God Wants You To Get Ready!

“God uses storms to shake us out of our comfort zones into complete dependence on him for our survival.” John Hagee

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The world is literally on lockdown, established businesses are forced to shut their doors and lose millions of dollars, Universities are closed, unemployment has skyrocketed, fear and anxiety have increased among the human race, as social creatures; we are advised to practice Social Distancing from our friends and love ones.

We are living in a time that our elders have never seen. It’s new to me, and it’s new to you; we are in unchartered waters. I want to remind you what the word of God says. Jesus says “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Last week I wrote my first introductory blog to the world entitled “Finding My Own Significance”. I had every intention to assist leaders through these series of articles to help those they lead to find their own significance. Because of the serious nature of the COVID-19, and the negative impact it’s causing around the world; the Lord has instructed me to change the focus from finding significance to encourage his people for the preparation of His return.

From the pages of The Message of Revelation- God cares for you volume two by C. Mervyn Maxwell

The setting of the Olivet Discourse.

The Olivet Discourse was delivered after dark on a Tuesday. It had been a difficult day. For hours Jesus reasoned with crowds in the temple courts. Repeatedly, enemies baited Him with loaded questions. Some of the people seemed to appreciate what He said, but Jesus knew that most of them were looking at Him as a military king, not as the Prince of Peace. They wanted Him to conquer the Romans. They didn’t want Him to conquer their hearts with love. You can read a little of what happened that day in Matthew chapters 22 and 23.

As the afternoon wore on, it became evident that Christ’s three and a half years of selfless ministry had changed very few of them. In a couple of days, they would yell for His blood, just as their forefathers had demanded the death of the prophets. And their descendants would be just as bad. They too would persecute preachers who tried to help them.

Toward evening Christ’s heart was breaking. He knew that without repentance the Jewish people would suffer terrible retribution. Their recalcitrance would at last so infuriate the Romans that the emperor would send armies which in A.D 70 would erase Jerusalem and the temple from the map. And it would be so unnecessary!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” He sobbed, ” killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not.” (Matthew 23:37)

“Behold!” The anguished sentence came painfully forth: Your house is forsaken and desolate.” Matthew 23:38

God’s love toward us is amazing, But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) God’s desire for humanity is that no one perishes but for that, all would come to repentance. The COVID-19 seems like it’s a disaster for the world, but this is a warning for humanity to prepare themselves for his return.

Even Christ’s disciples were stunned. The temple of God, the pride of the nation, the house of the Lord, forsaken and desolate!

While at ease, the crowd dispersed to prepare the evening meal. Nervously, the disciples called Christ’s attention to the exquisite artistry of the famous edifice. (Matthew 24:1) For almost fifty years King Herod and his successors had been rebuilding it at enormous expense. (John 2:20) Its snowy marble glistened in the setting sun. The gold plate flashed and glowed around the main entrance. Some of the temple stones, almost perfectly squared and smoothed, were of nearly incredible dimensions.

“You see all these?” Jesus asked, almost as if He hadn’t heard the disciples. ” Truly, I say to you There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)

The disciples were dumbfounded. How could God permit so great a disaster? Could this be that the end of the world was at hand? In the next few articles, I will be sharing about alertness and preparedness that are essential for you. God wants you to get ready!

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