There is no cry for repentance...for holiness ...no seeking after righteousness..."it isn't necessary we have been taught...we won't be here for the judgment of the world...we will be caught up to heaven first." People really believe this. And because their faith is based on a lie, they are continuing to live their lives as if they are guaranteed exemption from all suffering, completely contrary to all Jesus taught. [John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world].

This year it has begun. Do we believe these events are "simply natural disasters"...or the hand of God? The havoc and destruction reeked on the Gulf Coast by the recent hurricanes... the flooding and destruction of lives and property in the Northeast from the heavy rains, the thousands killed in Pakistan and neighboring countries from the major earthquakes, Central and South America hammered by landslides and floods, with death tolls rising worldwide. Do you hear any voices being raised acknowledging that God is in control of everything? That these are judgments against a sinful, rebellious world?

Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation [From H2194; strictly froth at the mouth, that is, (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin): - angry, indignation, rage].

Daniel 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

We need to recognize that there is an appointed time for the fulfillment of all of God's Words. We need to come to the same place that Daniel did...

Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

We need to come to the place of agreement with God, now... while there is still a small measure of time. [Romans 2:5-8 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath].

Our God is an awesome God. He is Holy. He is righteous. He has called us to be like unto Himself. [1Peter 1:13-17 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear]:

1John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Are we purifying our hearts? Are we striving to live by the spirit... daily crucifying our flesh? 1Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

If our hope is based on not having to suffer in this world....on being caught away before the tribulation....then our hope is falsely placed. We are the first to be judged... The Church is the house of God. I realize that this is not a popular word... it does not appeal to the natural man in any way. At the same time, my inner man is stirred to groaning over the condition of the body of Christ in today's world. We need to cry out to the Lord as the apostle's did, in Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And we must come to the place that John the Baptist did:

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

It will not save us if we choose not to believe....

Isaiah 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.

and Isaiah 28:17-18

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

Whether or not God is Love is not at issue today. Just how much we love God is the question which must be answered. Jesus is sending out a call to each and every individual that goes by His name. "Lovest thou me... more than these?" (John 21:15, 16, 17). Do we love Jesus more than ourselves? More than our relgion and traditions? More than our doctrines? More than our reputation? More than our family? More than anything this world has to offer? Are we ready for the coming of the Lord?

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

This is an awesome time to be alive. We are confronted with daunting challenges, but all is not gloom and doom. Romans 8:28-33 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Thank you Father, for your unmerited love and watchcare. May we be conformed to the image of your firstborn son, Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.