“But of that Day and hour knows no man; no, not the angels of Heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. . .Watch, therefore—for you know not what hour your Lord does come. . .Therefore, be you also ready—for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man comes.”
Matthew 24:36-37, 42, 44
Truly, in these waning hours ours is a mission of prayer, preparation and plucking.
“Are you ready?”
If there was ever a time we need to ask ourselves and others this question, it’s now. And, do not be surprised if the response from some is a puzzled look as they ask in reply “For what?” or a hostile answer from others.
But, do not be discouraged, deterred or distracted, Pilgrim.
Keep asking it. . .of yourself and others. . .for soon the “Door of the Ark (Salvation)” will be soon be closing and only those within will escape the coming Flood of Judgment.
Somehow today’s Manna doesn’t move us like it once did. No doubt the disciples didn’t understand it when Jesus gave it—for they still didn’t grasp the meaning of His coming death or the implications of His Ascension after His Resurrection. And, the longer it’s been since He spoke it the more even His followers have doubted the urgency of its reality.
Yet, dear, weary one, never in the history of mankind has there ever been such a “Perfect Storm” brewing on the horizon. Our ability to see and hear what’s happening all over the world what’s happening has heightened our acute awareness of the gravity of our sinful sickness. And, even those who are Biblically illiterate and spiritually lost know something’s happening and “something’s got to give.”
What is that “something”?
It’s the “coming of the Son of Man.”
Look again at Jesus’ words: “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days preceding the coming of the Son of Man.”
Can you see the parallel that exists between now and then (Gen. 6:1-7)? Does it not seem that “the wickedness of man is great in the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually” (v.5)? Assuredly so. And, isn’t there a “dearth of the hearing of the Word of God” now as there was in the days preceding Jesus’ first coming?
Therefore, we can ill-afford to not “watch and be ready.” A part of this is “looking forward to” our Lord’s Return through the Rapture. How wonderful it will be to finally see Him face-to-Face! However, there are so many who are not ready, Beloved, to whom He will be “a thief in the night” because of their unpreparedness to meet Him (Mt. 24:39-43).
That’s why our “watching” must also be like that of a spiritual lifeguard whose ever-vigilant eye searches the waves for those who are about to go under for the final time. How we must “rescue the perishing and care for the dying” in our S.A.R. (Search-and-Rescue) Co-Mission! May we be found faithful—for so many persons’ eternity depends on it.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated November 25, 2009
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