“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
(Mark 13:17).
Disaster and emergency comes in a very unexpected time. Therefore we must prepare to meet our God. Jesus is teaching us that PREPARATION is needed. Here are some tips to be prepared:
I – GET ON THE ROCK (Jesus Christ) - “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.” (2 Samuel 22:2). Rock is a frequent symbolic metaphor of God as a place of security and rest. Rock – firm, strong, and unchanging. We must not build our lives on perishable pursuits, but on the solid foundation of God. Then even if everything we have is taken away, we still have GOD, who is all we really need anyway.
Illustration:
A sailor in a shipwreck was thrown upon a rock where he clung in a great danger until the tide went down. Later a friend asked him, “Jim, didn’t you shake with fear when you were hanging on that rock?” “Yes, BUT THE ROCK DIDN’T MOVE!” Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, foundation that will not changed.
II – STAY IN THE FLOCK (Church) - “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11).
“And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones.”( Numbers 32:16.). Note the word: “Sheepfolds.” An enclosure intended for the protection of sheep and also to keep them from wondering out and getting lost.
III – PUT KIDS ON DRY DOCK (Church School) - “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 ). The average child will, by age 65, have spent 9 years sitting in front of a TV set. But if he goes to Sunday School every Sunday, he will have spent only 4 months studying the Bible. Out of 8,000 delinquent children, only 42 attended Sunday School regularly. A man proudly said: “I go to church only 2 times in my life.” The first time, they sprinkle water on me the second time they sprinkle rice. A hearer added: “And the third time they sprinkle dirt.”: Parents, don’t send your children to church – BRING THEM!
IV – BUILD A ROADBLOCK (Against the Devil) - “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1Peter 5:8-9). Satan has launched an all-out war against our families. Satan has been infiltrating our homes, attacking the minds of our children, sowing seeds of violence, rebellion and sexual permissiveness. Problems of divorce, suicides, runaways, teenage pregnancies – this crisis is not just affecting isolated groups of people. It is worldwide and reaches into every segment of our society. Refuse to give Satan a foothold in your family. There are many Christian homes where the parents have left an opening for Satan to work because they no longer have the hunger for the church. Church going is a seasonal affair, the parents have become too busy. They no longer set aside time to pray and worship God together and intercede for their families. It's high time for us to RE-EVALUATE our PRIORITIES.
V – KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK (Watchfulness) - “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”.(Revelation 16:15). Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash you have – spend it wisely. Each moment is the meeting place of two eternities.
Here is a poem:
I – GET ON THE ROCK (Jesus Christ) - “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.” (2 Samuel 22:2). Rock is a frequent symbolic metaphor of God as a place of security and rest. Rock – firm, strong, and unchanging. We must not build our lives on perishable pursuits, but on the solid foundation of God. Then even if everything we have is taken away, we still have GOD, who is all we really need anyway.
Illustration:
A sailor in a shipwreck was thrown upon a rock where he clung in a great danger until the tide went down. Later a friend asked him, “Jim, didn’t you shake with fear when you were hanging on that rock?” “Yes, BUT THE ROCK DIDN’T MOVE!” Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, foundation that will not changed.
II – STAY IN THE FLOCK (Church) - “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11).
“And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones.”( Numbers 32:16.). Note the word: “Sheepfolds.” An enclosure intended for the protection of sheep and also to keep them from wondering out and getting lost.
III – PUT KIDS ON DRY DOCK (Church School) - “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 ). The average child will, by age 65, have spent 9 years sitting in front of a TV set. But if he goes to Sunday School every Sunday, he will have spent only 4 months studying the Bible. Out of 8,000 delinquent children, only 42 attended Sunday School regularly. A man proudly said: “I go to church only 2 times in my life.” The first time, they sprinkle water on me the second time they sprinkle rice. A hearer added: “And the third time they sprinkle dirt.”: Parents, don’t send your children to church – BRING THEM!
IV – BUILD A ROADBLOCK (Against the Devil) - “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1Peter 5:8-9). Satan has launched an all-out war against our families. Satan has been infiltrating our homes, attacking the minds of our children, sowing seeds of violence, rebellion and sexual permissiveness. Problems of divorce, suicides, runaways, teenage pregnancies – this crisis is not just affecting isolated groups of people. It is worldwide and reaches into every segment of our society. Refuse to give Satan a foothold in your family. There are many Christian homes where the parents have left an opening for Satan to work because they no longer have the hunger for the church. Church going is a seasonal affair, the parents have become too busy. They no longer set aside time to pray and worship God together and intercede for their families. It's high time for us to RE-EVALUATE our PRIORITIES.
V – KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK (Watchfulness) - “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”.(Revelation 16:15). Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash you have – spend it wisely. Each moment is the meeting place of two eternities.
Here is a poem:
If Christ Should Come Next Sunday
If Christ should come next Sunday, And it may be that He will,
Would the thing that I’ll be doing Set the Master’s heart a thrill?
If the Christ should come next Sunday, Would He find me loyal, true,
In my place with my influence Doing what He’d have me to do?
If the Christ should come next Sunday, Let’s suppose He came at ten,
Would He hear me answer “PRESENT”, In the class I should attend?
If Christ should come next Sunday, If He came just at eleven,
Would He find me in His service, Singing praises unto Heaven?
If Christ should come next Sunday, And it may be that He will,
Would the thing that I’ll be doing Set the Master’s heart a thrill?
If the Christ should come next Sunday, Would He find me loyal, true,
In my place with my influence Doing what He’d have me to do?
If the Christ should come next Sunday, Let’s suppose He came at ten,
Would He hear me answer “PRESENT”, In the class I should attend?
If Christ should come next Sunday, If He came just at eleven,
Would He find me in His service, Singing praises unto Heaven?
(Messages By: Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon)
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