God said NO so He could say YES!!!  This experience has taught me that accepting, with grace, the times that God says NO makes the time He says YES so much sweeter.

GET YOUR FINGER OFF THE SNOOZE BUTTON

You know, those times after a long day of toil, you find the sweet spot on the mattress, get your pillow just right and settle in for a well deserved rest. It seems you have just closed your eyes, when the alarm sounds.  You hit the “snooze button” and drift off for a few more minutes, not really sleeping, just slumbering.  Eventually the alarm will sound again and no matter how many times you hit “snooze,” the clock’s relentless buzz at precise intervals will cause you to vacate the comfort of a mattress, pillows, and blankets, to face the day that lies ahead.

The American Christian Church has been hitting the “snooze button,” living in peace and restful ease for too long. It seems we have found the “sweet spot” and are just content to co-exist with the many philosophies of the world.  We don’t want to be controversial by taking a vocal or public stand; after all, “God knows our heart.” 

Like the parable of the “Ten Virgins,” in the final hours before the bridegroom appears, we have settled down into slumber; resting from our days of pursuing vital interests, goals and dreams.  Remember, all ten of the Virgins believed in the Bridegroom but when the call came, five awoke to find that they had allowed their lamps to burn out and the oil was gone.  Although the other five slumbered also, they had made sure that their lamps were full of precious oil. 

There are so many believers that have grown weary waiting for the Bridegroom, content with the traditions and rituals of religion. “Having a form of Godliness” has lulled them into slumber, successfully masking the slowly dying flame of their lamps, burning up their last drop of oil.  Although there is still time to fill up their lamps before the Bridegroom appears, their eyes grow heavy and like the “foolish virgins,” they continue to hit the “snooze button,” oblivious to the lateness of the hour.

Don’t forget, the parable also told us about the Five Wise Virgins. I believe there are many of us that are at ease and maybe even a little sleepy but we are still actively engaged enough to make sure the oil remains in our lamp.  We long to be in the presence of the Bridegroom.  We have never forgotten or lost our grip on His promise, John 14:3-4 I go to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Every tick of the clock brings the Midnight Hour just a little closer.  The “wake-up” call is sounding; STOP hitting the “snooze button.”  It is time to “Rise and Shine,” and trim our lamps; “BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMES!!”

WENT FISHING!!! NOW WHAT???

We live in a "World of Celebrity," where the stars of sports, film, music and even politics are revered and put up on pedestals as paragons of virtue with the ideals and goals for which we reach.  Most of us understand that there are heights to which we will never ascend, goals we will never reach and riches we will never attain but it doesn't mean we stop dreaming.  Then we wake from our dreams, reality hits and we realize that we are not "Celebrity" material.  NOW WHAT???

Unfortunately the “World of Celebrity” has invaded the church.  We revere the mega-church pastor, idolize the worship leader and race to hear the latest speaking star.  We have dreams…one day the church I pastor will have to move to the sports arena, I will be the one that pens the #1 praise and worship song, God will inspire me to write the “Prayer of….”  and my calendar will be filled with conference speaking engagements. Then one day we wake from our dreams and reality hits.  Our congregation of 25 faithful members is growing older, our melodious voice cracks when the pitch raises above middle C, the phone is silent, the calendar empty and the inspiration to write out a sermon, let alone a book, has dried up and blown away.  NOW WHAT???

I wonder what dreams ran through the heads of Peter and Andrew as they labored through the night trying to catch enough fish to sell and buy the necessary items for another day.  Did they dream of being named "Top fisherman of the Year" in Galilee?  Perhaps they dreamed of inventing a pulley system with which to pull in the heavy nets more easily.  They would be Star-Fishermen.  Everyone would know the names, Peter and Andrew.  Just maybe, they could buy a new boat and run "Pete and Andy's Charter Fishing," teach tourists to fish and enjoy life a little more.  As the hours passed, they repeated the process of letting down their nets and pulling them back into the boat.  But for some reason, this night, the nets remained empty.  Finally, reality hit and they pulled the nets in for the last time and began to wash them and make them ready for the next night.  NOW WHAT??? 

Luke 5:4-6  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master we have toiled all night and caught nothing, NEVERTHELESS AT YOUR WORD I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking.

When reality shattered the dreams and goals became unreachable, along came Jesus.  Jesus didn’t promise them “Celebrity” status, He didn’t promise them that they could mark anything off of their “bucket list” or that they would gain great possessions, Jesus simply said, “let down your nets one more time.”  Jesus used where Peter and Andrew were and what they were doing and said, “Just give it one more try.”  Their obedience, even in the face of doubt, paid off BIG TIME!!!  Oh and by the way…Peter and Andrew did become famous….You knew exactly who I was speaking off just by me writing their first names.

Perhaps you are going through a season of your spiritual journey in which you can TOTALLY RELATE to Peter and Andrew.  It may seem that in an attempt to fulfill your ministry calling, that your net continues to come back just as empty as when you cast it into the deep.  Reality has finally penetrated your brain and after pulling in the net for the last time, you have begun to wash them and ready them to be stored away.  At times you doubt if you were really even called to be a “Fisher of Men.”  You realize that you will NEVER see your name on the marquee and you wonder NOW WHAT???

