Hey, Are You Listening?

Hello,
 
The next great event on the program of this world is the return of our Lord. He who came once is to come again. The first reason why He must be expected is because of His own words: "I will come again" (John 14:3). The second reason is that it is the declaration of angels: "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Third, it was the glorious theme of apostles and prophets: "The Lord Himself shall descend" (1 Thes. 4:16); "Looking for that blessed hope" (Titus 2:13); "Behold, He cometh with clouds" (Rev. 1:7).
 
Bev can become very frustrated with me when I seem to not be listening.  But honestly, if my mind is on a number of other things, I don't even hear her.  Sometimes she will wake me up to tell me something, or she thinks she woke me up just because I answered: "What".  But honestly I was still asleep and did not hear a word she said. It's very easy for us to drift into complacency concerning the return of Jesus, which can lead one to drift into sin.
 
Are we failing to listen to the scriptures above from Jesus himself, the angels, and the apostles, and not watch for Him, because of earthly concerns or just the very comfortable lifestyle we have.  Billy Graham said:  "I want to live as if Jesus died yesterday, rose from the grave this morning and is coming back today."  When is the last time you looked out your window to the skies in the east and asked:  "Jesus, is this the day you're coming back." 
 
Satan doesn't want you to be expecting Jesus to return any moment, and he uses different means to accomplish this, such as, ignoring the scriptures about, or misunderstanding the scriptures.  But it is very simple, if you have a New Testament that shows Jesus words in red letters, you can see how Jesus spoke to the seven churches in Revelation 1, 2, and 3, and then at the beginning of Chapter 4, He is silent throughout the next seven years, the "Tribulation Period".  What a horrible time that will be on earth without a word from the Precious Savior; but what a glorious time that will be in heaven as the Church is gathered around the throne of God the Father, and the throne of the Lamb, the Son of God.
 
The bottom line is, we must be waiting, watching and ready for His return for us at any moment, and to also help as many others as we can to be ready.  Next week will be the beginning of a new video study series in Sunday school to help us do that very thing; an eight week training course to better equip us to bring our lost family members and friends to Jesus. 
 
Praise the Lord, for He is still speaking today as is evidenced by what Jesus says to His Church at the close of Revelation 3:  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
 
May the Lord bless you today as you share your faith and your love for Jesus with the lost.  Invite that lost person to church this week-end, and always remember that you are loved!!!
 
Henry