We do not serve God fully in part because He puts limits on what we are allowed to do, and people do not like to be told what to do, or what we cannot do.
Those who have not acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord are held in check by a moral construct that inhibits them, no matter if they will admit it or not, that has been set inside of mankind by the Most High. “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Eccl. 3:11) And “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20) attest to this truth.
The morality of man falls far short of the holiness of God that He requires of us, which could never be attained by us with any work, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) Jesus Christ paid the penalty of our sins, and those who will accept this fact, will indeed be saved by the grace of God, (Eph. 2:8-9) and the works they perform by the power of the Holy Spirit and their own willingness to submit to Him are then done in accordance to the will of God for His glory alone.
But we do not serve the Lord fully.
Those old, well-known desires will still come into our mind, and while we may reject them for His glory and only by His strength, new ones will arrive. The walk of the one who has been crucified with Christ is a constant battle, and I believe it is meant to be so. There are three reasons that come to mind that bring about the desire to be in the presence of the Lord, and the first one should override the other two, and it is just that to be in His presence. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
We have never fully known the fullness of the presence of His joy, but we will.
The other two seem to be taking precedence though in many, and they should not. To escape this world that is falling, in fact running full speed into an evil darkness, and to be relieved of the sin that will reside in us until we are glorified. “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” (Prov. 24:10) The fear of what is approaching, even what is already here, those beginnings of sorrows seems to be the main reason for many these days in their desire for the rapture, it has barely begun and already many cry to be removed. This does not speak well of those who would like to consider themselves soldiers of Christ, willing servants of the Most High, desirous to be obedient to their King.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) But we know it is approaching, so in light of this knowledge why do we still fear, why do we want that which does not serve the Lord fully, to be removed before the battle has ever begun? If indeed 1 John 4:18 is true, which it is, that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” then why do we fear to do the work placed before us, why will many deny what the Lord has required of us yet still seek for the comforts and pleasures of this world, attempting to find some semblance of security in what this world offers instead of under the shadow of His wings?
The pull of this world is no excuse, you do not have to heed it, the pull and prompting of your own flesh and its sinful desires that still remain within us is no excuse, you are accountable for your actions, you always have been and you will be at your day of accounting. (Romans 14:12) If you are continuously praying for the rapture, then I would ask this of you, are you continuously praying for your death?
Now you must consider just why it is you want to leave, and I fear, and hope at the same time, that many of you have just learned why you are not serving fully.