STOP!!!  LOOK AND LISTEN!!!  Jesus is saying, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  God isn’t concerned with your past history, He is concerned with this moment; where you are and what you are doing RIGHT NOW!  You have a choice to make…you can dwell in the perceived reality of the situation, fold up your nets and go home OR like Peter, say “I’m not sure it will work but NEVERTHELESS, at Your word, I will let down the net.”

GO AHEAD; I DARE YOU!!!  Give God’s Word a chance!!!  Do not allow Satan to cheat you out of a “RECORD CATCH” because you didn’t trust God enough to obey.  You may not ever pastor a mega-church, be asked to speak at a conference or write the next bestseller devotional but YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN!!!  Let down your net ONE MORE TIME, God has prepared a catch just for you. 

Who needs a rickety ole pedestal anyway?

YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

There is at least one in every classroom...The teacher asks for a volunteer or asks a question and that one kid immediately raises his/her hand.  Not only do they raise their hand, they wave it.  And if that isn't enough, they get their mouth involved and the classroom is filled with "ooh, ooh, ooh" or "me, me, me" because they want to be CHOSEN.  Perhaps you were more like me.  It wasn't that I didn't know the answer or was too lazy to volunteer; deep down I wanted to be CHOSEN but I was too shy to raise my hand and I definitely didn't want everyone looking my way as my name was called.

No one wants to hear, "I guess you HAVE to be on my team," because you are the only one left standing on the sideline.  And it certainly doesn't give your self-esteem a boost when you've been asked to do something and a "friend" feels the need to elevate themselves by informing you that "they were asked first but had to decline, so you were chosen."  We all have a desire to be picked out of the crowd; set aside for a special purpose; CHOSEN.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, we find that a select group of people were called THE CHOSEN.  The Israelites or Jewish people were set aside as God's CHOSEN PEOPLE.  It doesn't seem fair that God, who is no "respecter of persons," would pick out a specific people-group from all the other people-groups in the world to be His CHOSEN.  So why?  How did the Jewish people come to be chosen?  Is there a key to being chosen?  Or was God just in a certain mood on the day He chose Israel?    Maybe on another day, He would have chose a different nation.

Could the key to being CHOSEN be as simple as three little words: HEAR, TRUST and OBEY!  Consider Israel, God's Chosen People...It all began with ONE man.  Abram wasn't born to the most holy, religious family and I don't believe he was walking around with his hand raised to Heaven, yelling, "ooh, ooh, me, me; please pick me."  Abram was 75 years old when God "made the call."  God gave him some instructions but very little detail.  The Bible doesn't explain where Abram's trust in God came from, but he HEARD the voice of God, he TRUSTED and he OBEYED.  Genesis 12:4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him.

Hebrews 11:8 BY FAITH, Abraham OBEYED when he was CALLED to go out to the placed which he would receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

As we continue to read about Abram/Abraham's life, we find that every time he obeyed through faith. Because of Abraham's unwavering faith and obedience to God, his descendants became THE CHOSEN.

Abraham was not unique, read Hebrews 11.  Noah DID come from a "good" family.  As a matter of fact, the Bible takes the time to trace his lineage right back to Adam...Lamech, Methusaleh, Enoch, Jared, Mahalalel, Cainain, Enosh, Seth, Adam.  The Bible tells us that Noah had many brothers and sisters; after all his father lived 777 years.  WHY NOAH?  Genesis 6 tells us that the world had become so evil that every thought and intent of man was evil, BUT NOAH!  Genesis 6:9 Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.  God made "the call."  Noah HEARD, responded by FAITH and OBEYED the instructions.  Genesis 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Hebrews 11:7  By faith, Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet see, moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became the heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

All throughout history, God has CHOSEN men and women, who were not special or had awesome abilities.  God's CHOSEN are people, just like you and me.  People that will HEAR the call, by FAITH respond and in an act of OBEDIENCE follow the instructions,

YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN!!!  GOD WANTS YOU ON HIS TEAM!!!  God calls on the "little boy" who has no "athletic" prowess, standing hopeful on the sideline.  He calls on the "little girl" who knows the answer but is too shy to raise her hand.  He calls the grandmother who thinks she has "nothing left to offer."  And God calls the grandfather who feels as if his "best days are over."  God has a plan and He has chosen you; now He waits for you to respond, "Here I am , send me."  

YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN!!!

PLEASURE IS NOT AN OFFSET

DONUTS; one of those rare “Saturday morning treats.”  If I had to list my choices for a last supper, donuts would be somewhere high on the list.  I’m sure they will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; an appetizer, dessert or both.  Coffee in hand, jelly-filled donut on plate, ready to enjoy this moment of pure pleasure when Steve made this statement, “I know donuts are not good for you but the badness is offset by the pleasure you get in eating one.” 

Well I still enjoyed the donut but that moment of euphoria was lost in the whirring of my brain.  You see PLEASURE IS NOT AN OFFSET!!!  Oh they look so good and taste even better, but as you savor every delicious bite, never a thought is given to the fact that you are really eating sugar, flour and fat, cooked in more fat.  The NAKED TRUTH is, eating donuts will eventually destroy your health.

