Don’t Be Caught Unaware

“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.” (Luke 21:34)

We are now at the end of 2018 and as we look back in wonder at this year we realize that many things have happened. If you have not been paying attention you may think that the world is pretty much the same as it was a year ago and things are really going along as normal. What a mistake it is to think this way, as things have changed so much that our whole way of life is changing rapidly. The values that we used to hold dear are not observed and we are floundering in uncertainty and distress among nations. A few weeks ago, the minister in my church said in his sermon that we are living in a world that does not fit us anymore, as it is foreign to all we believe. We must all be awake and be observing the things that are going on in the world so that we do not get caught up in them and lose our way. “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.” (Ecc. 9:11-12) We must not be caught in this snare of evil that is encompassing the earth but be watchmen, be aware of what is happening in the world and on the earth.

At this time of year most Christians are celebrating the First Advent and the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We who are aware should also be looking for the Second Advent, the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who will save His people and judge the world. What a time we live in! I do believe many are awakening to the evil in the world and are starting to see that things are not as good as they want us to believe. We must pray that many people will realize that we have fallen away from the truths that we used to live by and now have been forsaken. Hopefully, many of them will call upon the Lord Jesus in repentance and seek His face, as they realize how far they have fallen.

In his song “Remember Me”, Christian singer Steve Camp expresses very much what this verse in Isaiah says, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” (Isa. 43:25-26) We must remember Lord Jesus and put our trust in Him. There is no one else that we can truly count on in this complicated and evil world that is trying to blot out the name of the Lord Jesus Christ from our thoughts. We must not let this happen. We must not be caught unawares as to what is happening and lose our way. Put your trust in a sure foundation! ”Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”(Psa. 20:6-8)

We are living in times of great upheaval and the foundations of our world are being destroyed but we must remain strong. We have to live in this fallen world, but we do not have to be partakers of its worldly ways. We are to be the watchmen and warn others as we see what is happening. We have a wonderful future ahead of us because we know we have a sure foundation in the Lord Jesus Christ and His promises to us, if we will only trust and obey. I find these words in Isaiah 43 very comforting and although I could not put the whole chapter here, as it is too long, here are verses 1-11, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”