Saturday, November 1, 2014

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. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.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.
“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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 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

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 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
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

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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. 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.