URGENCY OF THE TIMES

INTRODUCTION

Urgency of the times stresses the importance of a continued relationship with the Lord that will overcome all obstacles faced.  It was noted that in time of seemingly the darkness hour victory may be nearest (William McKinley).

Jesus described the characteristics of the time leading to the end of the age.  He said there would be religious deception, political unrest, natural disasters, wars, and the persecution of believers in Him.  In the face of all such happenings, Jesus encouraged His disciples (believers of today as well) to persevere in faithfulness.

Jesus said: All these are the beginnings of sorrows (Matthew 24:8); then spoke of a time of great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21). We are witnessing the fulfilling of Bible prophecy with a great need to draw closer to God, instead of a withdrawing from God’s umbrella of protection, and provision, as man defines his own path and destiny.

Urgency of the Times
Kingdom that Cannot be Moved

Scripture reveals:  See that you refuse not him that speaks.  For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on the earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away him that speaks from heaven; whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

And this word, yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are made; that those things which cannot be moved may remain. Wherefore (take note) we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved (shaken), let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is as consuming fire (Hebrews 12:25-29).

It was noted that these verses contain the fifth and final warning.  The danger lies in refusing to hear the warning of Him who speaks from heaven, for if those at Mount Sinai did not escape God’s wrath, much more shall not we escape.  One may escape God’s warnings now, but once more refers to a time that God will once more shake the earth and no one will escape (His Day of Judgment).

Foreseeable Future

Hebrews 12:25-29 introduced us to the foreseeable future (urgency of the times) which we experiencing, with a reminder as to who we are to turn to in troublesome times.  Jesus said: They shall deliver you (the believer in Christ) up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake (Matthew 24:9. 

We are witnessing this in many nations of the world where God’s people are being martyred due to their testimony and stand for Christ. Jesus said: Because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold. But he that endures to the end the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:12-13); stressing the importance of maintaining one’s faith, in Christ, despite the evilness of the day.

Weight of God's Judgment

It was noted that eventually kingdoms crumble because they ascended to dominance on the shaky foundation of human ingenuity, political intrigue, selfish interest, and human economy.  The time is coming when all powers and principles will collapse under the weight of God’s judgment.

Urgency of the times indicates this is already taking place as we witness nations no longer bearing loyalty to God by allowing the ungodly to gain power; demanding acceptance by all.  Thank God for those who are holding steadfast to the embracement of God, through faithfulness, which have not yielded over to the leadership of the ungodly.

Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?  Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever (Thomas Jefferson).  We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God (Abraham Lincoln). 

Failure of Godly Leadership

Urgency of the times reveals a failure of godly leadership with nations falling in line with God’s judgment; by ignoring His Word and pursing their own desired path. They have allowed devilish impulses to outweigh God’s Word with His abundant blessings being cast aside through what has been deemed as a more acceptable and profitable way.

Apostle Paul raised such a concern, writing: Brethren my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel (or any nation suffering such an effect was well), that they have a zeal of (for) God, but not according to knowledge; for they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, are going about to establish their own righteousness, having not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:1-3). They were attempting to mold and shape their desired ways rather than heed to the righteousness of God.

Forsaking Righteousness

The Prophet Amos revealed there will be a time that the fruit of righteousness will be turned into hemlock (Amos 6:12). It is interesting to note that the word hemlock refers to a plant that poison is derived from. Poison infects or pollutes the body until injury, illness, or death results. It can be of a harmful influence such as will ruin, taint, inhibit, or embitter.

When this influence creeps into a church, oftentimes unawares, it creates a powerless church. A dream captivated this thought in which the righteous man was ridiculed, of whose influence no longer had any effect. A church of pomp, splendor, where true worship was taboo and sin no longer identified.

Lives were without change or with little endurance if change occurred. There is a progressive social gospel being introduced, and accepted, which does little to identify sin, but rather brings out the niceties of God’s Word which requires very little change upon conversion to Christ.

Calling Evil Good

The words of the Prophet Isaiah, in speaking the words of the Lord: Woe (take warning) to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight; which justified the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him (Isaiah 5:20-23). 

Isaiah then pronounced the result of doing so: As the fire (tongue of fire) devotes the stubble, and the flames consume the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust (of no value); because they have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the word of the Holy One (Isaiah 5:24).

Inbred Injustice

There is an inbred injustice that is being consumed in many lands; with an attempt to eliminate any opposition.  Deception is being planted making ungodliness to appear as healthy when in reality it is sinful and unhealthy for the soul; being filled with fleshly desires and ambition. There is an inbred desire (being planted by the ungodly) to captivate on man’s desire for lust with morality being cast aside.

There is an inbred corruptness in the political field through election or appointment of ungodly individuals towards promoting ungodly lifestyles condemned in God’s Word.  There is an inbred and unleashing of filth and degradation in the entertainment industry that brings forth what is warned against by Apostle John: The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (self-interests), which is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he that does the will of God abides forever (1 John 3:16-17).  It is unfortunate that there is profitability in the promotion of ungodly venues that have been allowed to exist because there are those who love to have it so.

Voices of Opposition

If the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded (Noah Webster).

Urgency of the times is in that we are witnessing the very things warned against.  Thank God that there are voices of godly opposition coming forth in an attempt to offset what is being described as healthy but in reality unhealthy to any nation, or individual, who would embrace and be consumed by it. 

Redeeming the Time

The darkest hour was only sixth minutes (Morris Mandel).  Long as the day may be the night comes at last (Irish proverb).  Apostle Paul wrote: Redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). 

Scripture reveals: Seeing that we are compassed (surrounded) about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset (ensnare) us, and us run with patience (perseverance) the race that is set before us; looking upon Jesus as the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Can we, as believers, do any less?

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