Seeing the Signs

Now more than ever we need to turn to the Lord God. The signs are too obvious to ignore, and heaven is so available that only fools would reject God’s offer of salvation.

You’ve seen the coverage of the earthquake and resulting tsunami wreaking havoc on Japan. Does that not lead you to call upon the name of the Lord? Who’s naïve enough to think that such a disaster could not happen here? You might recall that we’re living on a pretty hefty fault line already.

You’ve kept up with some of the news concerning uprisings and protests and wars going on in countries scattered throughout the Middle East. Will there ever be a day where our Department of Homeland Security can dissolve because the threat of terrorism in the U.S. has vanquished?

And surely you’re aware of the meteoric rise of human depravity. Let’s start with sexual immorality of every kind – men and women living together apart from marriage, the “normalization” of the homosexual lifestyle, the instant access via the internet to pornography and so much more. What used to be called and commonly known as “sin” whispered about in the back room has now become openly accepted and applauded forms of behavior.

Then there’s the issue of violence. Do you sense there’s more anger and hatred toward each other in our own country than in a long time? We watch politicians fight bitterly. We see young people handle their despondency with weapons. We see television, movies, internet, music and video games feed off of and contribute toward this toxic craving for graphic bloodshed. And no wonder, when we have morally degenerated so far as to devalue human life by legalizing the killing of babies in the womb.

Natural disasters. Numerous wars. Nose-diving morals. Does the Word of God not say that these will be signs of the second coming of Jesus and of the end of the age? “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:6-8). “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:11-12).

If you’re not hearing it by now, I say to you: Wake up! God is demanding your attention. What other signs do you need to persuade you that the time is short. The end of all things is near. You’re not guaranteed another breath on this planet. And if you’re not right with God, then the end for you is eternal judgment “in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:51).

It’s past time to get right with God. And the way to get right with God is to come to Him on His terms, not your own. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re right with God because you’ve made a special deal with Him, because you’re attending church most Sundays or because you got baptized.

Instead, come to Him in repentance, broken for your sin against Him. Quit pretending that you’re good just because you’re at least not as bad as someone else. We’re all sinners in need of salvation. Even your most casual sin is enough to keep you out of heaven and deserving of eternal hell. God’s standard is perfection, and you’re not there.

You need His mercy and grace just as much as I do. But, praise God, He’s made a way for you to be saved from death. God loves you so much, friend, that He gave up His Son, Jesus, to die a torturous death on the cross so that your sins could be completely forgiven. No matter what you’ve done, who you’ve hurt along the way, nor what’s been done to you – the blood of Christ is perfectly able to cleanse you from every stain of sin and make you right with God. He bore all your sins on the cross, taking the brunt of God’s righteous and just wrath against sin, so that you don’t have to.

Won’t you come to Him today? Repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus today, and you’ll be saved from death and brought to life abundant and eternal. It’s the fool who says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). You don’t know when the Lord will return, but His return is near. See the signs, and stay awake!