Step carefully my friends!

Walking in the Lord's will for your life is like walking on a tightrope in these last days. Every step is crucial, especially the little things that you deem as insignificant. Do not shrug those off. You cannot afford to if you want to stay on target through the finish line. I am not talking only about being a Christian, this has more emphasis on doing his work. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 
Romans 12:1-2

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalms 37:23

Wake up and quit hitting the snooze!

Don't judge me. I am a lifelong professional at hitting the snooze button. There have been a few times where I pressed the snooze button on those nine-minute intervals for several hours. I’m not exaggerating. It’s never a good sleep when you are doing that. I know I’m better off with setting my alarm for the absolute time to wake up, but I still don’t do that. What a terrible invention that was. Shame on GE for introducing the idea in the 1950’s!

I want to share with you about the spiritual snooze button in my life. Yes, my natural life mimicked my spiritual life for sure when it came to feeling like I needed more sleep.

I have been a Christian for thirty-one years now. I have never let go of Christ in my heart, but my Christian walk has paralleled a rollercoaster for much of the time. When I was first converted at the age of seventeen, I immediately became a Jesus zealot. That lasted a few years through my early twenties with Bible College and serving in the church, then came life. I put Jesus on the back burner when I was trying to navigate my own way through the world. I wish I could say that I was a model Christian growing in grace and faith every year, but that was not the case.

So with Jesus on the back burner, and my own plans and desires at the forefront, my life was spent stumbling in the dark for the most part. I went to church, read Christian books, and even worked at a church for a few years. But reality says I was spiritually asleep most of the time. That pattern continued for much too long until I came to the end of myself.

This past July 2017, I was spiritually shaken awake during a season of partying and not living right. One night when I had a moment of solitude, I felt like someone was shaking me saying  “Wake up Craig! Don’t you know what time it is?” It was a supernatural experience. The scales lifted off my eyes that night as I had a real encounter with the Holy Spirit. I responded with true repentance and gratitude. This happened in a Walmart parking lot. I proceeded to go on my late night shopping venture anyhow. Picture me walking through a Walmart at midnight with tears flowing down my eyes as I was saying “Thank you God for waking me up.” I probably looked like a crazy person, but then again it was midnight at Walmart, anything is acceptable.

Ever since that night, my life has been perfect. Not at all! I found myself struggling with sin and self gratification within days of that awakening on July 16, 2017. (BTW – whoever was praying for me on that night, I could never thank you enough!) 

So, from July 2017 until January this year, it was a roller coaster ride again, but not the colossal roller coaster this time. I went to church weekly, but throughout the week I would find myself partying some nights. Other nights I would stay home and read the Bible. Sunday through Tuesday were usually good days, but as the weekend approached I would fall back to old behavior. It was as if I would hear the alarm on Sunday and be awake for a little bit and then go back to sleep. Total snooze button pattern. Thank God I fully woke up in January. I am fully awake now! It feels great!

Have you ever accidentally turned off the snooze button and overslept to result in being late for work or missing an appointment? That is a bad day! The sleep was not worth the consequence. Do you know that could happen to you spiritually? “Okay God, I know I need to get my act together, and I will do that when…” and back to sleep you go. What if there was not another alarm? Snoozing is dangerous!

The following account of Jesus and his three best men during his darkest hour is a literal story, but I think it speaks to us figuratively as believers in this last hour.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then everyone deserted him and fled. Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.

Mark 14:32-50

Three times in those few hours, Jesus kept coming back to them to find them asleep. They woke up each time, but then they went right back to sleep. That is crazy to think about. Jesus the Son of God in the flesh was there with his top three disciples during his darkest hour and none of them could stay awake. When they finally woke up because of the commotion, they still didn’t understand what was going on. I believe if they had stayed awake with Jesus, Peter would not have cut off that guy’s ear. Now that is a crazy thing to do. He almost killed someone because he didn’t comprehend what was taking place.

God’s word warns us in several places about the danger of being asleep. The following verses are written and directed towards Christians, the church, not the world of unbelievers. This is serious! Read these passages and do what it says. Don’t take the gamble of hitting the snooze button one more time. There might not be one more time. Wake up!

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light and find out what pleases the Lord. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:8-17

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:11-14

I am fully aware that January was only a few months ago. Like, who am I to be telling my brothers and sisters to wake up? I can only say this to you because I am fully awake now. It took me six months through the snooze cycle to get to that point. I will explain the process in another post. But, I can tell you that my awakening should not have taken that long! It is what it is though. Thank God I did not turn off the alarm and slip back into slumber! Thank God!

