Endure Through the End 4-29-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. More of You, less of me. More of Your Spirit, less of my flesh; more of Your ways and Your will, less of mine. … "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36). Wars, famines, and earthquakes, increasing in severity and intensity, are "but the beginning of the birth pangs" (Matthew 24:7-8). Persecution for faith in Christ and a unification of "all nations" who hate the followers of Jesus Christ will even cause many to "fall away," while "false prophets will arise and lead many astray" (v. 24:9-11). Disrespect for the rule of law and dishonor of the Word of God will increase and "the love of many will grow cold" (v. 24:12). Yet, You give grace to all who will receive it, to all who humble themselves to call upon Your name and entrust themselves to You alone to be our strength and shield in the midst of whatever tribulation may come. And in the security and power of Your love and the measure of grace we need to endure each day of each season as it comes, "the one who endures to the end will be saved" (v. 24:13). In spite of all that comes -- and probably because of all that comes -- "this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to the nations; and then the end will come" (v. 24:14). Some think the followers of Christ will be raptured out of this earth before tribulation begins in order to "escape all these things." Others think we will endure much more of the tribulation times than we could ever imagine we could, all by the grace of God enabling and empowering us to stand firm in the faith as light in the midst of the darkness and as witnesses of the grace of God who will use even the judgments of tribulation to draw every last soul He can into eternity with Him. We will "escape these things" because we will endure these things, standing in Christ as Christ stands in us. As I understand Your timetable and teaching of the end times, rather than my wishful thinking, it's "after the suffering of those days" that "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will 'see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:29-31). If Your words and Your warnings are true, then we need to spend more time getting prepared to endure than getting prepared to escape. Build within us the kind of persevering faith You gave the three young men who had the courage to endure the fiery furnace they faced in their day. "If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let Him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods …" (Daniel 3:17-18). As we hold firmly to You with the measure of faith You freely supply, whatever tribulations of fire we must endure, it will have no power over us and we will not even smell of the smoke (v. 3:27). "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). So by the power of Your grace, we will be on guard, we will be prepared, will endure, and we will stand, boldly and triumphantly, before the Son of Man. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 'For Your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be preaching all three services at my home church in Lexington this Sunday, May 3rd, Centenary United Methodist Church at 2800 Tates Creek Rd, where we have our Messiah Ministries office as well ( www.CentenaryLex.com ). Please come join us if you're in the area or looking for a home church. Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502