There is a call to action detailed in the scriptures that I can't seem to shake from my mind. I truly believe this lack of action we see in today's world, is one of the biggest problems we face. We are in the times of Bible prophecy coming to fulfillment. Look At Matthew 24:32-34 “32 From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
In Scripture, the fig tree is symbolic of the nation of Israel. I believe the tender branch and leaves coming forth are a reference to Israel’s rebirth and the reacquisition of the city of Jerusalem. Israel became a nation again in 1948, but it did not retake Jerusalem until 1967. So, when it says that the generation that “shall see all these things,” is it talking about the nation’s rebirth in 1948, or the retaking of Jerusalem in 1967? I'd say that either way, we are very close to the generation being born in those times passing away, with only a few decades to spare.
So why does this matter? Because all the signs are there. The mark that we will have to take to buy or sell is coming up on us fast and even the elect will be deceived.
We have a problem in the world within those who believe. They are hearers of the word only and not doers. We have Christians that are stained with this world banking on Grace, forgetting the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
James 1:22-27
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
As I was in Matthew today. A few scriptures popped out to me. All of them calling on an action from us. Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." How many of you have truly repented? How many of you repent, ask for forgiveness, and go right back into your mess? Repentance is defined as feeling or expressing sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin. How many of us are truly sincere and actually regret our sins? How many of us repent only because we are supposed to? This world is truly a brood of vipers. Are you? Now what did Jesus preach in Matthew 4? The same thing as John, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near".
Repent is an action. "Come and follow me" is an action. Matthew 5:20 is an action. "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:44 is an action "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". Matthew 7:1-2 is an action "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
Ask, Seek and knock are all actions! Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
Mark 16:15-20 is an action "15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
The entire Bible is full of action items that we as followers of Christ are supposed to be doing. We can't sit around idle and expect the promises of heaven to fall in our laps. We wonder why so many turn away from Christianity, Christians in general, or why so many sit weekly in dead churches listening to sermon after sermon.
I truly believe that the Lord would be turning over tables in churches on almost every corner in America today. Matthew 21:12-13 " And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
How many of us have turned our hearts into a den of thieves? Wanting the promises of the Bible, acting religious, looking down on others, worrying about idolatry of items, worrying about money more than your own salvation or the salvation of your children? How many of us have worried more about where our next paycheck would come from than worrying about where we will spend eternity? How many of us worry more about taking selfies than we do about reading the bible? How many of us spend more time on what we will wear, eat and drink, than we do praying to the one who gave us this very life?
It's time for our actions to speak louder than our words. It's time for things to change. It's time for us to take our eternity into consideration before it's too late. Not only do I write what is on my heart but what has been a conviction for me over the last few years. I am no better or worse as I sit here typing this out. Yet what I am, is ready to put my actions where my words are. You should be too. We are running out of time.
Matthew 3:10-12 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Which side of the winnowing fork will you be on? Are you sure?
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