Instead of beating around the proverbial bush, I’m going to come right out and say what I believe.
Not every “believer” in Jesus will go in the catching away of the church.
Unfortunately.
Do I have your attention?
Why do I believe such a thing? Not every believer is “listening” for the voice of the Lord.
Allow me…
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 5:11 ESV)
Paul writes to people who don’t need anything written to them. Odd? But don’t forget, he also wrote to you and I. He said the day will come like a thief in the night. Sneaky, hidden, quiet, unannounced. Under cover of darkness.
Paul also wrote that the believers aren’t of the darkness, or of the night. He said the day shouldn’t take us by surprise. We’re of the day, so let’s walk like it. Let’s not allow ourselves to be drunk with the cares of the world. In essence, that’s the word to us…
“Act like you’ve been brought up” – in Christ.
So, if Paul felt the prompting of the Spirit to write the word of admonition, doesn’t it make sense that people of the day CAN act like people of the night? People of God just might possibly become drunk with the cares and affairs of this temporal life? It’s not advised, but it IS possible, right?
And IF they CAN become insensitive to God’s voice because they’re enamored with the world, HOW will they hear Him say, with the Voice of a trumpet, “Come up here” (Revelation 4:1)?
This word isn’t a word to scare you. But we all need to consider this question:
“If I’m living in such a haphazard communion with my Lord that I can’t discern His leading or His voice, how will I discern the trumpet of the Lord?”
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Hey, we could be like those who heard God speak but thought it was only thunder.
No, there are too many verses warning the believers to wake up, live soberly and righteously, be led by His Spirit, and love the Lord with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will DEPART from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. (1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV)
And remember, each of the churches Jesus addressed in the second and third chapters of Revelation were admonished to “hear what the Spirit was saying”. That is, if they were capable of hearing.
Are YOU able to hear the voice of the Lord? Can He lead you in the everyday affairs of life? Or are you thinking you can live your life as YOU please and when it’s time for the trumpet you’re all ears?
Remember the 10 virgins? Remember Lot’s wife? She was on her way out BUT turned around; her heart still entangled with the voices of her world instead of the words of the angels.
People are all over the spiritual map in regards to when they think He’s coming back. I personally believe it is soon; that I’ll live to see it happen. But many disagree.
Whatever happens and whenever what happens, happens…
“Lord, help me keep my ears open and my heart captivated by only YOU. And help me continually sound the alarm – it’s time to wake up!”
So…how good is YOUR hearing? Are you listening?
Thank you for reading this post. Please comment, I’d love to hear what you think. For more posts and a weekly newsletter delivered to your email address, please go to http://eepurl.com/PaJK5 and sign up. Thanks.
Jan Grace 