Escaping the Fire

ESCAPING THE FIRE

  “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”   Luke 21:36 (NKJV)

            The scripture above refers to Matthew 24 where Jesus told the disciples what would happen in the last days.  Luke goes on to tell what we, who are living in those times, can do.  There are several clues in this scripture that we should listen to.

1)       Watch!  Watch what is going on around you; right here in our country.  Are
Christians being persecuted in America?  Yes we are!  You may not even realize that Christians are being targeted by our government; by the IRS and definitely by the liberals.  Christians are being made fun of, made to look less intelligent than others and deceitful in their works. 

Just today a veteran was attacked by Arabs in front of the Whitehouse.  There is a video showing what happens.  “A US MARINE holding a US flag outside the US WHITE HOUSE gets pushed and kicked and spit at by these scumbags who represent Hamas jihadi terrorism and hate.”  Nothing was done by police but to send the Vet on his way.

In schools across the country Christian kids cannot wear tee shirts with Christian symbols or the name of Jesus on them (not here in our little towns) but the Muslim girls are allowed to have their scarves over their heads which are a symbol of their faith.  The White House hosts Muslim events, but no longer will host Prayer Breakfasts.

                  This is only the beginning of what is happening in our country, so WATCH!

2)       PRAY!  Some of us pray a lot and some pray little, but we must pray from the heart to reach God’s ears.  It’s one thing to say a meal-time prayer, but when you really want to petition God, prayer comes from a deep place inside.  So much of the time we pray for only what concerns us, and we should, but let our compassion reach out to others.  We have been told in the Bible to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Why should we do that?  What happens in Israel affect us in the US.  Pray for our government to stand for Israel and stand for Christians all over the world.

3)      Worthy!  Yes, we should pray to be counted worthy to escape these things we see happening, but there is really more to it than that.  If we are not following Jesus; not trying to live to become more like Him; not allowing the Holy Spirit to give us direction; not reading the Bible to learn how to live a Christian life, then we won’t be praying the prayers that come from our heart.  If our heart isn’t right with God, and you will know if it isn’t, how can prayer work?

4)       Stand Before Christ!  [2 Corinthians 5:10]: “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.  We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”  Of course as Christians, we have been forgiven of all our sins and will go to heaven when we die.  The reason we all have to stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ, is to see what we have done with our life as a believer.  We will receive rewards for the good things and no rewards for the things we didn’t do.

I have always thought of it as a big movie screen showing me passing on by when I could have helped someone, or doing a kindness for another that I didn’t realize I was doing anything.  I don’t know if that’s how it will be, but I’ve thought about it and remembered times when others needed help or pray and I didn’t take the time. 

I’ve also thought about when I stand before Jesus and I have to look into his face.  Will I look up at Him and smile, knowing I’ve done my best, or will I drop my head in shame?  I know I just want to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.”  [Matthew 25:21]

These things show us how to escape the coming fire.  We hope we will be taken up in the Rapture of the church before the wrath of God falls on this earth.  “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”   [I Thessalonians 4:17].  However, when the rapture takes place is questionable.  We know this:  “to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” [1 Thessalonians 1:10]

        When does the Wrath of God arrive according to the Bible’s time table?  Read Revelation 16:1; it appears the wrath of God comes during the second half of the 7-year Tribulation, so I am not positive of when the Rapture will come, but I know it will come.  Bible scholars cannot agree on this point and I believe it’s because Jesus said, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” [1 Thessalonians 5:2]  I think we were not meant to know, because we should be watching at all times, as the scripture in the beginning says [Luke 21:36]. Stand strong in the Lord and you will escape the fire that is now threatening the entire world!