IN THE TIME OF PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR I
MEMORISE:
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
READ: Revelation 22:11 -15
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
MESSAGE
There is a story of a fisherman’s son who had been taught how to swim long before he could speak properly. His tutor, the fisherman himself, was loving, but very demanding. Every day, he insisted that this boy spent hours in the water, practicing new strokes and techniques. They practiced every day and no matter how well the boy swam, his father was never satisfied. The most difficult part of the boy’s training was what his father called, “floating exercise”. This involves moving around in small circles in deep waters, keeping only the head just above the waves for many hours. At first the boy endured it all hoping that one day his training period would be over. Later, he confronted his father, asking why the training sessions were so difficult. “You are training for the stormy day”, the fisherman replied. He smiled gently and patted his boy on the back, adding, “My son, there may be no storm for twenty, thirty or even sixty years, but one day, without notice, the storm will come. When it comes, those who are not prepared would pay the price”.
Several years later, half of the men in the boy’s village went on a fishing expedition. The boy went with them. Big fishes did not seem to swim close to the villages anymore. To catch a big fish, men had to go really far into the sea. On this fateful day, the storm came. It came suddenly and raged for hours. When it finally subsided, the men who stayed back at the village sent out a rescue team and the only living soul was the fisherman’s boy, afloat, moving round and round in circles. As he climbed into one of the rescue boats, he remembered his father’s saying “When the storm comes, those who are not prepared would pay the price”. He had seen several of his playmates and villagers perish because they could not float long enough as they had not practiced hard enough. He had seen unprepared people pay with their lives.
There is a storm coming soon, It is called the rapture. Only those who are prepared will be saved when it comes. That day, many people will weep and gnash their teeth. Many will end up in hell, burning in agony forever because when things seemed rosy, they ignored God and His promptings to live holy. When that time comes, will you be amongst the survivors?
ACTION POINT
Don't mind the fact that many people are no longer preparing for the rapture; make sure you are ready so that you will not be weeping on that day.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 16-20
HYMN 27: WHEN LIFE'S BILLOW YOU ARE TEMPEST TOSSED
1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.
4 So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
