Yes,Jesus is coming!But do you know the manner of His coming? Part1

I've been podering on the manner of Christ's coming and for some time I wanted to write about it.But something would always come up.But this past Sabbath,an encounter I had made me realize how crucial is knowing the manner of His coming and sequence of events or we might miss Him.

So,as I was sitting on the train to Bellville,I decided to take my Bible and continue with reading the book of Joshua.As I was about to start reading,a brother comes in and ask if I'm a Christian and ask which church I attend.I answer him and he tells me which church he attends.

So,we started talking about Jesus' coming and he mentions that Christ will come to take those who live righteously at the present time.My heart leaped with joy.Finally,someone who knows that the grace of God enables us to live righteously in this PRESENT WORLD.He went on to talk about Matthew 24 and He mentioned how Christ's return would be secret.Then I disagreed.What about the verses in the same chapter that mention that Christ's coming would be visible to everyone,hence we are not to go when people say they see Him in a certain place.

He went on to mention that passage about one person being taken as symbolizing this.Also he used the example of Elijah and Enoch taken to heaven.Sadly,Biblically it is not so and unfortunatelely,even though we were just engaging,he led the conversation and wouldn't let me talk-and I've been learning to let people finish speaking.

And so there error goes around.But I am also thankful for the encounter because it made me realize how much I need to study God's Word and be able to know it for myself what I believe in and be able to explain to others.

Now with regards to Christ coming secretly,I'd like to pose these questions:

If that be the case,why is His coming audible to everyone and visible to everyone?
If Jesus' coming is a secret,then why would  one group crying,"this is our Lord,we have waited for Him.Let us rejoice" and the other,crying,"mountains fall on us" ?
Then when will the first resurrection be?
And how will those who pierced  him see Him in glory,if he comes secretly?
Christ would be coming as a King of Kings and does One coming in such manner,come secretly?

The problem with this theory of Christ coming secretly is,it is contrary with certain events that must happen when Jesus comes and it is a subtle lie from the devil,so that people,while thinking the are waiting for Jesus' coming,will miss Him.

I hope to do a second part soon.

FRUITLESS FIG TREE

Are you, O careless heart, a fruitless
tree in the Lord's vineyard? Shall the words of doom erelong be spoken of you? How long have you
received His gifts? How long has He watched and waited for a return of love? Planted in His vineyard,
under the watchful care of the gardener, what privileges are yours! How often has the tender gospel
message thrilled your heart! You have taken the name of Christ, you are outwardly a member of the
church which is His body, and yet you are conscious of no living connection with the great heart of love.
The tide of His life does not flow through you. The sweet graces of His character, "the fruits of the
Spirit," are not seen in your life.{COL 216.3}
The barren tree receives the rain and the sunshine and the gardener's care. It draws nourishment
from the soil. But its unproductive boughs only darken the ground, so that fruit-bearing plants cannot
flourish in its shadow. So God's gifts, lavished on you, convey no blessing to the world. You are robbing
others of privileges that, but for you, might be theirs. {COL 217.1}
You realize, though it may be but dimly, that you are a cumberer of the ground. Yet in His great
mercy God has not cut you down. He does not look coldly upon you. He does not turn away with
indifference, or leave you to destruction. Looking upon you He cries, as He cried so
218
many centuries ago concerning Israel, "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee,
Israel? . . . I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim; for I am
God, and not man." Hosea 11:8, 9. The pitying Saviour is saying concerning you, Spare it this year also,
till I shall dig about it and dress it. {COL 217.2}
With what unwearied love did Christ minister to Israel during the period of added probation. Upon
the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:24. After His
ascension the gospel was preached first at Jerusalem. There the Holy Spirit was poured out. There the
first gospel church revealed the power of the risen Saviour. There Stephen--"his face as it had been the
face of an angel" (Acts 6:15)--bore his testimony and laid down his life. All that heaven itself could give
was bestowed. "What could have been done more to My vineyard," Christ said, "that I have not done in
it?" Isa. 5:4. So His care and labor for you are not lessened, but increased. Still He says, "I the Lord do
keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Isa. 27:3. {COL 218.1}
"If it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that"-- {COL 218.2}
The heart that does not respond to divine agencies becomes hardened until it is no longer susceptible
to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Then it is that the word is spoken, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the
ground?" {COL 218.3}


Rebuked but these words comfort and encourage me:

"Today He invites you: "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God. . . . I will heal their backsliding, I will
love them freely. . . . I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as
Lebanon. . . . They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as
the vine. . . . From Me is thy fruit found." Hosea 14:1-8. {COL 218.4}

Just a little thought

“ of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,”-2 Timothy 3:6

Captive,silly women laden with sins?

