God is preparing His heroes. And when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment. And the world will wonder where they came from.
A. B. Simpson
That is why we all need to prepare everyday. So our Lord can use us when He needs to. Seek Him daily.
Revelation 22:10-13- 10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Now it has been 2,000 years and he told John not to seal up the book. He told Daniel to seal up his book, but not John. Why do you think that is? I can tell you I believe it’s because it’s healthy for all of the Church to be looking for Jesus everyday and living like He will appear.
Those that were in the first century and looked for Him, those in the second, third, etc., all were doing what our Lord asked. Everyone that loves the idea of His appearing will all be rewarded.
2 Timothy 4:8-8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Now if there is a crown for longing, yearning for His appearing, do you think it’s important?
I’ve heard people say, it will never happen in my lifetime or I don’t think it will. Do you think they are longing for His appearing?
If you feel like He could show up at anytime is their more urgency?
There should be.
The signs are present, countries are lining up against Israel and the world is ripe for a one world currency as everyone is broke. There is something else that is very important. The world’s most powerful and wealthiest people have been pushing us towards a one world order and are closer than ever.
Will it happen? The Bible is not a predictor, its history written ahead of time of what’s already happened in the future. God is outside of time. He told John and the other prophets of what was going to happen. That’s when we know the prophecy comes from the Lord. It’s a hundred percent accurate.
Live for Him. He’s coming soon with His reward.
Proverbs 28:10- 10 He who leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into his own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
Back to the old adage I continue to bring up. “It matters.” It all matters to God.
When I read the first half of that verse, here is the other one that popped into my head immediately.
Matthew 18:6-7-6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
It’s one thing to be a sinner, but another to lead people astray. Accountability, credit, one’s due. God is going to hold us accountable for everything, good or bad. Those who are against God and try to drag others down and tear them away from Him are not going to like their earnings.
We have one lifetime on this earth and some have chosen to be adverse or pick a fight with the Creator of not only themselves, but the whole universe. Is it me or does that really not sound wise?
People don’t understand that everything is spiritual going on around them. The content they read, the movies and television they watch, and the music they listen to. It’s all spiritual. It’s all part of the big spiritual battlefield.
Here is another set of verses I’m reminded of when reading Proverbs 28:10.
Luke 19:11-27 – 11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
The parable was told to make it clear. The Lord wants those who love Him to obey and serve Him. There are rewards for those who do, and a bad end for those that choose to not love and serve Him. Being in the middle is dangerous if you’re on a road, in a lake, or river. It’s not a safe haven in the battle we are all facing either. Choose to serve the King!
My generation as a whole, wants exactly that. While growing up, people my age all were seeing those who were retiring at 55 to 60 and started to make plans of retiring at 40 to 50. The stock market was going nuts and the pyramid that was building riches seemed like it couldn‘t be stopped.
Then something happened that always happens. The pyramid got saturated and those in early got filthy rich and the others didn’t. The problem is they bought a piece of paper. It’s only worth what someone else wants to give for it.
That brings us to our next Proverb I’m writing on which is:
Proverbs 28:8 – 8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Bottom line is dead men spend no cash.
Those who say that it’s better to burn out than to fade away are short sighted and in for a rude awakening.
Eventually somebody else is going to get that amassed wealth and either blow it on themselves, become equally as greedy, or shares it with others. The bad thing about the one that becomes equally as greedy is whoever taught them that, gets to answer for that life as well as their own come accountability time.
For the one who shares it, hopefully it will be in the name of the Lord. To share it in just your own name still misses the opportunity to glorify God.
The peeople that blows it on themselves, help out the economy and thus helps someone less exorbitant in their wealth. The bottom line is it always comes back to the same issue and you can play out the fantasy in your head. Exorbitant wealth never fulfills, but only consumes. It all stays behind and you move on. Where to?
The answer to the that is worth more than exorbitant wealth.
Proverbs 28:6 – 6 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
Is Solomon talking about present day or after one’s last breath? As always the Bible warns us about our earthly actions when it is all said and done.
The perverse rich man doesn’t care while he is still alive. The tyrant doesn’t care how he treats others, while he is still on this earth. That’s because they don’t allow themselves to think about repercussions after they done on this earth. That’s a major force of blindness.
Each of us needs to live our lives to please our Lord. If not there are repercussions. I’ve had people tell me that repercussions or consequences don’t motivate them. Consequences coupled with love should motivate them. The biggest reason consequences doesn’t motivate people is because ultimately it’s about them. They’re not being sold the goods they want when they hear about negativity.
It doesn’t change reality and when the repercussions or rewards are happening, everyone will care. Don’t be blinded, serve the Lord every day. Do your best to walk blamelessly even though we know it’s impossible to achieve. The Lord knows your heart.
Proverbs 28:5-5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
In studying God’s Word we see that our Lord is both loving and just. We are extremely fortunate that he is forgiving. If those who didn’t seek Him saw the end result they would understand it fully.
