I've got a thought provoking question for you ladies this morning...
Why should we not allow our hearts to be weighed down with the anxieties
of life? Is it simply because we could cause ourselves physical harm,
such as a heart attack or digestive problems? With the latest disturbances
going on all over the world, what should the response of Christians be
to the many signs of the end being near? Let's look at the advice Jesus
gives in regard to the many anxieties we could experience in our lifetime
before He returns...
Luke 21: 25-28 says, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and
for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the
powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin
to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption
draweth nigh."
We already know some things about our future because the Word of God gives
us a glimpse of it in many places, one of them being right here in Luke
chapter 21. However, His purpose in doing so is not so that we will become
filled with anxiety or to produce fear within us, but so that we won't
worry! The Son of God's predictions are true - but so are His promises,
and we would do well to learn of them and remember those that He has made
to His children, amen?
One of those promises to us is found here in the same chapter of Luke
in verse 18 which says, "But there shall not an hair of your head perish."
What a comfort those words are! What a comfort the Word of God always
is and will be... Verse 33 of Luke 21 says, "Heaven and earth shall pass
away: but my words shall not pass away." God's Word will always be there
for us - what a blessing! Are you finding comfort in His Word, dear lady?
What might bring terror to lost people should bring hope to those of us
who have trusted in the Lord. Our Savior is to be our focus, not the signs
of the times nor the shadow they may cast, amen?
If I were an artist, and I were going to paint a portrait using this particular
portion of Scripture as my guideline, this is what I would paint: With
the first stroke of my brush I would portray the condition of the world
shown to me by the words used in our text such as: distress, perplexity,
hearts failing for fear etc. With the second stroke of my brush I would
portray Christ shown to me by the words used: coming in a cloud with power
and great glory. (Hallelujah!) And with the third stroke of my brush I
would portray the Christians mentioned; you and I, with heads lifted and
looking up for our redemption that draweth nigh, as the verse says. But
I wonder ladies, is that the picture our Lord is seeing of us today??
Are His children's heads truly lifted and looking up, or are they hanging
down because our hearts are heavy with the anxieties of life?
Imagine the contrast between Christ's glorious coming with power and great
glory mixed in the same portrait with our heads hanging low, not even
noticing our Savior's glorious appearing! What a shame to miss witnessing
precisely what our hearts have been longing for!! Our danger is not in
the trouble around us, but rather lest the day of death and of judgment
should come upon us when we are not prepared! The Bible says when these
things BEGIN to pass we are to lift our heads and look up - if you wait
too long, you might be so weighed down you'll never care to do so... Then,
when we are called to meet our Lord, that will be the furthest from our
thoughts, which ought to be nearest our hearts! Certainly we can know
what is going on in the world, but the Lord would have us looking heavenward
and watching for Him, not caught full of care and unaware....
Vs. 34 says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts
be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life,
and so that day come upon you unawares."
Oh Christian, our hearts are so overcharged, are they not?? So many things
weigh us down and distract us and we are going to miss the greatest day
of our lives because of it! It may sound silly but I was reminded of fireworks
when I read this verse. I am a very patriotic person and I greatly enjoy
the fireworks on the fourth of July. One year when we lived near Washington,
D.C., we had the privilege of viewing the fireworks while standing at
the foot of the Washington Monument and it was fabulous! I can't imagine
having watched them the whole time through and then turning my head away
for a moment to take thought for something else only to end up missing
the grand finale, for it was breathtaking! So it is with the coming of
the Lord... Ladies, we should be making sure moment by moment that our
hearts are not burdened with anything, for in that very moment our Lord
could return! Cast your cares upon Him - unload your weights so you can
look up and be ready!!
1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
What is it the Bible says our hearts are overcharged with? An unfamiliar
word mentioned in this verse is "surfeiting". We don't hear that word
much, but we sure are guilty of it! Surfeiting is defined as oppressing
the system by excessive eating and drinking, loading or filling to disgust,
the act of feeding to excess; gluttony. How can we know that Christians
hearts are overcharged? You can SEE it! You may not like this truth, but
there are many overweight Christians walking around today, comforting
themselves with food. Many have overcome the drug habit and smoking habit
and even the drinking habit, but we have not conquered the eating habit!
We have simply traded habits and deal with our cares through overeating
instead of casting them all upon the Lord! Our hearts are overcharged
and so are our bodies, Christian! We are either eating, drinking and making
merry or simply sitting around in depression wondering how to lose all
the excess weight, but how many of God's people are looking up and have
lifted heads, ready and watching for their redemption?? Stop being so
easily distracted - get your face out of your cup and plate for it draweth
nigh, amen?! Instead of all that "picnicking", how about some fasting
and praying for a change?? How about seriously preparing yourself for
the coming of the Lord... Don't be among the majority who will be caught
"full of care and unaware"- with failing hearts, take heed to yourselves
as the Bible commands!!
2 Timothy 4:8 says, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not
to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE his appearing."
Will that be you, dear lady? Will you love Christ's appearing, or dread
it for shame? That which you love you will enthusiastically prepare for...
What things do you need to get rid of in order to lighten the load of
your heart, your mind, your body? Are you going to the cupboard or the
throne of grace with your cares?? As the Lord looks down from heaven today,
does He see only the top of your head or your face tilted heavenward?
It's time you thought about it!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
