Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotional, 21st February ,2019.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Dsc DD,
BE PREPARED FOR HIS COMING,
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7).
Some people say the world isn’t going to end anytime soon. They say, “This talk of Jesus coming soon has been on for ages; it’s never going to happen!” Well, anyone who talks like that is ignorant. I tell you, Jesus Christ is coming again! 1 Corinthians 16:22 (AMPC) says, “If anyone does not love the Lord [does not have a friendly affection for Him and is not kindly disposed toward Him], he shall be accursed! Our Lord will come! (Maranatha!).”
The events and happenings all around the world today are clear indications that the Lord’s return is approaching, sooner than many can imagine. We’re in the last days. In Luke 21:25-26, Jesus said that in the last days, there’ll be perplexity of nations, men’s hearts failing them for fear: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear….”
There’re very few events that need to take place before the King finally shows up. Many aren’t prepared for His return, but don’t be among such people. Someone might ask, “Isn’t He going to take every Christian with Him?” Yes, He’s going to take Christians who are expecting Him; not those who have forgotten about Him and have become so carnal and live as though Jesus isn’t coming. Hebrews 9:28 says, “…and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
When the Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 admonished us not to sleep, he wasn’t talking about physical sleep. He was talking about spiritual sleep; when you’re so deep into worldly things that you become unaware of, and oblivious to spiritual realities around you. Jesus told us to watch and pray, “…for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).
We must be awake and alert in the spirit; let your life be guided by His love, by His Word and by your expectation of His coming. Let your desire to win more people to Christ flourish, because we’ve got to win them; otherwise, they’ll perish without God. This is the drive; this is what keeps us working to make sure we leave no stone unturned in our quest and pursuit for the souls of men.
CONFESSION
I’m fully convinced that the Gospel is God’s saving power to everyone who believes, and therefore, I’m resolute in my commitment to win more people to Christ, snatching many out of the kingdom of darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 24:14
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 13:11-14
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Mark 13:32-33
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark 5:1-20 & Leviticus 19-21
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 16:13-20 & Exodus 2