The Second Coming (Part 2)

The situation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is also similar to the event which is experienced by Israelite and Jeremiah the Prophet.
Israelite was dumped to Babel. God usually helped them out, but not that time because of 2 vicious sins that Israelite have done.
The 2 vicious sins are:
1. Paganism.
2. Leaving God

The most hated sin is PAGANISM.

In old times, paganism can be describe as worshiping statues, they made their own god like the golden calf which Aaron has made for Israel. But nowadays, paganism is not only worshiping another figures which they called it as god himself, making another thing/activity becomes our first priority, and put God on the last priority or maybe second is can be describe as paganism too. It could be our favorite hobby, our work, and so on.
There is a story about a man who was waiting for blessings and miracles patiently, he lived closely with God. One day, God gave us a blessing. He provided him a shop for him to vend. He was so happy about that. Every Monday until Saturday, there are a lot of costumers bought things in his shop. On Sunday, surprisingly,  the costumers multiplied from the previous days. He finally decided not to go to the church and worked at his shop instead. He began to forget God and what He has done from him.
He worked a lot, wasting his time by working not praying. It broke God's heart. God was so angry and beat him up because He loves His son so bad. He wanted him to come back.
And finally, the man realized what he has done and repent.

That story above is about the example of paganism nowadays. (It is based on true story)

The second vicious sin is   LEAVING GOD.
Jeremiah received a statement from God, asking Israelite to leave Jerusalem. But the other prophets told Israelite to start a war, it is definitely deviate from God's words. Unfortunately, Israelite obey the other prophets' word. That's why God's anger arose against Israelite.

So, we have to obey God, ponder the Holy Bible, if we're worshiping in church, let's take time to listen to God's words well.

What should we do so that we can be saved from the GREAT TRIBULATION period?
Simple, God wants us to be  Living Testimony. A testimony which make people who see our attitude and personality, want to know Jesus more. 
Through many ups and downs in our life, how bad our condition now, remember we have to be the Witnesses of Christ. It means that every single step that we make, it has to be based on God's way.
If we follow His way, He will use us to be His equipment. So that, everyone who sees us wonder, "We struggle the same problem together. But how can he smile so joyful like that, how can he act so tough, and how magical his life?" 
Finally, they see God through us. 
Being the LIVING TESTIMONY, also involves our daily life.

How to be a LIVING TESTIMONY

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

BE THE TRUE VINE

1 Timothy 4:7-8

⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

The Second Coming (Part 1)

Matthew 24:37-44

³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Nowadays, we often hear our pastors preach about the exact same thing, Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Nobody knows for sure when God will come again to the earth and save the ones who believe and obey Him, so we have to be ready. The situation of second coming is predicted similar to the situation of flood in Noah's period. Wickedness of men grows stronger, our earth is broken.
If we check our news today, there are so many murders than have been done by a child to her parents and vice versa. In our ancient time, we rarely found such cases.
There are people who don't want to know God, apathetic listening to preachment, and doing their routine as usual. Things always whirl like that. And then..... Wooshhh. Suddenly, the moment we have been waiting for happens, it's rapture.
Who will be caught up?
Only the ones who are ready.

There is a 2014 movie named LEFT BEHIND. I think it is a very interesting movie because the concept is about 'second coming' with Nicholas Cage as one of the main actors complete the story. 
The synopsis of this story ( I quote it from fandango.com)

Inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins' bestselling novel of the same name, Left Behind finds commercial airline pilot Ray Steele (Nicholas Cage) struggling to keep his passengers calm and his plane afloat after the Biblical Rapture strikes mid-flight. Meanwhile, GWN reporter Cameron "Buck" Williams (Chad Michael Murray) becomes Ray's reluctant co-pilot, and Ray's terrified daughter Chloe (Cassi Thompson) braves the chaos of the city streets in search of her brother and mother. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Chloe does not believe in God with all her heart so does her father, Ray. He cheated on his wife and dated with a fair chic stewardess. And one night while he's riding his plane, God took His beloved ones and left the rest. Some passengers were gone like vapors. Their bodies are nowhere to be found, they only left their clothes and possessions, and the others were freaking out, wondering where they were. At the same time, while Chloe hugged her younger brother who was still innocent, the rapture took place. It caught up her younger brother and again, his body was gone. He was caught up because he was a young boy who is full of innocence. Ray's wife --Chloe's mom-- is caught up too because she's so religious and relied her whole life to God, read the Bible everyday.

The things that the story wants to show us is about you don't know what is happening in the future. You don't know when God comes again to the earth. All you have to do is to be READY.
The people who believe, who wait on God, and associate with Him are surely be CAUGHT UP.

At that time, they will meet God face to face, and the marriage supper of The Lamb and the tribunal are going to be happened soon. Those people will be given crowns based on what they have done on the earth.


