Is It Time Yet?
Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes in various places, and really bad weather were just the beginning of sorrows outlined in Matthew 24. Given that these things are happening and are on the increase it would seem that the last days are upon us. I realize that we have just had one self proclaimed prophet try to pin a date on the "Rapture" but failed miserably because "no man knows the day or time." He didn't recall this very prominent principle in the Gospels, I.e., his lack of knowledge got him into trouble.
That of course seems to be the prevailing problem in the Church today. I am beginning to think that we don't understand just how frail a position we have put ourselves in. Lack of knowledge can be fatal, just as it was in the time of Hosea the prophet.
Hosea 4:6-9 (NASB)
[6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
[7] The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
[8] They feed on the *sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.
[9] And it will be, like people, like priest;
So I will punish them for their ways
And repay them for their deeds.
Notice that the Lord does not mince words here. The people of Israel had chosen to go there own way, not following the way of truth. They were supposed to have represented the Lord before the rest of the world. If they had obeyed the Lord and respected His ways and learned from Him they would have continued on. But as it was they were leading the rest of humanity astray by not following His law. So the Lord pushed them out (Assyrian and Babylonian captivities). The Church in the United States is in this same position today. We have started following the ways of the world and have turned our backs on following Jesus. Our knowledge of the Lord has all the while decreased while the unsaved around us have lost their bearings. The Church has ceased to lead the charge, and as a result the world does not see serving to attract it to the Lord and His ways. If I were a betting man I think that I would bet on the Lord coming to the United States on judgement. Yes, the USA has strayed from it's original foundation which was based on the teachings of the Christian Church. But now, we have strayed far afield of that calling and the Church has not intervened. As a result judgement will come because the Church has not done it's job.
But even after judgement falls on us, if we return to His ways, He will repair what has happened so that we may once again live before Him in His knowledge and strength, doing His will before the world so that they may repent and turn to Him.
Hosea 6:1-3 (NASB)
The Response to God's Rebuke
[6:1] “Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has *wounded us, but He will bandage us.
[2] “He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
[3] “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
You may think that my complaint has no merit. But the promises of scripture cannot be broken. The Lord is patient with us that we might still repent and come back to Him.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)
[8] But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. [9] The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
We still need to heed His word.
That of course seems to be the prevailing problem in the Church today. I am beginning to think that we don't understand just how frail a position we have put ourselves in. Lack of knowledge can be fatal, just as it was in the time of Hosea the prophet.
Hosea 4:6-9 (NASB)
[6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
[7] The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
[8] They feed on the *sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.
[9] And it will be, like people, like priest;
So I will punish them for their ways
And repay them for their deeds.
Notice that the Lord does not mince words here. The people of Israel had chosen to go there own way, not following the way of truth. They were supposed to have represented the Lord before the rest of the world. If they had obeyed the Lord and respected His ways and learned from Him they would have continued on. But as it was they were leading the rest of humanity astray by not following His law. So the Lord pushed them out (Assyrian and Babylonian captivities). The Church in the United States is in this same position today. We have started following the ways of the world and have turned our backs on following Jesus. Our knowledge of the Lord has all the while decreased while the unsaved around us have lost their bearings. The Church has ceased to lead the charge, and as a result the world does not see serving to attract it to the Lord and His ways. If I were a betting man I think that I would bet on the Lord coming to the United States on judgement. Yes, the USA has strayed from it's original foundation which was based on the teachings of the Christian Church. But now, we have strayed far afield of that calling and the Church has not intervened. As a result judgement will come because the Church has not done it's job.
But even after judgement falls on us, if we return to His ways, He will repair what has happened so that we may once again live before Him in His knowledge and strength, doing His will before the world so that they may repent and turn to Him.
Hosea 6:1-3 (NASB)
The Response to God's Rebuke
[6:1] “Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has *wounded us, but He will bandage us.
[2] “He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
[3] “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
You may think that my complaint has no merit. But the promises of scripture cannot be broken. The Lord is patient with us that we might still repent and come back to Him.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)
[8] But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. [9] The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
We still need to heed His word.