The title of this blog was the heading above the text in my bible for my thoughts on today.
Mark 13:34-37
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
He put us in this place to watch His house until He returns; but how many are watching the house, and how many are watching Netflix, or Heaven only knows what else. But for certain there are fewer and fewer watching the houses of God and the people of God. This morning I heed the warnings of the Lord and believe that I too need to do a better job until His return, which is eminent.
His Journey
When Jesus returned home 2000 years ago I can well imagine there was a great celebration! 🎉The horrific crucifixion had been no doubt more than many of His angels could bear. The fact that it was finished, and they would never again have to see their Lord suffer would have been cause for a deafening time of rejoicing. Now that His earthly journey was over, He had left the earth in the hands of His people. I’d never really thought of it like that. This was His Creation, fabricated from His Word and created so that His people would have a place to dwell until the final story unfolds. And look at it! Spring is an amazing time to live in the country. Everything is greening up and the budding out and it smells heavenly outside! And in all that, most of the world fail to see the Creator. They fail to see the new life that is symbolic of what will come. But before the new life, there will be great destruction for those who don’t believe.
Our Work
It’s why He left us with marching orders.
🎵🎶🎶Onward Christian Soldier, marching off to war
With the cross of Jesus, going on before 🎵🎶
He didn’t leave us here to sit and soak in the sun until He returned. He told us to watch and gave us authority as His servants. So the question has to be, where are we serving? COVID-19 has opened up doors of opportunity to serve in new ways. Some of which are not easy to accomplish, like taking care of the church when the church isn’t where it’s normally at on Sunday. This will be my first Easter since salvation that I haven’t gotten to take communion, or enjoyed the fellowship of many of my friends in the faith. I worry about those who don’t have the blessing of social media, and who are not able to tune in to our services. We can’t visit and see them face to face, and so I worry about their spiritual wellbeing. I know I need to do more. I need to accept the “authority” I’ve been given. In the words of Nike, “just do it.”
His Return
Watch, He says. It could be morning, night or noon, but we’ve got to be ready. I know that I, personally, am ready. But I don’t believe that’s the only thing the Lord is talking about it. How are we preparing His house for His return? Too many houses of God are asleep. They’ve allowed the sirens of Hell to lull them into believe in theres always time. Or many have gotten so far away from the word of God that they don’t even know what the truth is any more.
When I read Mark 13:14 this morning it pierced my soul.
Mark 13:14 KJVS
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Let him that readeth understand? How many do? How many know what the scripture refers to when it speaks of those words in Daniel and the times of tribulation. Believe me when I say I don’t know nearly as much as I should, just enough to be dangerous most likely. But I know that when I read end time prophecy it reads like a modern day newspaper. Well, not really, because a modern day newspaper is far from the truth! But the word of God is every single bit of truth.
Going into the Easter weekend is a great time of reflection but it should also be a great week of service. Many in the world have their eyes on Heaven right now because they’re worried. It’s our time to let the light of Jesus shine and give them hope!
David and I sat in the living room last night and I caught just a few minutes of the nightly news. NBC I think. It made me want to throw up. Nothing but negativity and any spin they could use to make this the President’s fault. While I don’t expect those heathens to be sharing the gospel, it would be nice if they shared the truth. And so we turned it off. That’s what the world is doing to Christians today because they’re not living out the truth either. We’ve got to be more diligent about taking the word of God out to the world around us. We need to do a better job of taking care of the Lord’s house.
I have a feeling that that ol’ rooster could crow any moment. What will you be found doing when the Master returns?