What happen to the ones who are left behind?
They will encounter the GREAT TRIBULATION where the anti Christ rule the whole world. The first 3,5 years will run smoothly, peacefully. It seems like the anti Christ rule the world well, unite the economy, make transaction becomes easier, and so on. But, the second 3,5 years will be such a nightmare to all people who are left behind. The most brutal tribulation the world has ever experienced.

God is As Far As Prayer

Psalms 118:8
⁸ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
We must have personal relationship with God, our Creator. It is true that God provides 5 departments to complete His holy men, such as counselling, and also ministry. However, every single person has to be in a deep relationship with God. We must have our prayer time routinely, sit under His feet, waiting for Him to speak and lead us. 
In Christian, it's interesting that pray doesn't always mean staying in our room, lock it, and then kneel. We can pray wherever we want to pray. For example, when we're in our cars, we turn on our radio, listen to Christian songs and praise Him, even when we're working and studying. 
Moreover, we have to read the Bible everyday, not just reading it, we have to ponder the Words of God, and apply them in our life. And you'll see what He's going to do with your life. You will never be in the bottom, you will never be the tail. You'll always stay on top, and be the head because He sees that we always offer the best for Him and He is glad for it.
Hebrews 7:25
²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely^[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
God knows that human are weak for He has ever reincarnated. He knows exactly how weak we are. So, He intercedes for us. He also saves us perfectly. So, every man who believes in Him will receive an everlasting life. They're going to a beautiful place called 'heaven'.
What will we get in heaven? 
It depends on the choices we made on earth. (Building with gold)
What does it mean? 
Someone who admits that he has ever gone to heaven says that there are small and big houses in heaven. The size of the houses are depend on what we have done on the earth, like our kindness, our sincere heart to serve God --they're all counted-- they are our materials to build our houses in heaven.
Remember, we don't bring our wealth and treasures when we die. We just bring our soul and heart. 
Soul and heart that please Jesus will forever be in heaven. 
2 Peter 1:5-11

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have full right to live in heaven. But look at verse 5, faith without action is essentially dead. So, faith has to be avowed with action.

The Meaning of Misery for the Believers

Hebrews 2:18
18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

To reach success ( bright future), we have to past the problems. There is no such thing named Promised Land without facing desert. Now, many Christians may have wondered in their heart, "How long do we have to wait in the desert?" Well, it depends on how we REACT. 
It is completely easy for our God to make us successful, but God is more concerned with the process than the result. 
In Christianity, we don't know the word 'instant' for God understands that the result without process means the result without quality. 
Let's talk about the moment when God gave His Son into the earth to redeem our sins by crucifying His Only Son, Jesus Christ. Why does it have to be that way?
Why didn't God just say "I forgive all of your sins" and not letting His Son to be sent to the world?
It is still the same answer.
THERE IS NO 'INSTANT' ;
Our God wants us to know that His love for us is higher than the heaven. He wants us to know how much He loves us no matter what we have done to Him. 
One of the things which distinguishes our Lord with the other lords is 
He is the only Lord who is willing to be same with human, He is willing to be a servant.
How great is our God! Hallelujah!
My friends in Christ, religion is a man seeking for God.
Christianity is not a religion. Jesus never brings out religion. Our real identity is not a Christian, but we are the children of God. 
Being God's children doesn't mean our life is full of happiness like no problems stand around us. We still have our own problems whether it's big or small, but the only thing which is different for being the children of God is He would never leave us. He is there for us. He wipes our tears. He wants to show us His miracles. He turns our sorrow into joy. 
If we fall, we will never sprawl because God holds our hands.
There is powers in our life, so God let us face our troubles to show us how powerful we are when we rely on Him.
Romans 8:11
¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[a] his Spirit who lives in you.

Obeying God's Words

Genesis 26:12-19

12 Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, ¹³and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. ¹⁴He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. ¹⁵(Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.) ¹⁶And Abimelech said to Isaac, ‘Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us.’
17 So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. ¹⁸Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. ¹⁹But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water,

Ishak was always obeying God's commandments. That's the reason why he was so blessed.
Salvation is found only in the Name of Jesus.
The biggest man's problem is death. But, death has already been conquered by Jesus.
Any other problems such as breaking up with the love of your life, having a really hard time with your economy, being ignored, etc, are just usual problems.
So you don't have to be worry about those kind of problems because your biggest problem has been done by our Savior. If you have problem, then go to your room and pray. But don't you ever cry out loud to God like this : "God, please hear my prayer! I'm so terrified right now. How can I solve this problem? I can't stand at it. I hate my life," Oo.. That's wrong, dear. Absolutely wrong.
If you say something like that, it means that your problems seem to be bigger than your own God while the fact is your God is way bigger than your problem!

