Nothing to See Here
(a follow-up to last week’s post)
Cover ups. Fake news. Lies. “Nothing to see here” is the common don’t-look-too-deep phrase that is intended to keep us moving. I’m still in Ezekiel and almost had to laugh at how timely God’s prophet’s message to the false prophets of his day is for the false prophets of our day. In chapter 13, verse 3, God says, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing [from God].” I’m talking about the false prophets of climate change, mask efficacy, peace through negotiations, evolution vs. creation, and the list goes on.
But here’s the scary part.
Their message resonates with a large part of our population. Why? I believe there are a number of reasons, but I’ll limit it to three. First and foremost, they don’t know the Bible or the God of the Bible because they reject accountability to Him. Second, their lives are focused on the “shiny objects” offered by the world instead of having an eternal perspective on anything. All their efforts go into getting and having, not realizing that it will all burn up someday. I’ve never seen a hearse towing a U-Haul. Third, it’s easy to believe a lie that doesn’t challenge our lethargy or demand anything more than blind obedience to the current “talking points” of the “experts.”
What’s my point? I’m just a guy who loves Jesus and knows what the Bible says about the future. In chapters 6-17 of Ezekiel, sixteen times, God says some form of, “so that they will know that I am the Lord.” What was He referring to? A literal and detailed description of the judgments He would pour out on the Israelites. Did it happen the way He said it would? Every last detail.
Why is that important?
Two reasons. First, God knows before it happens because He controls the future. Second, it proves His Word, the Bible, is true. So what? Only that He has told us exactly what He plans to do with the world and the people in it when the final bell rings. Not counting the Old Testament prophets who foretold our future, we’ve had over two millennia since Jesus Christ walked the earth, to hear the warnings of coming doom and to be ready. We’ve had increasing signs of the imminence of Christ’s return to take His Church home to heaven.
It’s true that every generation has felt the same, that Jesus would return in their lifetime. But what’s different now? One of the biggest-impact prophesies about the last days was fulfilled in May 1948 when Israel became a nation again. People didn’t believe Noah’s warnings about pending disaster either when he was building a big boat for over 100 years before the flood. There had never been a flood…until there was. The Apostle Peter nails it, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3,4)…and then the rain started.
A one-world government,
one-world currency, a mark without which you can’t buy or sell, all seemed far-fetched only a few years ago. Not so far off now, is it, with all the controls relating to COVID-19 in place?
Last post we talked about the 21 plagues described in Revelation 6-19. They happen during a 7-year period called The Tribulation. They happen after Christ takes His people to heaven, and before the final judgment. There will be no more warnings as to exactly when this will happen. We must be ready. The Bible says, “If the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.” (Matt. 24:43). This is talking about Christ’s return (the Rapture). No warning. No time to pack a go-bag. For those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins, we eagerly anticipate His return. For those who haven’t, there’s still time…just not much.
The good news
is that God loves you in spite of your rejection, your denials, your sin. But you have to come to Him on His terms, not yours. Good deeds won’t get you in. Church attendance won’t get you in. Only your acceptance of Christ’s death on the cross as your substitute will get you into heaven. Trust me. Heaven is where you want to spend eternity, not hell. Heaven is glorious, no sin, no lying, no pain. We’re in Christ’s presence forever. Hell is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in utter darkness. Right now, the choice is still yours. See Steps to Salvation for more details.