Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Lord is Near

Perhaps it is the sign of the times, but our world seems to be racing towards chaos. The world has changed drastically and dynamically just in the last 3 years. The economy is shattered. Governments are bankrupt. People are unemployed. The housing market is in decline. The Arab nations are in transition and turmoil. Where are we headed? The prophet Zephaniah said the that "great day of the Lord is near..." Jesus said of that day and hour that no one knows when it will occur, "not even the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father." Therefore it will come like a thief in the night. Even though we do not know exactly when, Jesus gave us details so that it will not overtake us by surprise. He said there would be wars and rumors of war, nations rising against nations. There will be famines, pestilence and earthquakes. These are the beginning of birth pains. Well, the contractions are getting closer and closer, so that we know the time is near.

What should we do? Zephaniah said to be silent before the Sovereign Lord. Though the world may seem to be spinning out of control, yet there is One who is still in control: the Lord Jesus. Being silent doesn't mean doing nothing. It is a time to reflect and mediate on the Lord and His Word. Am I doing what the Lord wants me to do? Am I listening to His voice or my own? It's time to be silent before the Lord.

Zephaniah also said to seek the Lord and do what He commands. The Lord said through Jeremiah, "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Now is the time to seek the Lord. Not half-heartedly, but with all your heart. But what does that look like? Zephaniah said to seek righteousness and humility. Righteousness because we desire to be in right relationship with God and our fellow man. Humility because we know that we cannot save ourselves, so we need to look beyond ourselves to the One who can truly save us: Jesus.

The Lord spoke through Hosea, in chapter 10 verse 12: "sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you." We will reap what we sow. What is it that we are sowing? Is it righteousness? Is it love? Is it humility. Sin has a way of making our hearts hard and unreceptive to the Lord and His Word. The central letter in the word "sin" is the letter "I". When we are focused on ourselves, when we care more for ourselves than for others, when we are self seeking rather than God seeking, our hearts become hard. God says enough is enough. Plow up the hardened ground of your heart and seek God while He may still be found. Then you will be ready to meet your Lord, whether He returns to earth or comes to take you to be with Him.

The Lord is near! Look up for your redemption is near.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete

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