All-time top five best slices of time to live in

I love watching the 400 meter relay race in the Olympics. The one where they pass the baton at each round of the track. If I had to pick which lap I would run in, it would definitely be the final lap. It's make it or break it time. Who wouldn't want to be that runner?

When you think of all the time slots or dispensations where we could have been born, which era would you have preferred to live in? What are my options you ask?

Let's look at it like this - Consider a top five list of the most desirable time slots to be alive on the earth. Now, we are going to exclude anything that is prehuman creation as shown in Genesis 1. We are just talking about the past six thousand years as recorded in the Bible. We will also throw the next millennium into the discussion. This list is my own order of preference. We're not going that deep to the point where we need to bring in actual surveys. I am just trying to make a point.

Here are my top five:
5) The time of the acts of the apostles after Jesus ascension. That would have been a pretty cool time to live in helping start the roots of the church.

4) The turn of the twentieth century and the spark of the industrial revolution.

3) The time of the formation of the United States 1776

2) The time of Jesus ministry on the earth.

1) The time we live in right now.
There is only one sliver of time where a remnant of people will not experience death. That is us right now! Our bodies will be changed because we are alive on the earth at the time of his appearing. Not to mention all of the comforts and conveniences that we get to experience in this time because of technology and knowledge being increased.

I think a majority of people really don't realize how privileged we are, that God would place us in this time slot! We are the ones that get to do the greater works! We are the ones who get to see his signs and wonders. We are the ones who get to play a part in this last bout of the spiritual battle for the souls of men. What a privilege! Gear up my friends! Gear up!

Here are some scriptures that let us know how privileged we are:

'These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. '
Hebrews 11:39-40; 12:1-2

'Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ' 
1 Peter 1:10-23
 
' Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” ' 
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 

Three things every believer must have in the final hour of these last days – Essential

1) A Redlist

We are told to pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done in the earth as it is in heaven. I don’t believe Jesus was expecting us to pray some generic chant as a result of his teaching on prayer in the sermon on the mount. Each of you has a circle of influence in this earth. We should be praying more specifically for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done within our individual range of vision. Sure it’s good to pray for the world as a whole, and the leaders of nations, etc. Scripture instructs us to do so. The very same passage of scripture regarding prayer says that God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

You should have a prayer list of people that you pray for daily. I am talking about people in the world that do not know Jesus. Also on my list are those believers who are living in the dark. My prayer is that God would open their eyes and shake them awake.

Over the last thirty years in my Christian walk, I have met many people who do not know Jesus or have not embraced his way to salvation. My current list includes a lot of people I know both presently and throughout the past thirty years. My prayer for them is this: God, give them more time. Protect their lives until they’ve had the opportunity to see and accept or reject Jesus. Draw them to you with your Holy Spirit and convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Send laborers across their path. If there is anything I can do or say, please let me know. Heal them and soften their hearts.

Always have an ongoing list. Add to it the new people that you meet. Pray for them daily. As people convert and grow strong, then you can place them on another list for different prayers that are more targeted to the needs of the Christian. But always maintain this prayer list for the lost people that you know.

I call my list of lost friends my 'redlist'. This means the condition of their souls is a high priority to me. It gives me a sense of urgency and helps me to think of the gravity of the situation, if they were to slip off into eternity without experiencing God's free salvation.

2) A Winch with a Big Hook

Speaking from my personal experience, I find it impossible to live this life of faith and pleasing God without having your mind, imagination, and heart fully wrapped around the truths concerning the rapture, immortality, the redemption of our bodies, the upcoming big feast and awards ceremony in Heaven, our place in the next millennium, and the urgency of responsibility in this current hour. It is imperative that you understand these things and believe in their reality. If you do that, your problems with sin and the struggle of the flesh will vanish. I am speaking this from my own experience. Either these things are real, or we are crazy. If they are real then you should live as such.

We should crave enlightenment instead of just trying to get victory over our fleshly impulses. This is the only way to be purified, made holy, and become more like Jesus. He said if you continue in my word then you will be my disciples. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Here are some scriptures that display how our behavior changes as a result of enlightenment:
 
'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. '
1 John 3:1-3

'All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. '
Hebrews 11:13-16

Do you want your Christian walk to be easier? Do you want to breakthrough the constant struggle to control your flesh? It is a simple process if you do this – Get a solid understanding and vision of what Heaven is like. Get a clear picture of what will happen in the new millennium and make this a reality to you. You should understand fully about the glorified body which we are about to receive.