Led away with diverse of lust?

OR  free in Christ,strengthened by Him to keep His law and daily gaining victory over sin?

Mortifying every fleshly desire,no longer living in the flesh and ” Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”(2 Corinthians 10:5)

RESULTS OF MY CEREBRUM

They tell us to accentuate the curves,the beautiful eyes and all other physical aspects
But he tells us,to not let our beauty come from "outward adorning" but from a meek and gentle spirit (inward)

They tell us to do as we please and to fulfill every sexual desire but he calls us to not live in the flesh but to walk in the spirit

They tell us to climb the ladder while disregarding the duties of life,but He tells to be women who can take care of the home and cook healthy food irregardless of the fact that not all of us will marry (still struggling with this,but by His grace He will enable me)

They tell us we can do what every male can,uprooting the beauty of femininity

They tell us to follow our feelings,but He calls us to subject every desire o His will

They tell us to believe in ourselves,in our abilities but He calls us to draw strength from him

They call us to self-esteem,focusing on ourselves but he calls to self-respect

They call us to free sexual intercourse outside the marriage context,but he calls us to purity and waiting

They tell us we're incomplete,if we're not in a relationship but He calls us to HImself-the One who has loved us with an everlasting love,the fountain of life

Lessons from travelling by train

Before I get into the lessons I've learnt from blog,I must admit,I really enjoy travelling by train.It's one of the things I really miss about Cape Town.It brings much peace to me.It's my time to meditate on certain things and just view the beautiful creation of God-inside the train and outside.

Travelling by train has brought funny experiences as I look back.I remember this one time I was visiting a friend in some part of Cape Town.And when I got to the exit,I couldn't find my ticket.I was scared,so I ended up going,as I thought you pay R40.

Then the other time,while visiting the same friend,I got on the next stop instead of dropping off on the one before it.And guess what?I thought I could probably walk back by foot,hahaha but I ended up going home since I was scared and it was far anyway.

Getting off the wrong stop made me to be vigilant and I always prefer sitting by the window so that I check all the train stations we pass.In fact,I refuse to sit down.I prefer standing by the door.And I now even calculate the number of stops we pass,so I can know if I've arrived to my destination,just to be safe.I know it's a bit extreme,but I enjoy it.

But this experience also has a spiritual application.When you've fallen into a certain sin,you must reflect on how you got there in the first place.Then you are to guard against everything that might lead you to fall into the same sin.The verse below explain it clearly;

2 Corinthians 7:11King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

 

Then yesterday I missed a train.I was 10 minutes away from reaching it and I just watched it leave me.But atleast another one followed after 30 minutes,so not bad at all :).

The whole thing of missing a train made me think about losing eternal life.There's nothing you can do about it and you just see it passing.In my case,I could get a train again.But you cannot get another chance if you lose eternal life.

 In every area of life,God speaks to us!

A thought in my mind

I know of students who'd rather not eat,sleep rather than not study.The same students are willing to go on without prayer and bible study

I know of people who have persevered being mistreated by their spouses with the hope that all would get better one day

I know of people who are willing to starve themselves and save up money for something they want

I know of people who believe in love,that they are willing to go to extremes just to be in a relationship

I know of people who are driven and who have achieved much of their dreams through perseverance

But I always ask, why can't this drive for success,love,hoping for the better NOT be the same drive for one's salvation?

I mean,considering what Christ has done for us and what He has in store for us,isn't our time worth it when spent doing good,in prayer and Bible study-not as an obligation but as a privilege.Why is it that we are willing to miss prayer-the breath of life and time to commune with God,over an episode?

How can we can be willing to stick it out with someone but we are not willing to commit to God-the source of our being?

How is it that we'd rather persevere certain trials BUT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO SUFFER A LITTLE WHILE FOR Christ's sake-which is really for our own sake?

Why has God taken last place in our lives-when He's the source of everything?

I admit,there has been times when I've been tempted to watch tv/chat/blog instead of doing my evening devotion;but when I realised that I was the one missing out on having a meaningful relationship with God,I always lose sight of all the things that are not salvational to me.

But this thought still remains:why are we willing to chase after perishable things which will only break and harm us;instead of choosing the One who seeks to mend us,give us victory over sin and eternal life?

Could it be that we do not really understand of God's love for us or we take too little time to contemplate on His love?

Why is our salvation a matter of little thought to us?