New Life

There are signs of hope all around us these days, even in troubled times such as this. To find that hope however, we must look beneath the surface. And be able to interpret the signs of the times.

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." - Matthew 16:1-3

We know that in springtime life returns to the plants and trees. Seemingly dead ground sends forth beautiful flowers and luscious new life all around us. We are able to tell that spring has arrived by interpreting signs, just like Jesus said. However, not ALL people can tell "the signs of the times." That ability is God-given and only a child of God can see such a thing.

I can write stories about it. Those who believe in God can read my words and know what I am talking about. But those who don't believe in God will quickly dismiss my words as trivial, even meaningless, because they don't believe in God. They have not received the Holy Spirit.

This saddens me. I look at the news. I read my Bible. My interpretation of both those things tells me that we are in the last days before Jesus returns. And, once Jesus comes back, we who believe will be departing this world. It says so in the Bible.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

There are those who don't want to hear these words. Some of them even profess a faith in Christ. How can one be a Christian and not want to talk or hear about His glorious coming?

My wife was walking by one of her gardens today and noticed that the daffodils had sprouted. "That's funny," she said. "They weren't there yesterday." The Lord's return will happen rather quickly too, more quickly than overnight. Scripture says it will be "in the twinkling of an eye."

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

And this is the tough part. No matter what I say, no matter how many of these stories I write, no one, and I mean NO ONE, will come to a saving faith in Christ UNLESS God wants it.

"No one is able to come to Me unless the Father, the one having sent Me, draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day." - John 6:44

But I keep writing. Why? Why keep writing even though it might not do any good? Because, it might. God might use these stories in some way, to touch somebody's life to the point where they might start to question the secular news feed. They might pick up a Bible or read the verses in these stories and might feel convicted enough to start asking questions.

Please, if you don't know Jesus, if He is not Lord of your life, ask Him TO be! The signs of the times are all around us. Jesus can return at any moment. There won't be an opportunity to plead for inclusion. It will be too late.

Everybody has time on their hands right now. The whole world has time. Use this time to seek God. This virus situation could be the last call before we hear the trumpet. Don't be left behind. Please.

50 Reasons We Are In The End Times