We are told to comfort one another with these words.
'Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.'
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Here we are told to SET our hearts and minds on heavenly things.
'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. '
Colossians 3:1-4

Jesus told us exactly how to do Colossians 3:1-2. He said where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. You need to have your treasure in Heaven, literally. There is going to be an awards ceremony that you don’t want to miss. How cool will it be to get rewarded for multiple things on that day? Good times ahead!

These things need to be real to you. Just as real as the next vacation you are planning. Actually these things should be more important than your next vacation. The door is hinging open. Can’t you see it? That is where we are at in time. A new age is about to begin, but this one has to close first.

'For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Did you catch that? FIX our eyes – this is an action. This is something we intentionally do. Quit waiting for something to happen or change. Don’t wait any longer. 

I hear some saying, “Yeah brother, but you have to live a normal life and not be so spiritual and heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.” I disagree.

We have multiple passages of scripture telling us precisely what our minds should be fixed on and how we are to think. Your struggle is in trying to serve two masters, and we know that is impossible. This is not fairy tale stuff, and it is not something you should feel shamed for believing or announcing. These are events that are about to happen in our very near future. Emphasis on very near.

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. '

Hebrews 12:1-3

 
So the winch is planted and immovable. The winch represents our treasure, rewards, and mansion in heaven. On a winch, the hook and the line are fastened to pull the object desired until it reaches the base of the motorized winch. Your heart is the object in this illustration. Hook your heart to the heavenly things awaiting, and these shall pull you closer to him with everyday approaching.

3) An Open View of the Shot Clock

You have to know what time it is! In basketball, once the ball travels onto the other teams side of the court, the shot clock begins a countdown of seconds. Much like that, I believe we have crossed a line to where the shot clock of this present age has begun to tick. I would even say that we are in the last few seconds of this age. Let us make one final huge clutch-moment shot and bring a bunch of people with us as we cross the finish line.

You have to know the hour and the urgency of the times in order for you to be fruitful in these last days. Anyone who is not aware of this will experience regret when they say “Oh why didn’t I see it? Why did I just go about life as if it was the time to maintain and settle here?” You don’t want to be saying that in the near future. I think of Schindler’s list – go watch the movie.

If I have such an awareness of the hour in which we live, shouldn’t that be enough to motivate a change in lull behavior and cause me to become active in the advancement of God’s will and plan on the earth? This is the real deal. We are living in this time right now! How exciting is that! Blessed are the eyes that see what we see!

'And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.'
Romans 13:11-14

Do the times we live in require a shift in the way we live our lives?

Do the times we live in require a shift in the way we live our lives? Should our Christian walk, our behavior, and our habits differ based on the times and seasons we live in?


All sorts of things get re-prioritized as the seasons change. This is true of natural seasons, as well as spiritual, moral, and cultural seasons of change. Wartime being one example of those seasons that cause things to be re-prioritized. When things are re-prioritized, behaviors change based on the urgency and the needs of each priority. When times are urgent and threats are real, our minds should function as a triage to govern our behavior. You can say the same thing of the positive events and times. If our rewards are real, and the time to inherit them is pending so close we can see it happening any day now, then should this not affect our behavior? Our habits?


The Bible instructs us with several things to do in the last times. If you are living out your life in the same manor you were living fifteen years ago, I say that you are missing the mark of God's calling and plan for you. You are drunk, and I'm not speaking literally. Scriptures also clearly warn us to be sober with special emphasis on the last days.


If we are in the final minutes of the last hour of the last days, how much more pertinent is it for us to heed this warning? 'But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.' 1Peter 4:7

Because we are being warned, that verse tells me that one of the biggest temptations or traps for us last days believers to fall in is that of being spiritually drowsy and unaware of the times. That is why we set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth.


Here are a few more scriptures that suggest our behavior and habits change as we draw closer to the end of this age and the Lord's soon appearing and rapture of the church.

The frequency in which we assemble together should be increased as we approach the final hour.

 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-15
 

Our money habits should change as priorities change.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. Or yourselves as in a day of feasting You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
James 5:1-9 

Our focus and priorities should change.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away.
Luke 21:25-28
 

We should be walking in the spirit and not in the flesh in these last times.

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:10-14