New Year Drawing Near-Shawn Smith

It's hard to believe it's actually 2013 now and once again I wonder just where does the time go? It's true what they say that as we age time flies and that's definitely the case for me. Or at least it sure feels that way. Whatever the case may be with the rise of technology here in America and around the world life in general is advancing for us all lately at an alarming rate. And in the process last year many assumed and falsely predicted once again that somehow 2012 was the year God would bring it all to an end. But obviously his plans never were and never are according to mans. Without a doubt however we are indeed quickly approaching the end of this age and his judgment will inevitably visit planet earth. Just look what God once spoke to the prophet Daniel long ago about life in our day, "BUT YOU DANIEL SHUT UP THE WORDS AND SEAL THE BOOK UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE (Daniel 12:4)." Today we're obviously experiencing a virtual explosion of medical and technological advances that one could only imagine a mere generation or so ago.

It's true we're living in the "last days" but many today stumble over the true meaning of the phrase. It's not to be taken literally but rather in the context of a general time-line, season, or generation. The apostle John referred to life in his day two-thousand years ago as the "last hour." Oviously he wasn't referring to a literal sixy minutes! No John was expressing the urgency of the hour he was living in. In fact from God's perspective and from his view a thousand years is only one day and one day is as a thousand years. That's because he sees life from an eternal perspective and not from a limited earthly one. And the truth is so should we. Seeing life from God's perspective and through his eyes will help us overcome in life against ever-increasing odds.

It never ceases to amaze me just how much misinformation there is on the subject today. But it doesn't surprise me. That's because it's just what God's holy apostles and prophets predicted would occur along with the Lord Jesus himself. And in all the confusion today I fear we're drifting farther from God instead of drawing near! I wonder lately if we still know his voice and can we still hear? It's easy of course to get distracted and stuck in the past tangled up in things that simply won't last. But here's what the apostle Paul writing from prison once said about the proper perspective and looking ahead, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In chains for preaching the gospel still Paul forged ahead keeping his eyes on an everlasting prize!

Recently on Facebook I posted a passage where Paul writing to Timothy describes how life will be at the end of this age. Someone apparently accessed my account however and deleted my post. In lieu of that I'd like to close with the same passage here where Paul had this to say about life in our day, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, COVETEOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD. TRAITORS, RECKLESS, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF FROM SUCH TURN AWAY (2 Timothy 3:1-5)." This sounds so much like the state of man today we'd have to be blind not to see it that way! Clearly we're nearing the end of this age and his return is at hand but will this be the year we truly draw near?

Run To You-The Ember Days

Free-Steven Curtis Chapman

Earthly Pain Heavenly Gain-Shawn Smith

November has certainly been intense with the latest developments in the Middle East and with our own election here in the United States. All the while Hurricane Sandy devastating thousands along the East Coast leaving scores without power and without homes. Many have nothing and have lost everything. And looming for us all now of course is a financial crisis of such magnitude that experts are predicting an economic collapse from which America and the world itself will never completely recover. In fact the Bible predicts we are headed for a cashless society soon one day where no one can ever buy or sell without taking the mark of the beast (See Revelation 13). And now it appears that we're not as far removed from this new global economic system as we once believed. And apparently there's nothing that you and I can do it's way too late and for sure now we're through. Or are we?

Often God takes the impossible situations in life and displays his awesome power for all to see. Other times he allows disaster or trajedy on earth to visit us for reasons simply unknown. Looking to the Old Testament we see the hand of God squarely on Daniel the prophet and his three Hebrew friends while living in Babylonian captivity. After bravely refusing to bow to an arrogant King the three men were eventually thrown into a fiery furnace. But instead or perishing God intervened delivering them in the midst of the flames for all to see. Not even one hair on their heads was singed! For us today at times in life for reasons we simply don't understand he often allows our trials to persist teaching us to trust him and not to resist. Without faith of course it's "impossible" to please him and he's a rewarder of those who "diligently" seek him (See Hebrews 11). God wants us to grow in grace and to never stop seeking his face. We must never give up and never give in but continue in life drawing closer to him! Knowing always our earthly pain will some day turn to heavenly gain.

You may recall what Jesus once said about life on earth in the last days. He asked that when the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth? Of course he knew the answer as always but was instead revealing an all important truth for you and I living today. He was referring to the depth of deception worldwide that will be so prevalent at the end that even the very "elect" would be deceived if that were possible (See Matthew 24). He also predicted that because of sin in the end the love of many would grow cold. Clearly we're seeing more of this attitude today as things continue to unfold. Although many will choose to look away still his predictions are fulfilling precisely today. It continues looking more and more today like things did back in Noah's day. And we all know sadly the end of the generation living back then.

Needless to say we're living in difficult days. But prophetically speaking things in this world will only get worse. The current crisis in the Middle East only serves to confirm once again the infallible truths of Bible prophecy! Look what the prophet Jeremiah once had to say what the future of Israel will soon hold one day, "AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT THE LORD SPOKE CONCERNING ISRAEL AND JUDAH. FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD WE HAVE HEARD A VOICE OF TREMBLING OF FEAR AND NOT OF PEACE. ASK NOW AND SEE WHETHER A MAN DOES TRAVAIL WITH CHILD? WHEREFORE DO I SEE EVERY MAN WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS LOINS, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL AND ALL FACES ARE TURNED TO PALE? ALAS! FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT. IT IS THE DAY OF JACOB'S TROUBLE BUT HE SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT (Jeremiah 30:4-7)." Wow and we think life is hard now! It's true life is painful and often unfair but if we look hard enough God's still right there.

You Lift Me Up-The Afters

Listen To The Sound-Building 429

Who Am I-Casting Crowns