Gettin’ Closer!

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The Old Testament in the bible is intriguing. A short while ago I went through the book of Judges and found once again that there are so very many gems to be mined. Reading that part of the bible, I was reminded that it was about a very, very dark time in the history of Israel - a time when the Israelites “did not know the Lord nor yet the works which He had done for Israel”. It is a book about apathy and apostasy - about a time when the chosen people of God turned away from Him and did what was right in their own eyes. It is an eye opening portrayal of the downward spiral of a nation that is just as much a portrayal of the world today. The time when the people of Israel knew and followed God until the apostasy, or falling away of their faith, took a mere couple of generations! WOW! Think of that!

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We are told that Joshua, a great servant of the Lord, died and when his generation had also died, the very next generation did not know God. They knew of God but did not know Him and His word. They were no longer obedient to Him and did not cling to His ways!

“There was no king in Israel in those days. Each man did what he thought was right.” (Judges 21:25) There is definite danger in going our own way rather than God’s way: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). Psalm 81 says, "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” (vs 11,12)

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Although God allowed them to go their own way it was not leniency that we are seeing. It was God knowing that some people just refuse to see and follow God’s truths. So God had ways of getting their attention. He used their enemies to exact punishment. War after war after war, the Israelites were beaten down. God incited the enemy nations to invade and destroy the land of Judah, to desecrate the temple and the city of Jerusalem, kill many and take others captive into Babylon, all because they refused to take God seriously. They were going to set their own rules, live the way they wanted to, regardless of what God knew was best for them. Not much has changed has it?

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Unless we have had our heads stuck in the sand, ostrich-like, we hear and see what is going on in the world around us. We are watching a war play out before us. But it isn’t just the war that clues us in. There have been wars since the beginning of time and scripture tells us that they will come, but that is not yet the end. The truth is that there are signs everywhere that the coming of the Lord to take His children home to heaven is but a short time away. We see the reversal of all godly morals everywhere, God’s name is mocked and taken out of our society altogether. There is blatant ridicule and abuse of anything Christian, even executions of those who stand firm in their faith and are not ashamed to say His name. Even the watering down of the gospel in order to give people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear are all signs that signal the approach of the Lord’s return.

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Most of us reading this know and rejoice in the fact that Jesus is coming soon to take us to heaven. We do not know the day nor hour, but we see the signs and rejoice. Sadly we also weep as we think of those we love who are not ready for that great day.

To our dear friends and loved ones who are going to be left behind, we have a responsibility. It can be very difficult to tell them of the truths that I have written. What if they reject us for doing so? Great wisdom from God is needed as to how to speak of those important things. What if they say no to the gospel? There are never any guarantees of the response we want so desperately. But let me give you this: It is our job to sow the seed of the gospel, but it is not up to us to bring the results. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. He will do the reminding, the convincing, not you or me. It will not depend on your words, but on the Holy Spirit using them, weak though they may be, to accomplish the will of God.

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Despite the world situation, Christian friend, rejoice! Look up! It’s closer every day.

B. Klassen bea.k@bell.net

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Occasionally I make a recommendation - a song, or a book. You might enjoy Ivan Parker on U Tube singing “Midnight Cry” . If possible, watch it on your computer, rather than your phone – a larger screen is better. His return is near. What a time that will be! Are you ready?

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AS IS MY CUSTOM, THERE WILL BE NO GREEN PASTURES IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. LORD WILLING, I WILL BE BACK ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER. BLESSINGS TO ALL.