IT IS TIME TO LIFT OUR EYES HIGHER
For almost a year we have been “drowning” in all the media news and consequent destruction that has developed out of this Covid-19 Pandemic, and for over the last few months all the political carry on in the U.S. plus, plus, plus. It is time with God’s help to LIFT OUR EYES above it all.
I am reminded of two verses of Scripture that may help us in this matter.
Luke 21:25_28 KJV And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, LOOK UP AND LIFT YOUR HEADS BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR.
There is no doubt we are closer to the Lord’s return than at any time in history, and the Lord is using all that is happening at this time to challenge and encourage us to be ready like the 5 wise virgins for the Bridegroom’s return.
The Apostle John reminds us in 1 Jn. 3:2-3 NKJV Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope (of Christ’s soon return) in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
NLT Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
MESSAGE But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.
LIVING IN THE LIGHT AND EXPECTANCY OF THE LORD’S SOON RETURN HAS A PURIFYING IMPACT IN OUR LIVES.
But we do not sit around simply “waiting” for the Lord’s return, we also need to lift our eyes and see the world as God sees it, Jesus tells us in John 4 :35 NKJV Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
NLT now is harvest time! For their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a spiritual harvest.
MESSAGE I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!
There are many Jesus spoke of in Luke 21:26 NKJV that men’s hearts were failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth,
What an opportunity we have to share the good news of the Gospel, and give people a hope there is a better world coming. Whether you are a Calvinist or an Arminianist, or a Calvaminian I encourage you to have the attitude like that of Charles Spurgeion had who said , UNTIL I KNOW EVERY NAME THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE, I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT JESUS.
If you just look at the world situation with your natural eyes, you will be discouraged, but if you LIFT YOUR EYES A LITTLE HIGHER AND SEE WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO SEE, it will change our motivation, an excitement will come into our spirit, and we will step into the harvest field and let God use us to see people translated “out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son”.
