26. How Would You Handle It? 11.08.19

26. How would you handle the end of the world? If you woke up today and you looked outside and the entire world was chaos, how would you handle it? If your entire neighborhood was under attack or engulfed in flames and people were screaming while running through the streets, how would you handle it?

Would you go out into the streets to determine which way to run based on which way the crowds were running? Would you blindly follow the masses even if your burning gut instinct told you to turn and go the other way? Would you finally have the guts to stand up for yourself and go against the crowd because it was the end and your gut feeling just might save your life, or even better, save your soul for all eternity?

Proverbs 3:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Would you help others to escape the flames or would you save yourself and not look back? Would you hunker down and hide, finally saying prayers to the Lord God who you’ve always thought “doesn’t exist” hoping for last minute grace and mercy? Would you grab your family members, hug them and tell them that this is it, it’s the end, that they’ve had a good run and within the next few minutes everything will turn black, cease to exist and that is it. Every memory, every feeling, every connection to others that was formed over many years, gone in an instant to black nothingness. Would you tell them that everything ceases in death to be nothing? Nice knowing ya, bye now!

Joshua 24:14-15
14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

I’d hope that in the perilous times, your reach out to your neighbor to make sure they were ok. That you’d share the word of the Lord God Almighty and the history of the life of Jesus Christ, that you’d be in the streets screaming at the top of your lungs that Jesus saves to save as many others as you could before it was too late.

Far too many of us are worried about waiting for the end of times before we enter the streets screaming that Jesus died for all of us to be given eternal salvation. We are worried about what people think or how things look to people. We don’t want to be labeled a Jesus freak. But why? In the grander scheme of things, why do we care how others judge us? There is only ONE who’s judgement matters and he has no flesh.

Matthew 7:1-5 King James Version (KJV)
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Following the crowd to fit in can have dangerous outcomes. I have to admit I was like that too. I still have an easier time speaking with strangers about the way the Lord changed my life than I do the people who knew the “old me” out of fear of what they think of me. I could use extra prayers for boldness and overcoming social fears. I’ll take all the prayers I can get.

It’s crazy how I spent over a decade of my life addicted to alcohol, drugs, partying, causing a ruckus, getting arrested once, cutting myself, being depressed, attempting suicide multiple times, getting a divorce, smoking an ounce of medical marijuana a week, and barely anyone that I new batted an eye, or approached me with concern. Less than a handful of people have ever checked on me without me first reaching out. You’ll realize how little True friendship you actually have when you stop reaching out first.

Oh man, but the minute I start proclaiming my love for Jesus, forming genuine heartfelt friendships with people that don’t require alcohol or drugs, sharing my testimony of how my life has changed and dedicating so much of my time to sharing the word, I’m flooded with concern?! People telling my mom they’re worried about me joining a cult, family approaching me saying they’re worried about me? I’m finally clean and sober (except for a wedding I went to, which I regret and a margarita that came out both ends when I had the flu, lesson learned) and now you’re worried? NOW!? I finally cast the beam out of my own eye and I’m desperately trying to help you with the mote in yours before it’s too late. Call me crazy if you must.

1 Peter 5:6-11 King James Version (KJV)
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The enemy is seeking all whom he can devour. If there was one word I could use to sum up the vision of hell I received it would be the word Devouring.

devouring - definition
adjective
eating food or prey hungrily or quickly.
noun
the action of eating something hungrily or quickly.

Hungry and quick. Hungry meaning an insatiable (impossible to satisfy) hunger to torture your souls for all eternity. Never ending hunger, no number of souls will be enough to quench or satisfy this hunger. The enemy wants ALL of our souls, with no exception. Quick meaning like a flash, meaning you’ll be sitting at home one minute and burning in hell the next, before you even had a chance to repent and find Jesus. Don’t live a sinful lifestyle with the idea that you’ll be able to repent at the end of days or on your death bed in order to find the Lord’s salvation. Think of auto accidents or work accidents, those people all thought they’d be home that evening and never made it back.

I went outside to start the car the other morning. It was dark and the sun was barely starting to come up. As I opened the front door I saw a grand hedge of protection surrounding my home. It was the type of hedge that also had a chain linked fence, the hedges were growing outside of the fence to the point where the branches had become entangled with the twisted metal of the chain link fence that was facing my home as the hedges faced the road. I felt safe, protected and secure and then I saw it. One dark figure inside the fence. It didn’t scare me but I knew it was up to no good. Then I took a double take and really looked at the hedge. What I saw shook me to the core. The black tar demonic minions of the enemy were all over that hedge like the walking dead on a chain link fence. They were trying to climb, hissing and growling, reaching through, thousands upon thousands of them. All trying to get in. Then the single dark figure that was inside walked over as if to taunt me, and grabbed the bottom of the chain link fence, and began to lift it inward. Then it hit me and the vision was over. That is how all of this works.

Job 1:10
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

You can have the highest thickest hedge around your household and still not be safe from the enemy’s attack. If you let one area of your life or mind fall victim to the attack or influence of the enemy, that one dark figure will bend that fence just enough to create an opening. An opening so small and insignificant to you, but one that can have great danger and repercussions.

Luke 11:24-26
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

So please be vigilant in your understanding that what I am trying to do here, is simply to spread awareness of the word of the Bible and bring it to light in a way that will shake some people to reality. We don’t need more cotton candy churches telling everyone that Jesus loves them and that everything they do is ok. We need to be rooted in the word and the truth. I’ll close out with Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:9-12
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.