3.26.20-These signs of the times can be seen as a time to be alert.

3.26.20

The Spirit helps the children of God to see the sign of the times. Times where we are tempted to hate. (Mt. 24.10)

Before our lifetime we heard big stories of WWI, The Great Depression, Bombing of Pearl Harbor and WWII,

Major times changes have happened in our lives.

Cuban Missle Crisis, 10.16.62 to 10.28.62

I knew that something was very big happening in 1963 Kennedy Assignation, 11.22.63,

The assignation of MLK, 4.4.68, and RFK, 6.6.68

Nixon, Watergate Scandal 1973, ending with his resignation, 8.9.74

Viet Nam. Ending 4.30.75

Clinton Impeachment, 12.19.98 to 2.12.99

Trump Impeachment, 12.18.19 to 2.5.20

None of these event impacted the whole world and caused the shutting down of all schools in America, all college and professional sports in America, and caused the shutdown of all non-essential businesses in America.  None ever called for the shelter in place in your homes for two weeks or more.

Then came the Corona Virus pandemic,

 

As of 3.26.20

Here’s what you need to know:

·         Pelosi predicts bipartisan passage of $2 trillion stimulus in House.

·         More than 3 million file U.S. unemployment claims, the most ever in a week.

·         As hospitalizations rise sharply in New York, doctors scramble.

·         The U.S. reaches a grim milestone: More than 1,000 deaths linked to the virus.

·         China closes its borders to foreign nationals who live there.

·         The virus is spreading swiftly in New Orleans even as states try to isolate themselves.

·         The Fed chair says the virus must come under control before restarting the U.S. economy.

There are signs of major changes in a city, our country or the world. Alert people can see what is happening and align their lives with the major changes that are coming. (1 Thess. 5.1,2)  We can be alert and not asleep to the reality of the temporary nature of this life we have here on earth.  We can say peace and safety everything remains the same forever, but it does not.  We are not asleep spiritually.  We stay alert rather than dulled by too much food, drink or mind numbing activities.

False prophets arise. (24.11)  I saw a television preacher dip his hands in water and put his fingers on the lens of a camera and tell his listeners to touch their television screen at that moment and he would pray for their healing from the Coronavirus. Really. Is that true or false. False.

Another television preacher was selling silver in some liquid from to “cure Coronavirus” but they were stopped by the FTC.

There will be men who present themselves as miracle workers who are in fact false prophets working fake miracles. There is a list there of some things connected with the return of Jesus to make the big change.

We must keep enduring all this. (Matthew 24.13)

Everything big and small passes.  The word of God does not pass. (Matthew 24.35)

Since we don’t know when the end of our life comes. Whether through our death or through the Lord Jesus returning to take out the old heaven and earth and put in their new heaven and new earth.  Regardless of which way it goes, we need to keep doing what we are supposed to be doing.  We as disciples of Jesus are to be good workers.  We don’t get drunk and beat up and abuse our fellowman at work and at home, rather we serve and bless and help our fellow worker to be all they can be.  

We don’t take vengeance on our enemies. We leave that to our righteous, holy God to be in charge of judgment. He will deal justice mixed with mercy. (2 Thess.1.8) He will deliver through grace His children in a glorious way. (2 Thess. 1.9-12)

We must be alert and not sleepy and lazy and drunken sluggards.  We must pull our weight and more at the workplace and at home.  That is our job for Jesus.  That is how we “wait on the Lord.”

If we go to heaven from earth while we are living at Jesus return that is one thing.  If we go to heaven through suffering, death, burial and then resurrection at the return of Jesus that is another thing.

For those living at the time of the return of Jesus He will revealed some things to Paul to write for the benefit of the Thessalonian church and all of us.  God does not want us uninformed and grieving in the way the world does.  Our grief, as children of God, is tempered by our hope.  The resurrection of Jesus from the tomb has given us hope for the resurrection of our beloved who have died and been buried.  Jesus will return from heaven with the souls of those who have been with Him in paradise and the bodies will be resurrected from the graves.  They will then ascend to be with Jesus and those us alive will also be taken up to be with Him.  Then we will always be with the Lord.

These words are comforting to the children of God and we are to comfort each other with these words.

There is the resurrection of the Spiritual body of those who have done good.  There is the resurrection of those who have done evil. (John 5.25-29)

This body is a Spiritual body that is very different from the one we bury.  It is imperishable.  It is not weak, but powerful. It is glorious. It is not natural, but Spiritual.

As a child of God you do not need to let your heart be troubled.  When your work is finished on earth, then Jesus has finished building your room in the great house of God, then he comes to get you. (John 14.1-6)

I don't know when the end of this world as we know it will come.  Jesus said no one knows this except the Father in heaven.  He is patient with us not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

I do know that the oldest person now days might live to be a bit over a 100 years and that is only a morning mist or vapor in light of eternity.

So we must be alert and serve God and our fellowman each day. 

Larry Wishard

3.26.20