Part 7
The word of the Lord has been that an ‘unprecedented unrest’ is coming. It may, in fact, already be upon us; but, are we focused on what is taking place right before our eyes and not seeing it? I am not sure that we are totally conscious of the ‘unprecedented unrest’ growing in our midst.
Why?
That is for you to ask yourself.
What keeps you from knowing what is taking place in our nation and the other nations of the world that is having a direct effect upon you and your family?
What spiritual forces are blinding you to the reality of what is taking place throughout the world, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters, and in our own very nation?
I suggest that we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken us to the events that are happening both in the nations, our nation, and in the Church, both the positive and the negative.
For myself, I need to take advantage of news sites that will give me the information that I need to know about what is truly going on in our world.
But the bottom line is that we stay focused on Christ!
The scripture tells us that God is preparing humanity for the return of His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world.
There are many who believe that what they are seeing and hearing taking place now throughout the world is fast forwarding us to Christ’s return.
I am not saying that is not true; however, what I am sharing is that I believe that the coming ‘unprecedented unrest’ will be used by God, the Father, as a witness to this nation and to the other nations of the world of His Reality,of His Existence, and of His Sovereignty which will culminate in His salvific plan.
This ‘unrest’ will leave no doubt about His Existence and the Truth of the Message of the Gospel of Christ.
In short, God is getting humanity ready for the close of the age.
That said, I do not believe that this ‘unprecedented unrest’ is the Great Tribulation. It will be a trial; it will be a tribulation; and it will bring turmoil; but its purpose is will be two-fold.
One purpose will be to bring judgement upon those who need to be judged; and the second will be the manifestation of God’s grace to a dying world, bringing salvation to the many that are called, and it will shake the Church out of its lethargy.
That two-fold purpose is the message of Calvary.
So what does that mean for us today as believers ‘in Christ’?
I want to revisit Psalm 64:7-10 (NKJV), “But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust (take refuge) in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” (insert, emphasis mine)
God’s ARROW will be the catalyst of the ‘unprecedented unrest’.
God’s people will take refuge in Him, because they trust in Him.
[I have written about this psalm in a previous post. I would like to refer you to: THE A.R.R.O.W. OF GOD. Go to lilvingwordsofencouragement.com]
This nation has been the target of an unrelenting barrage of vociferous words that have incarcerated the nation and put its people into verbal bondage.
We are a nation of POW’s-we are the Prisoners of Words.
God is going to judge those who have lied and deceived this nation; He is also going to bring the truth of the Gospel to this nation afresh in the power of His Holy Spirit; and He is going to bring about a righteous course correction to our nation. His ‘works’ will bring the ‘unprecedented unrest’. There will be ‘spiritual warfare’; In fact, we are currently in the midst of spiritual warfare for the soul of this nation. In addition, there also may be civil unrest that is the result of God working mightily in our midst manifesting His works in our nation.
I know that is a strong statement.
I am not saying that civil ‘unrest’ is a certainty; however, I am saying that it would not surprise me if civil unrest occurs.
Why?
Because we have been witnessing civil unrest taking place throughout our nation for the past several years.
What has been the source of civil unrest? lawlessness
What will be the continued source of civil unrest? lawlessness fighting against what God is doing in our nation.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:12-14 NKJV, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love (agape) or many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Please note, the love (agape) that has grown cold is in believers. Why do I say that; because ‘agape’ is God’s love. The love of God (agape) is shed abroad in the hearts of the believers by the the Holy Spirit.(Romans 5:5)
Do you remember what Jesus said in a letter to the Church in Ephesus, written by the Apostle John, in Revelation 2:1-7, you have left your first love.
Has the Church left its first love? Their agape, love for Christ.
Some of you might be wondering, where are you headed? I am glad you asked.
Matthew 24 and 25 outlines Jesus’ response to His disciples questions after they had asked him an innocuous question about the temple buildings. Jesus begins outlining what will take place regarding the coming destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 70 A.D. Jesus then switches their attention to answering their questions regarding His coming and the end of the age.
In the context of this post, The Storm Clouds Are Gathering, let us look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:36-42.
First, Jesus settles the issue of His return. In Matthew 24:36, He says “But of that day and hour no one in heaven knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (NKJV)
The inference is that the Incarnate Son of God does not know when He is returning.
Jesus, then, elaborates on the condition of society at the time of His coming.