I watch as so many journey aimlessly through life with sin as their constant companion and I wonder if they believe that all the “badness” of sin will be “offset” by the pleasure they derive from their daily indulgence.  I want to scream STOP!!! PLEASURE IS NOT AN OFFSET!!! THERE WILL BE A PRICE TO PAY!

  

In the sermon, “ACHARIT; The Final End,” Dr. Michael L. Brown states, “Satan shows you the bait, he doesn’t show you the hook.”  Satan will show you the pleasure but never the pain.  You won’t get a glimpse of what is contained in the gooey goodness of temptation until you are hooked, then, awaken to the end result.  He will bait you and draw you in but the PLEASURE is never an offset for the PAIN!

 I wonder if the PLEASURE of eating the forbidden fruit offset the BADNESS that Eve faced as the consequences for her sin began to rain down upon her.  King David wept bitterly at the death of his son and repented as he realized that the PLEASURE he sought in Bathsheba could not OFFSET the sorrow he now felt because of his sin.  Then there was Moses, when faced with a choice, chose long term gain over short term pleasure.

Hebrews 11:24-26, By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

So, if PLEASURE is not an OFFSET to the consequences of sin, is there a remedy, a serum, a way to escape the Wages of Sin, stated in Romans 6:23.  YES, read the rest of the verse…

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The only OFFSET for the BADNESS brought by sin is JESUS CHRIST!  But it doesn’t stop there, as Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more!”

PLEASURE will not OFFSET the eternal sentence of death brought by sin any more than it will offset the damage eating donuts will do to your body; it requires a lifestyle change.  You have to come to the realization that a “bite of donut is a bite of poison” and STOP!!!  STOP eating, buying, fantasizing, or smelling donuts and begin a PHYSICAL DETOX.  Fill your body with clean, healthy foods and start moving; walk, run, bicycle, dance; MOVE!  Soon you will begin to have more energy, less heartburn and literally feel as if a weight has been lifted from your body. 

The same with sin; STOP!!! SIN IS POISON TO THE SOUL!!! STOP putting yourself  in tempting situations, fantasizing, lusting, and taking just a tiny taste.  Begin your SPIRITUAL DETOX by allowing God to fill you up with the Holy Ghost, feast on His Word, and exercise your relationship through prayer.  Soon you will feel the guilt of sin lift off your life, there will be a lightness in your step and joy in your heart.  PLEASURE is not an OFFSET, it takes the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!

THIS SHALL BE A SIGN

2 Peter 3:3-4 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Lest we forget, God has always given reminders of His faithfulness and Satan always tries to co-opt the same signs to draw our eyes back toward ourselves and our own lusts.

Genesis 9:14 The rainbow shall be in the cloud and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

After the ark came to rest and Noah left to walk on dry ground, God promised that he would never again destroy the earth by water and as a reminder for all generations, He placed a rainbow in the clouds.  Of course that sign has been co-opted by people who mock the laws of God and follow their own lusts.  To those who have an intimate relationship with the God who created the rainbow, joy still fills our heart every time one appears, reminding us of God’s love and faithfulness to His creation.

Matthew 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.

Just last week, Venus and Jupiter came so close together that they appeared as one bright star.  Some called it the “Star of Bethlehem” as it passed through the constellation of Leo, a reminder of the star followed by the wise men in search of the Christ Child, the Lion of Judah.  Many mocked as believers were reminded of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling prophecy by sending a Redeemer who would die to save people from their sins, but to those whose sins are forgiven it brought rejoicing and we worshipped.

Job 38:31-33 Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Psalms 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

If you study the constellations and what has come to be known as the signs of the Zodiac, you will see the beautiful story of redemption.  But of course Satan could not be silent, so he perverted the study of the stars, constellations and planets into a “science” called Astrology.  Rather than rely on the faithfulness of God to guide his steps, man began to look to the stars and read daily horoscopes to foretell the future and determine his destiny.  Of course man desired not just any destiny, but one that would satisfy all his longings and lusts.  Do you really thing an Astrologist or Psychic reader would last very long if they only foretold doom and gloom? But to we who have put our trust in the One who “guides the Great Bear with its cubs,” we look at the brightness of the each star, feel the warmth of the sun and know that God not only controls the earth on its axis but has a plan for each one that shelter beneath His “wings.”

John 14:1-4 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Before Jesus ascended He promised His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for all who believed and obeyed the things He had commanded.  Then one day He would return and take those believers with Him to the place He had prepared.  And lest we forget, grow weary and began to doubt His faithfulness, there would be signs in the Heavens to remind us that we are not forgotten.

Luke 21:25-28 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Satan through humankind, will continue to mock, pervert and use the things set by God for his purpose and his followers may laugh, mock and scoff at the reports of earthquakes, pestilence, blood moons, Shemitah years, eclipses and “Stars of Bethlehem,”  but to the Redeemed they are just reminders of God’s Eternal Faithfulness.  That one day, “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

GOD IS FAITHFUL.  I STILL BELIEVE, DO YOU?

2 Peter 8:3-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.