God, The Giver of Life - Signs of the End Times

“You are the giver of life. Your light lets us enjoy life.” Psalm 36:9 (NCV)

Recently, I was talking to some friends about the increased persecution against Christians: beheading, rape, buried alive, forced conversions, imprisonment, etc. My friends were completely astonished by the news. Their explanation for ignorance, “I don’t watch the news. It’s too depressing.”  I can relate. Sometimes the pain in the world can be so overwhelming that I just want to escape into my own happy place and never leave. But yesterday, I went to see the film The Giver and it reminded me that I have not been called to live the Christian life in a pretend “happy place”.

The film takes place in a Utopian society called The Community. The Community has eliminated emotions, free will, and all past memories from its citizens in order to prevent violence, inequality, and social unrest. The citizens are given injections everyday to suppress their emotions but without feelings of pain there can be no feelings of love. The have “pleasant” lives but no real passion or love for one another. They are merely numbers in a colorless society.

There is one elder in this Community who is called The Receiver of Memory who has all of the memories of the past, the good and the bad. One young man, Jonas, who was born with the ability to “see beyond” the colorless world, is selected to be the next recipient of memories. The hope is that Receivers gain wisdom from the past that can be used by the governing council should a crisis arrive. As Jonas begins to receive these memories from The Giver, he is enraptured with the emotions brought upon by the pleasant memories, like joy, touch, and love. When he receives the painful memories of war and violence, he is overwhelmed by the darkness and wishes he could just go back to being oblivious. If you are oblivious, you don’t have to feel. And if you don’t feel than you don’t have a responsibility to act. 

We can be like Jonas at times. Wanting to bury our heads in the sands of ignorance, oblivious to the pain and suffering in the world. If we are oblivious we don’t have to feel helpless, overwhelmed, sad, or fearful. And if we don’t feel, we don’t have a responsibility to act. We can continue to go on with our busy lives, pretending that everything is OK, and keeping our selves so mindlessly busy with the daily grind that our eyes stay focused on the here and now instead of what God has called us to.
 

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)

The Lord brought to my mind the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13).  God compares the return of Jesus for His Believes to ten bridesmaids waiting for the return of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids are supposed to go out to meet him but he is running late. Five wise bridesmaids bring extra oil for their lamps. Five foolish bridesmaids do not. All of them fall asleep waiting but when they wake up, the foolish ones realize they have run out of oil for their lamps. The lamps need to be lit so that he can see them in the dark. The foolish ones must return for more and their lack of preparation makes them miss the return of the bridegroom. The parable is a warning that ends in verse 13, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man [Jesus] is coming.”

Why is it so important to know what is happening in the world from a Biblical perspective? Because God gives us warnings in the Bible so that we can know when the Bridegroom (Jesus) will be returning for His Bride (Believers). Here are some of the warnings we should be looking out for: (read Matthew Chapter 24 and Luke Chapter 21)

1. Wars and rumors of wars
2. Famines
3. Pestilence
4. People will abandon their love for God and become lovers of self
5. Increase in the frequency and severity of earthquakes
6. Increased hostility against Israel (Ezekiel 28:25-26). Be on alert when all the nations turn against Israel and when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20). The start of the 7-year Tribulation period is marked by a signing of a peace treaty with Israel orchestrated by a world leader (Anti-Christ) who claims to be acting in their best interest. (Daniel 9:27)   
7. A move towards one world government, one world currency and one world religion (Revelation 17:13, 13:6-17)
8. Christians being martyred and beheaded for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4)
9. Strange events in the skies - signs in the sun, moon, and stars (Luke 21:25)
10. False prophets and false messiahs will perform counterfeit signs and wonders in order to deceive people and will even cause Believers to abandon their faith in God. 

God’s Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons.  They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (CEV)

‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” Ezekiel 28:25-26 (NKJV)

The study of the End Times has always been a double-edged sword for me. It fascinates me but it also frightens me. Just like Jonas in the movie, the more I learn, the more knowledge I want. It keeps me looking up towards God, longing for Jesus’ return, and puts this temporary life in perspective. But just like Jonas who ran away from The Giver, believing he was not brave or strong enough to handle the responsibly that comes from knowing the truth. Sometimes, I want to run away from the burden of The Truth, just like my friends. But God does not want us to run in fear. He is asking, “Yolanda, you know The Truth that I’m coming back for you before the horrors of the end come. Are you going to hide this Good News from your friends, family, and neighbors and let them suffer through it just because it’s safer, easier, and less scary? Do you trust me to give you My strength and courage to share The Truth?”

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.

Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AMP)

Jonas eventually responded to the call of The Giver and became a savior to the people, opening their eyes to the truth.  So God has called each of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that the eyes of the blind can be opened to God’s love and salvation. Because just like Jonas said, “Without love, what’s the point?” It’s as simple that that. Without God’s love, there is no point to this life. It is just a colorless, pleasant, superficial existence without real passion, compassion, devotion, and sacrifice. We must know in order to feel. We must feel in order to act. We are called to action! 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (AMP)

So, The Giver has given you His gift of Truth. You are now the Receiver. What are you going to do with the gift?

"If God is love, and love is a gift, than the Giver and the Gift are one...Salvation comes in the giving of His life and is complete in the receiving of His life." Quote from The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn.  I recommend this book highly. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

Love,
Yolanda

PS: If you are wondering, "How do I receive this gift of God's love and salvation?" It's as simple as praying to receive it. Pray this prayer with me:
God, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me of the sins in my life. Please reside in my heart and fill me completely with the love and power of Your Holy Spirit. Guide and direct all my ways. I pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
You are now a child of God. He calls you His beloved child. I can't wait to meet you in Heaven.