He says in, Matthew 24:37-39, NKJV, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood , they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came, and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
At face value these words do not sound very troublesome; but..
What can we conclude from His words ?
I would like to take some literary license. Allow me to suggest a speculative picture that probably contains some elements of truth.
What was the normal weather like in Noah’s day? The weather was most likely pleasant. There was no reason to consciously think about changes in the weather. People were enjoying a normal lifestyle. Jesus said they were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. Sounds like an easygoing community of people. They are enjoying an atmosphere of life that was relaxing, peaceful, and restful. These people are engaged in the normal activities of life.
From Jesus’ words, there doesn’t appear to be any ‘lawlessness’ going on.
Then, one day, sometime during the day, things change. It begins with the weather.
They have never seen weather like this before.
They may not have had the proper words to describe what they are witnessing; but, let me insert these words: they were watching storm clouds gathering.
Storm clouds, what are storm clouds?
As the storm clouds were gathering, it was getting colder, and it was getting darker.
And this was happening during the daylight hours.
There conversations were most likely centered on what was taking place.
What does all this mean? What is going on? I’m cold!
They probably didn’t have proper clothing for the change in the weather.
In a clearing, somewhere, in the vicinity of the people, there was a building project that had been going on for many years. In fact, the building project was now in its 120th year.
Recently, those who had been interested, had observed an unusual activity taking place during the past week at the project site.
There were lots of animals coming from every direction, walking up a ramp into the large construction project.
It would be natural to assume they pondered what this all meant; but I surmise they didn’t have a clue.
Or, did have a clue?; but they never really paid serious attention to what they had been told.
Told what, by whom? Noah.
Quoting T. Austin Sparks, “they heard the words, but they did not hear the Voice”.
In the course of time, during this parade of animals, going up the ramp, into the construction project, the line came to an end. The onlookers also realized that Noah’s family, too, had entered the large structure.
Now what? they thought.
It maybe that some of the family members were the last ones to go inside because Noah and his sons had been assisting and guiding the animals as they sauntered up the ramp into the construction project.
Who knows?
Then, as I just said, the moment comes when the last of the animals are inside, and all of Noah’s family, too, is inside.
The entrance to the structure is closed and secured.
I wonder if the entrance was closed with a bang or shut in silence?
I wonder if anyone was paying attention when it happened?
Chances are, some of the people were inquisitive enough to stay and watch the proceeding to the end.
The reality was that the entrance to the structure was closed.
Some of the people may have dispersed; some of the people may have been mingling around trying to make sense of what was happening; and some of the people may have ignored the whole thing completely, simply because they were not interested.
Suddenly, there was a momentous change in the weather. The heavens opened up; a downpour of rain was unleashed upon earth; and people were filled with a horrific fear and panic.
This fear and panic fell upon all those who were stranded outside this large structure.
Why?
Because of a deluge of rain (what’s that?) came down, and the level of the waters rose, and those who sought for safety found no safe place of refuge.
They found themselves fighting for their very lives.
An ‘unprecedented unrest’ was occurring.
There was no place of escape from the volume of water that was being unleashed upon the world.
Have you ever seen an artist’s rendition of the flood, depicting the horrified people banging on the large structure, crying out for safety in the midst of the rising waters?
For them there was no response of help from inside the structure; nor was there any way to climb up the structure’s side to safety.
The scene was in total despair, a helpless desperation!
What were these people, who are struggling for safety and floundering in the rising waters, going through mentally?
What were Noah and his family members struggling with mentally, knowing that they are safe inside the structure; yet, they are listening to the loud cries of despair of the people who are not inside with them?
One can only conjecture.
Had these people, who had witnessed the building project, ridiculed Noah as he obeyed God, faithfully building the structure? And had these same people refuse to heed the words Noah had spoken to them?
“…had they heard the words, but not the Voice?”
Obviously, Noah’s family believed him, and heeded his word. They were safe inside the building project.
Does the Word of God shed any light on this event in human history?
2 Peter 2:4-6 NKJV, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;”
What words stand out to you as you read this passage of scripture?
Hebrews 11:7 NKJV, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
What words stand out to you as you read this passage of scripture?
Remember, Jesus said, that as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man.
What does this mean to us in light of the two previous verses that you read?
What did God see that caused Him to have Noah build an ark and unleash a flood of water that brought judgment upon the world?
What does God see, today, that would cause Him to bring an ‘unprecedented unrest’ upon this nation and the other nations of the world?
End Part 7
a brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 