This has been a wild past week for me and many others due to the weather and flooding. It has made me think about several New Testament prophesies.
[Mat 24:37-39 NASB] “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.” For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
[Luk 21:34-36 NIV] 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
These passages teach us that prior to Jesus’ return things on Earth will be peaceful, and then “suddenly” things will change very quickly.
I know of some very educated and wealthy people who believe challenging times are coming and are working very hard to “store up” for that day. They don’t know Proverbs 11:4.
[Pro 11:4 NIV] 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Ministry leaders also often comment to me that if they hold a financial meeting many will attend but if they hold a prayer gathering very few show. This is very sad and alarming to me. It tells me people are “missing the boat.” (Pun intended.)
The ark of safety we are supposed to be building for our families right now is an intimate relationship with Jesus through His Spirit. This can only be done through humility, knowledge of God, an active prayer life, worship, and stepping out in obedience by faith now. The main reason God asks us to step out in faith today (beyond logic and reason, especially with our finances), is so in “that day” He can protect us. Just like modeling and teaching our kids how to build wealth and manage their finances, we have to model and teach them how to build passion for Jesus and manage their soul.
It takes time to learn to hear the voice of God, to test it, and to know what to do. It is even harder to discern the Lord’s voice during times of crisis because of heightened emotion through chaos. Matthew 24-25 and Hebrews 10:19 through the end of Hebrews reveal to us the principles of how to live by faith and prepare our families for “that day.” These passages aren’t instructing us to build a boat or large savings account. They are encouraging us to build an intimate relationship with Jesus through His Spirit so in “that day” He can protect us. The truth is, if you can’t hear the Lord’s voice in the quiet place now, you aren’t going to be able to discern it when trials come. Are you building this ark for your family? Matthew 25 says you can’t wait.
I confess I realized that if “that day” came soon, we aren’t as prepared as I thought. I need to simplify things so I can respond in a more effective way. Our hearts are “weighed down” by many things of this world. This week many of our loved ones went through difficult times and I wasn’t able to help as much as I desired because so many things got in the way. I also realized I need to prepare my heart and teach future generations of my family how to maintain peace while others may be suffering. Because in this life, I’ve learned it is harder to watch loved ones suffer than to go through it myself.
In Christ’s Love,
Andy Anderson