Patient Endurance

Be ready for the Lord to show up today. Also, be ready to wait for years for his return. It is a trap to not be looking for the Lord today, we have been commanded to be ready for him whenever he shows up. It's also a trap to be so worked up by the events around us, that we grow weary of waiting. What happens when people get so excited about the Lord's imminent return that a week or a month from now, they say "bah! The Lord delays his return," and they turn themselves to other things besides being fully prepared, ready and waiting?

I believe the Lord has shown me with more than a few examples, how he has thwarted a number of attempts by the enemy to establish his satanic "paradise"/new world order/age of atlantis, etc etc here on earth. There's no question satan wants it, and he wants it now, but the Lord has a time in mind for when things will happen. Our God's time will not be hurried, even by a second, by the world's and the enemy's impatience.

Our task today is to be found "in Christ." We must find everyway, and anyway to maintain our readiness. I have no doubt that our Lord can come back for us, even as I write this. Then again, he can drag the holding pattern out for years. What is the Spirit saying to the churches today? Patience. Be patient. Don't read anything into that because the Lord could show up today. The word tells us that we are soldiers:

2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

(by the way, notice in the above statement that Paul did not tell them to commit his words to "pastors" he just said "commit thou to faithful men" who can teach others. Another deathblow to the idolatrous pastoral system....)

We are soldiers of Jesus Christ. Soldiers train for war every day, they train so they will be ready at a moments notice should they be called. Soldiers (in the past) have trained for a lifetime and never gone to war..ever. As soldiers of Jesus Christ we must adopt the soldiers mentality to be ready to be called up today, but also be ready to train again tomorrow.

The picture I have in my mind right now is of a storm breaking in the middle, the clouds clear a bit, the sun even comes out a little, but storm clouds are still visible in every direction. The foolish will take the break in the clouds and moments of sun to conclude that "good times are just ahead." The soldier will conclude that a momentary break in the weather is a good time to walk the perimeter, check the defenses, improve the fortifications, etc.

Take nothing for granted. Today might be our last day on earth. Do not make the mistake of thinking tomorrow will be like today. We have no idea how radically different tomorrow might be from today. Seize the moment, do what good you can today because the days are evil and only our God knows how many more days each of us has.

Focus your attention on the fundamentals of the faith. Read the word of God, it is your food. Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Pray, and when you have prayed, BELIEVE that you have received what you ask for in prayer.

Today is a strange day, I do not sense moving forward or backward, we are holding. So stand firm then, with the armor of God on you and the sword of the Spirit in your hand. Be faithful, pray for all the brothers. An escape from all is coming, pray that you and I and all the brothers will be counted worthy of it. We are dearly loved, grace and peace.