Our God however wants a loving creation that seeks Him out of love. He wants those who he created with a free will to choose Him. Those who only do it out of fear with no love or desire to be with Him will ever have the right heart. They will always be self centered and selfish.
We need to repent and accept Him as Lord.
The more we seek the Lord, the more wonderful we discover He is. Seek Him every day. He is more than worthy.
I was inspired by good friend Shane to look over Proverbs chapter 28.
Some of the verses jumped out at me more than others. I think for the next couple of couple of weeks I’ll insert those that did jump out at me.
The first is verses 4.
Proverbs 28:4- 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law resist them.
Which law? As we know the law of the land can be wicked and go against the law of the Lord. Our laws are geared more today for those who go against God’s Word than just a few decades ago. The criminals have more rights than those who obey the law. Lawsuits and the courts encouraging of it’s off the charts.
The law Solomon is referring to is our Lords. The law is the 10 commandments. Watch most movies today PG or higher and even the tame ones break 5 of the 10. By today’s standards we all are so calloused we don’t think that’s so bad.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked. The Lord makes the law and states please don’t break it. It’s not good for you and I hate it when you do. The other deceiver who wants to be like the most high is happily encouraging you to do whatever you want.
Who do you want to please? Whose side do you want to be on?
Those who keep the law resist them. It’s taking a stand. When the world says something’s right and goes against God’s Word and you take a stand against it and don’t participate, the Lord knows you are doing that for Him.
The Lord wants you to choose the right side. He doesn’t want you walking on the fence, or playing in the playground of the gray area. He certainly doesn’t want you to be buddying up next to the enemy.
Choose correctly. Choose Love. Choose you God and Creator and not yourself.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 – 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Too smart for God. We see that more and more in our society. Science has become the God for many and what’s sad is if the all the data collected was looked at closely it all points to God and creation.
So why does the world try to be wise without God? Because you can’t serve yourself if you acknowledge there is a God whom has expectations out there. If a person acknowledges God is real it puts a damper on selfish living.
That leads to another issue that is getting worse every day. People are obsessed with wanting to serve a God that thinks exactly the way they do. When they change their mind about something God does too. It’s convenient that way and they don’t have to conform to anything their not comfortable with.
Wisdom comes from God. Wisdom does not come from man. The old saying is listen to someone that has aged and gone through many things. They are full of wisdom. That’s true to a certain point, but I will tell you that there is still worldly wisdom and then there is Godly wisdom. Someone 75 years old that doesn’t have God may have some interesting things to say and be filled with a lot of knowledge. It may create shortcuts and cut back the time of worldly failure for you. However, without God, if one takes their last breath unsaved, that wisdom proved worthless going into eternity.
Seek the Lord’s wisdom. All else is foolishness.
Jeremiah 23:24 – 24 Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.
Sometimes I forget there are still people out there who believe God isn’t aware of their lives. In this day and age it should be easier than ever to realize that we are a hundred percent documented by the Lord. On earth alone today we are on many surveillance cameras. We’re on them going into stores, walking down streets, etc.
If the Lord can count the number of hairs on your head, He knows what you are up to 24/7.
Matthew 10:29-31 – 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The good news is this. Even if our lives are documented 24/7 by the Lord, He is still willing and wanting to forgive us of our sins.
Romans 4:7-8- 7 “Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
1 John 1:9 – 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If one doesn’t realize that God is everywhere and knows what is going on at all times, they need to realize He is always present. You can’t hide from God.
James 4:3 – 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Let’s say I have all the money in the world. I have 10 people sitting over across the way who are starving and have no clean water. I hand someone who is not one of the ten a million dollars. He sees them, but is not one of them. He now takes the money and goes and buys a big house, fancy car, plenty of glamorous vacations, etc. Never gives anything to the 10 mentioned earlier.
How do you view that?
Let’s say I have all the money in the world and I give it to one of the ten. They are familiar with the rest and they take the money and do the same things as the first guy.
How do you view that?
Well the one that has all the resources in the world is God. He can bless us with what we need for ourselves and others. However as we see in the James scripture above, there are wrong motives out there.
I personally believe that almost all of us in America are guilty to some percentage of the above descriptions. We may throw them a burger or a glass of water, but we still are trying to accomplish the American Dream.
It’s tough pull in the day and age we live in.
So who gives in abundance to those with wrong motives?
Rock stars? Hollywood Actors and Actresses that have no problem bashing God? Those who encourage the things against God’s Word? They have an abundance of wealth. Are they being blessed by God?
No the prince of the air, Satan, has the power to do that when he robbed the right away from Adam and Eve.
What did Satan say to Jesus during the temptation?
Matthew 4:8-9 – 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus didn’t say at the time that they weren’t his to give.
The devil is offering many things to many people. We need to worship our Lord and make sure we try and be the best servants we can with what has been entrusted to us.