“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
This is the peace that understands and accepts that everything our Lord spoke was the truth, that we can have complete assurance of our salvation, that what He accomplished on the cross was sufficient in and of itself for our salvation, and that where He is, is where we will be for all eternity. It is our flesh that doubts, it is our old sinful nature that fears, but with our minds we serve Christ.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1st Thess. 4:16)
This is what we are waiting for, we are waiting for the Rapture to remove us from this ever increasing evil that is spreading out across the entire planet, but we must not wait in fear.
Those who were given to the lions, those that were covered in pitch and then set on fire feared, they trembled, but not in their mind. There are evil days approaching, and while I cannot say what will happen to either you or me, I know two things, my mind is ready to go home, but my flesh fears what may happen to me.
I offer you here a verse of comfort as you ponder these things, as you witness the darkness growing. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jer. 29:11) That end is not the end of your life here, but the eternal rest that awaits all who have been born-again, in the Kingdom of our Father.
Whether by Rapture or death, that is where we are going.
If you are wise, you have been applying Proverbs 21:12 in your life these last few years, “The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.” If you have been serving Christ you have asked for a heart that can discern between the good and evil, and if you are being obedient to the will of the Holy Spirit, you have been shown the truth of what is approaching. But the question for you is this, are you watching it approach in fear or anticipation?
My friends, there is still room in the Hebrews chapter eleven hall of faith for another name.
Your flesh may fear, you may tremble so much you may not be able to walk, but your mind, the mind that serves the Lord Jesus Christ for the glory of God will praise His Holy name, for you are about to go home. Did you run the race well? Did you finish your course?
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) It is preparing to do that with a vengeance.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:10) Many will know the truth of these words as the days unfold.
I offer you another verse, one I would ask you to memorize. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)
Time is running out, the age of grace is coming to a close, the lion is beginning to roar, and we are not to fear. There is one thing I have learned in my many years of traveling in this life, and it is this, the anticipation of a thing can sometimes be worse than the actual event. Fear will do that to you, it will cause you to stumble, and yes even fall, it can cause doubt, and doubt my friends in the promises of the Lord is a sin.
He is faithful that has promised, remember that when the fear begins.
