One of the
simplest and at the same time, one of the most profound songs we can sing is
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”
The love of God
is this, God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes
in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life. The truth of this statement, found in John
3:16 is well known. However, many do
not understand that the time is short.
The Bible makes it clear that today is the day of salvation, however there
will be a time when judgement will begin.
Judgement begins
at what is described by the prophets as the ‘Last Days’, or “the time of Jacobs
Trouble” and also “The Tribulation.” The
Apostle Peter, wrote that there would be scoffers even within the church that
denied that this day would come. “Know
this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking,
following after their own lusts, and
saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell
asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter
3:3&4)
People have been
hoping that the Lord would be returning soon for almost 2,000 years. Likely the reason for the hope is the
feeling that we are close, but have not yet arrived at the fulfillment of the
Kingdom of God. The Jews had trouble
understanding that Jesus was the Messiah because he didn’t fit their mold. They were looking for a political leader, someone
that could overthrow the tyranny of the Romans.
The Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes were looking for someone like them,
someone that would use the law as a measuring rod rather than Jesus who
demonstrated the love and mercy of God.
It is very
similar today even in the church. For
many, the love of God has grown cold. Many
that consider themselves to be Christians no longer hope in the second coming
but scoff at those who believe that all of the prophecies will be fulfilled,
Jesus will return and will reign for 1,000 years.
I believe the
Apostle Peter mentions this time as well, “For it is time for judgment to begin
at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for
those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
(1 Peter 4:17)
There will be a
time when judgement will come. For some,
it will be too late. The Bible tells us
that we who are His are not appointed to His wrath. When the wrath of God is manifest, there will
be many that will literally be left behind.
We are in a period today called the “Age of Grace” when the grace of God
is readily available, and the coming judgment is still at some point in the
future. When Jesus was handed the scroll
of the Prophet Isaiah, he found where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has
anointed me
to proclaim good
news to the poor.
He has sent me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of
sight for the blind,
to set the
oppressed free,
to proclaim the
year of the favor of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19)
That year started
when Jesus announced it, and that year continues to this day. The year of the
favor of the Lord however will soon come to an end. Judgement will begin in the house of the
Lord with true believers being raptured, taken up into heaven and ‘Kept from
the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the
inhabitants of the earth’ (Revelation 3:10)
Finally, we know
that God’s favor is still here because it is still ‘today’ “For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped
you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of
salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
