Time To Refocus?

 

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”    Luke 13:6-9 (ESV) We have a purpose in life. The nutrients we take in physically and spiritually have a purpose. If we do not achieve this purpose, we waste the resources that have been entrusted to us.   Fruit is a direct result of absorption. If we are in the right environment, absorbing the right “stuff,” then fruit is a natural byproduct. However, if we are in the right environment and are not absorbing the available nutrients, for whatever reason, there is a major problem. Nutrients need to be used by an organism that will benefit from them or they are wasted. Farmers make sure the crop they are harvesting has little competition in that weeds are continually destroyed. In being diligent, they have abundant fruit to harvest. Those of us who live in the United States of America have an abundance of “nutrients.” There is no reason to be physically or spiritual hungry. Yet, even in a place where there has been and is an abundance, it seems as if we lack fruit. This is not a good thing. Perhaps there is time for us to refocus. God is patient, but not tolerant. For now, the choice is mine.

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The majority opinion is just that...

 

“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”    Luke 12:57-59 (ESV) God has revealed truth, in everything that actually matters, in His Word. Those who love Him and abide by His Word do not use the world’s standards to judge themselves or others .If we get in the habit of judging ourselves or those around us according to a Godless standard, we open ourselves to being manipulated by political rhetoric designed to create a “truth” by a “mob mindframe.” The majority opinion is just that, an opinion. God has no opinions, and we would be wise to allow His Word to be our standard. Until we choose to do this, we will confused, manipulated, and hopeless.

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Time Is Short

 

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"    Luke 12:54-56 (ESV) I often know more about things I really do not need to know about. Yet, somehow, the important things in life, that are clearly outlined in the Scriptures, are not known. I know that time is short, the days are evil, and that God alone can rescue our nation, yet I often live as if tomorrow is certain, the days are tolerable, and perhaps our nation will work out its issues on its own. The “times” are indicating that we are quickly approaching the end of history. If not the end of history for the world, it is forecasting the end of history of the greatness of the United States of America. A great nation chooses to know, love, and serve God. A nation that becomes an asterisk of history is one who ignores God, loves itself, and serves themselves. For now, the choice is mine.

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We do not like being called wrong!

 

I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”    Luke 12:49-53 (ESV) The Gospel message cannot be ignored, and when understood, it destroys all humanistic thinking. As Jesus declares that He, alone, is the way, the truth, and the life, He also declares that all who do not believe Him are wrong. We do not like being called wrong. There are many who have invested their lives convincing those around them that wrong is right, and when they are challenged, things can get uncomfortable. There are no two ways to be right in Jesus’ statements, and the only way to achieve unity is to agree that God is right and to live as if God is right. Apart from God, we have no context for life, and become meaningless creatures living in the byproduct of some accidental cosmic explosion. This makes people live as if the survival of the fittest is the only guideline, and might often takes over for right, leaving us in a constant state of anger, disappointment, and hopelessness.  Hence, there is no peace, and without God, there is no way to ever experience peace in this life.

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On Guard Lifestyle

 

"If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”    Luke 12:38-40 (ESV) “A great commander was engaged in besieging a strongly fortified city. After a while he concentrated his forces at a point where the fortifications were stronger than at any other, and at 2 p.m., under a bright sun and a clear sky, ordered an assault. When expostulated with by an under officer, the commander replied, 'At this point such a general is in command. At this hour of the day he is invariably accustomed to retire for a long sleep. When informed of our approach he will deny the fact, and send a messenger for information. Before the messenger returns we shall gain possession of the fortress.' The facts turned out exactly as predicted. 'Yonder weak point,' said the commander, ‘is held by General—There is no use in attempting to surprise him; he is never for a moment off his guard.'" (Biblical Illustrator) Jesus made it clear. He is returning. Therefore, He will return. Are we ready and waiting? Learn More at Relate365.com

Stay dressed for action.....

 

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”    Luke 12:35-40 (ESV) ”Our dear friend, Mr. James Smith, whom some of you remember as preaching the Word at Park Street, and afterwards at Cheltenham, when I saw him, some little while before his departure, described himself thus:’“You have seen a passenger that has gone to the station, taken his ticket, all his luggage brought in, all packed up, strapped, directed; and you have seen him sitting with his ticket in his hand, waiting till the train comes up. That,' said he,’“is exactly my condition. I am ready to go as soon as my Heavenly Father pleases to come for me.' And is not that how we should always live—waiting for the Lord’s appearing? Mr. Whitefield used to say, of his well-known order and regularity,’“I like to go to bed feeling that if I were to die to-night, there is not so much as a pair of my gloves out of their proper place.'" (C. H. Spurgeon)

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The world will end....

 

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”    Luke 12:35-40 (ESV) The Bible makes clear the fact that the world will end, that Jesus will return, and that no man knows the exact time this will happen. We are told this so that we will not be surprised when it happens.  In fact, we are told the whole story. We know that in the beginning was God, and in the end, God wins. Those who are wise, align with what is certain, not what they think, hope, or feel will happen. It may seem to many that Christ’s return was talked about so much that, instead of the boy who cried “Wolf!” it has become the preacher who preached the imminent return of Christ is deemed likewise. However, the difference is that God is the one who told us to be ready, not the preachers. We would be wise to set up our lives in accordance with what He has clearly stated. Really, there is no valid debate.

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