Matthew 24, Continued

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all  nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:9-14

During World War 2, people turned in their neighbors and friends for being a Jew, or helping the Jews. They turned in anyone that wasn’t for the Third Reich’s cause. Anyone who wasn’t loyal to Hitler was in danger of being killed. I am sure that the people who lived during this time, thought it was close to the end times.

Our own government, in the USA, has asked people to turn in others for any infraction of the law. Walmart has had controversy regarding this issue. http://www.minyanville.com/mvpremium/homeland-security-enlists-the-help/ (This is a link from 2010, featuring Janet Napolitano telling Walmart customers to turn in suspicious activity.)

No one knows the day or the hour of the end, because God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish. But Jesus tells us there will be an end. We are guaranteed that at some point the end will come.

People who refuse to know God, show hatred to those who love God. That is a war in itself. There is no tolerance for Christians when you talk with advocates of the “Freedom from Religion” group. There is no tolerance from religions who do not believe in the deity of Christ. The name of Jesus, to those who do not want to know Him, brings confrontation, not peace.

That should not stop us from witnessing to others as God leads, as the seed of salvation might fall on ground that is ready to hear the truth, and the truth might take root, and produce a harvest.

Jesus is the picture of true love. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, gave diseased lepers back their lives, and made them whole. He went against religious establishments that only knew the law, without knowing the saving grace of the living God. Jesus wanted sinners to know of salvation. There is forgiveness through Him. When laws have been broken, there is hope. There is a remedy for our broken relationship with God.

Jesus warns us not to let our love wax cold.It would be easy to do, when we see all the evil, sickness, and pain in the world. He will return though. He wants us to give the message of Salvation to everyone, so that when that message has gone into all the world, the end can come.

The end is a beginning for those who know God. God’s kingdom is explained in Revelation 22.

There is a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Jesus told us that He would be at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf.) Then, in the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there is the tree of life.It produces twelve kinds of fruits, and yields fruit every month; the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

There’s no more curse. God’s servants will serve Him. His name will be continually on our minds. There will be no darkness there, for God provides continual light, and we will reign forever with Him.

I do not claim to understand everything. I have faith that if God created such beauty on earth, and says He is preparing a place for us, it will be more awesome than I can imagine.

Lately, I have had such a longing to go somewhere peaceful. As the world becomes more corrupt, the more I desire a better home. I keep looking at the home magazines, thinking that moving will put me in a better place. However, I can’t think of anywhere that is left, that is not corrupted with evil. This world does not hold my desire for peace, love, joy, and hope. I long to be with Jesus, and for His kingdom to come.

I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Lord, as the world becomes more evil, I crave Your return. Thank You for being patient with us, not willing that anyone should perish. I ask for Your great forgiveness of my many sins, and for Your cleansing blood to wash me clean. I need Your salvation. I know there are many others that need it too. I hope that they will find Your saving mercy and grace while there is time. In Your name, Jesus, I pray.

-Dawn-