Cross and Cutlass: Friday musings: Darkness is Coming When No Man Can Work

Dear Holy Ones of the Most High,

If you're like me, you don't feel at all holy most days, if ever. But IF we walk in the Light and Love of Jesus in Obedience and Worship, His Precious Blood covers us and makes us righteous. If it didn't, we would never be able to enter into the Throne Room of God to offer our prayers and our thanksgiving. We'd be incinerated on the spot! I think that's what many people never realize. After Adam and Eve's sin, the day-by-day walk with God was severed. Why? Sin cannot be in the presence of God. He is too Holy! Anyone with sin who even attempted to get near Him, would be incinerated... by His Holiness. That's why God had to find a way to reconnect with humanity, to make us holy so we could once again walk with Him in the cool of the day as Adam did. And of course, the only way to do that was to have Someone who is perfect and Holy die to pay for all of our sins. Of course that's our Lord Jesus. Yet, so few Christians seem to really appreciate what He did. Why do I say that? Because I find so FEW who actually love the Lord with all their hearts and are willing to sacrifice for Him. So few. Church has become a social club for most, for others, a way to appease their guilt for their sinful lives, and yet for others, free entertainment, an emotional experience that gets them through the week.

If you've made it this far, perhaps you are one of those rare believers who actually put Jesus first in everything and who want to know the truth, even if it hurts and is uncomfortable. You are one of the few who read their Bibles everyday and spend hours in prayer, who walk and talk with the Lord during the course of the day, who submit to His will above all else, and who see that His return is coming soon! You are the awake ones.. the ones who are watching, praying, and earnestly yearning for His appearing. (Hebrews 9:28) This world holds nothing for you. The pleasures you used to enjoy and seek after have lost their lure. You don't particularly care about houses, new cars, vacations, or your 401K. Anything you used to value above the Lord, you have either laid down at His throne, or He has removed in order for you to rely only on Him. As the final days close in, your utmost desire is 1. To know Him and love Him more. 2. To do whatever He asks. 3. To save as many from Hell as you can. If that describes you, then be at peace and be filled with Joy, for your redemption is nigh!

Yet, so many others are grounded in this world. They are fleshly and carnal. Though they may attend church and believe in Jesus, their thoughts and desires are on the things of this world, their future, jobs, money, vacations, "things", marriage, children, grandkids. None of these things are bad in themselves and certainly we must all live here on earth in these physical bodies. So, we have to work and continue with our lives here. But where is your heart? Is it on some upcoming vacation, the birth of a child, a new car you hope to buy, a date? What consumes your thoughts? You can also spot a carnal Christian by the things they talk mostly about. Which is one of the reasons I left my last Bible Study. After we were finished reading the Scripture or on Pot luck nights, the conversation turned to worldly things, football scores, car shows, upcoming holidays. People spoke about TV series they were watching that I knew were rated MA. Not a single mention of Jesus or relating any of it to Jesus. It was as if He were compartmentalized into one small section of their lives, but once Bible study or church was over, that door was shut. I'm not saying that we must talk about Jesus all the time, but I'm saying if a person rarely does outside of church, that is a good indication that He isn't that important to them.

I truly hope I'm convicting some of you who haven't clicked off yet. Conviction is good. Taking time to get with God and discuss your walk with Him is good. Because, you must realize that this world is Nothing but a huge test. NONE of what concerns you today matters. Everything you do for yourself here will be burned up and blown away like chaff, while everything you do for the Lord will remain and become a reward. WHAT you will be doing for all ETERNITY is dependent on what you do here.

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Your position, your rewards, your assignments, your appointments in eternity ALL DEPEND on what you do in obedience to the Lord HERE AND NOW. Think about it. If you're blessed, you have 80 years here, but an eternity in the REAL WORLD. We live in a digital matrix now.. smoke and mirrors and shadows that are only a reflection of reality.

I'm not talking about earning your salvation. I'm talking about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and spirit, and loving your neighbor as yourself. I'm talking about walking in obedience, not because you have to, but because you're so in love with Jesus, you want to!

We are at then end of time. We don't have years left. I would be surprised if we have months. Yet even if we have a year left, what are you going to do with it? Sit around and whine and complain that your life is difficult and hard? Spend hours trying to solve the world's problems with politics? Worry about money and where you will get food and housing from? Stress about problems with family, lost family members, and health issues? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 and the Lord promised us He would care for us if we seek FIRST His Kingdom. Matthew 6:33. He promised us He would save our Descendants! Proverbs 11:21 He promised He would never leave us. Hebrews 13:5 He promised that when we are weak, with Him, we are strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 He promised to protect us. Psalm 41:1-2

Do you know His Word? Yet so many Christians sit around with their head in their hands, worrying, complaining, stressing. What a waste of time when you could be about your Father's business!! Get out of the flesh and carnal things and get your mind on things above, where you are seated in heavenly places!! Find out what the Lord wants you to do and do it. If it's street evangelism, do it! Maybe it's visiting the sick in the hospital or feeding the homeless, helping a neighbor in need, writing books, blogging, prayer walking around your neighborhood, giving money to ministries that spread the gospel, supporting an orphan, sharing the Gospel with neighbors and friends, or maybe it's being a prayer warrior. If you submit to the Lord, He will put His thoughts in your mind and His desires on your heart.

I know we are all in different places in our walk with the Lord, and I used to be more understanding of new Christians, but I'm telling you this, whether you've been a believer 5 minutes or 50 years, it's time to get serious about Jesus. It's time to grow up, to get out of your flesh and walk in the Spirit of the Living God, to believe and hold Him to His Word, to get your eyes off yourself and onto Him, so you will be counted worthy to escape ALL the things about to come on the earth. Luke 21:36

We don't have much time left. Work while it is day for the night is coming when no man can work. John 9:4

I only posted some of the news this week. Browse through it, if you want, just so you can see what's going on and KNOW that the Lord is coming soon. Otherwise, don't bother and just keep your thoughts on the Lord.

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Friday, April 28, 2023

Friday musings: Darkness is Coming When No Man Can Work

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