Joie de Vivre A Wretched Man’s Quest To Follow Jesus Christ

I have come across many Christians, though strong in their faith and their obedience to the LORD, are not keen on reading or watching the daily news with regards to events happening in the world today.

It’s important to be joyful and fill one’s heart with the fullness of the LORD and fellowship and prayer and even to go out to the streets to evangelize, but do you know also that we are the Watchmen? And without knowledge of what is happening in the world, especially in the Middle East, we cannot be effective watchmen!

Do you know what Iran is doing? Can you put down in point form what Condoleeza Rice is proposing in the Middle East with regards to our beloved Israel and the “Palestinians”? On which day did Israel become a nation again?

Why do you need to know what’s happening in the world today? Because we are living in the most exciting phase of human history! And as Watchmen, we need to warn the world of what is to come.

The fig tree has put forth leaves and our Lord Jesus Christ has said that when we see that happening, then shall we know that summer is nigh.

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

– Matthew 24:32-34 (KJV)

What fig tree, you ask?

Israel is that fig tree! And the fig tree has put forth leaves on May 14, 1948, my brothers and sisters! Therefore discern that summer is nigh!

Now I don’t believe in the pre-Tribulation rapture nor in any rapture for the Bible does not tell us of such an event, and this theory of a pre-Tribulation rapture only came about about 100 years or so ago.

So therefore it is my belief that the days when there shall come a great tribulation and persecution shall come unto us who are alive in time to come. And here’s the other thing, my brothers and sisters — our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated that the generation that sees the fig tree sprouting leaves shall not pass away till all things are fulfilled.

Biblical scholars put a generation as defined by God’s Word as between 40 - 100 years, with most putting it at about 70 years. Remember that Israel became a nation again in a single day on May 14, 1948.

Make no mistake, for summer is nigh, and the coming of our Lord is at hand. And you know what is most exciting for me personally? The fact that I am blessed to be able to see all that God promised come to pass, God willing.

Count it blessings that we have been given the discernment and wisdom to know and recognize what shall soon come to pass. The world looks upon and reads about a miracle each day and yet does not believe that God is the one who has made true His promise to gather His people and bring them home to Israel.

It’s time to stop playing church and fool ourselves. The call to action is there — work on your salvation with trembling and fear, set your heart right with God, gird yourself with the armor of God and pray earnestly that you shall stand firm in your faith when the trials and tribulations come.

I leave you with this warning from our Lord Jesus Christ to watch and be diligent.

Matthew 24:42 (KJV) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:43 (KJV) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Matthew 24:44 (KJV) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 24:45 (KJV) Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matthew 24:46 (KJV) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Matthew 24:47 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Matthew 24:48 (KJV) But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

Matthew 24:49 (KJV) And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

Matthew 24:50 (KJV) The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

Matthew 24:51 (KJV) And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Shalom Aleichem.

Picture of Fig Tree by florriebassingbourn.