There is a song that is suitable for those who are having problem that they think it is impossible to be solved.
The song is called 'God Will Make A Way'
The lyrics:
GOD will make a way, where it seems to be no way
He works in ways, we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side
With love and strength, for each new day
He will make a way 2x

It's a beautiful song, isn't it?
And guys, keep in your mind that if God opens the door of miracles, no one could close it. If God closes the door of miracles, no one could open it.
So, make sure that God opens that door. Then, how to make the door of miracles be opened?
There is only one condition.
Look at the title of this post. 'Obeying God's Words'
That is that one thing you have to do if you want the door of miracles is opened for you.
Just trust in Him. It's quite simple to say but I know it's hard to do. But, believe me, it'll be worth it in the end. People who think positively and who are filled by passion are the people who have bright future.
Guys, God's promise won't happen in a second, He can do it, but He choose to give us process for building our character so we're not far from Him.
If God give all things that we want instantly, we may be far from Him. Forgetting Him, just like that.
But, He doesn't want us to do that. So, He prefers giving us process to giving us everything instantly.
The process we are facing is not easy. The process is the problem we are facing right now and all you have to do is sowing.
Jesus says that what you sow is what you reap.

At the end of this post, the most important thing is the more you obey His words, the more the process will be paid off. And if the process is not easy, just remember that if we are in His hands, we can go through it all well.
We have to respect the others and also everything that we have.
So, are you ready to face your problem bravely? :)

Faith, Love, and Hope.

Deuteronomy 32: 11&12

¹¹ As an eagle stirs up its nest,
   and hovers over its young;
as it spreads its wings, takes them up,
   and bears them aloft on its pinions,
¹² the Lord alone guided him;
   no foreign god was with him.

Jesus is a God who is willing to guide us. He will never let His chilrdren walking alone without His guidance for The Lord will lead you forever. He wants to guide us directly. God's guidance could broke our comfort zone like an eagle broke its nest. For your information,

"Eagles search for high cliffs, the tallest trees to tall towers. After getting a place that is comfortable, the first time the eagles will gather twigs and sharp objects of any sharp or pointed that does not seem suitable for a cozy nest of young birds. Having a keen bird nest that was so sturdy enough to live in, then the eagles will gather twigs and dried leaves soft put it on prickly nest, so the nest does not feel sharp again to live. Then become quite comfortable nest for the eagles mate.
When an eagle is about to spawn, it decorates its nest to be comfortable. Eagles will take fluffy and thick hairy skin of its prey animals to be placed above the nest. And lastly, the eagles would pluck their feathers smooth and put it in the topmost layer in the nest, resulting in a nest which is very soft, gentle and warm so that their eggs can be incubated with very good condition. When it was time the bird eggs hatch, the mother diligently nurturing and feeding her children.
However, the children of this eagle is not destined to stay in the comfortable nest. After the mother saw that her children were grown, then it also means it's time for the children to leave the cozy nest. To make the children out of the cozy nest that the eagle shoving her out of the nest so he would learn to fly. But usually the children of the eagle refused to leave the nest, because they are more comfortable in the nest. Thus, with strong claws, eagle's started pulling and tear apart the top layer of the nest and start throwing fluff the nest. Then the eagle also started pulling dead leaves and throw it so that it only lags hive twigs sharp and crisp woods alone. The shape is still the same as the bird's nest, but the situation is very different, very uncomfortable to live. This situation eventually make the children uncomfortable in the nest any longer, so they go anywhere else to keep comfortable.
When the childer learn to fly, with no feeling, the parent will overturn the nest.
No half-hearted, small eagle that will be left free fall thousands of feet to the sharp rocks underneath.
In its panic, it will strive for the eagle flapping its wings. At the last second before it pierced the sharp stones, its parent eagle swiftly grabbed and dropped its child back. It is performed repeatedly until it becomes strong enough and eventually be able to fly alone."

So does God. He does the same things to us.  When we almost fall to the ground, He catches and carries us. For there is a quote that says : "Being a Christian doesn't mean you won't fall. It means Jesus will catch you when you do."

The battle field is the problem that we are facing now.

Why the eagles drop its own kids? Because it wants its children find their self identity and again, God does the same things as well. If we have already found our identity, we are safe now.
So the question is, what is our identity?
The answer is quite simple, but it means a lot.
"We are His children. We are filled by His power. And we have victory in our hands!"
God has given us potential to have an ability to conquer the dark (it's not only preachers and pastors who can do it)

And finally, let's learn from eagles. Their ways to face problems. They fly up high to the heavens.

P.S: Rely on Jesus, our God. Do not rely on other gods.

Have you already be thankful?

Thankful is such a common word. It is said by so many people. It is written in so many quotes. One of my favorite quote which is about being thankful is
'God has given you gift of 86.400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thankyou?' Well, what about yours? Is this also your favorite one?