RIVER OF LIFE MINISTRIES
Phone/FAX: (608) 221-8076
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THE ONLINE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Special Edition
Sunday,
How Soon The End?
Rev. Darrell D. Ramey
Copyright 2001
The Introduction
It is now the first Sunday of The
War. While Congress is yet to formally declare war, President Bush is
correct. We are at war; America has been attacked without provocation.
Last Sunday, no one could have guessed the horrific week that would
unfold shortly after daybreak on Tuesday, September 11. A day that will
never be forgotten. Some have likened it to December 7, 1941, the day
Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan -- an act that brought the United States
into World War II. President Roosevelt called that day "a day of
infamy." Indeed it was.
In the present "day of infamy," more than twice as many people have
been killed as were killed in Hawaii that Sunday morning. And, while
Pearl Harbor was a direct attack on the US Military, this week's assault was
directed not only at the military, but also at civilians in four large aircraft
and more at the World Trade Center.
Today, a massive investigation is underway as the FBI and others seek to
identify those cowardly degenerates who have wrought such havoc on this
"land of the free, and home of the brave." President Bush has
promised to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We must
earnestly, fervently pray for him and our leaders. As many people in the
military reserves are being summoned to action today, the nation is moving to a
war footing as our President prepares to lead the charge to eradicate this
scourge from the world scene. These vermin have not only brought horror
to our homeland, but they are an imminent threat to freedom, justice and honor
among civilized people universally.
The Scripture: Matthew 24:7-14 (KJV)
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,
in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:
and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another,
and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise,
and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations;
and then shall the end come.
The Message
Everywhere you go, the only talk is
about the massive assault on the sovereign and proud people of the United
States of America. Stories and pictures from outside the nation show a
world turned upside down. All peoples of the free world know that this
could, and may, happen to them. The animals that have perpetrated these
horrendous crimes are the living proof of what happens when hatred is carried
to its ultimate conclusion. They are zealots who hate freedom and peace.
They are not representative of true Islam. Though I do not support the religion
of Islam, it is, at the core, a religion of peace.
We must not allow ourselves to retaliate in any manner against Arab-Americans,
most of whom are as peaceful as anyone else. They, too, are horrified at
these events, and, are victims themselves. It is important, however, that
Islamic leaders in the Middle East and elsewhere cooperate with identifying
these thugs and giving assistance where needed to drive them from the face of
the earth. Those who prey on the innocent need to be exterminated.
In the days ahead, there will be much finger-pointing at who is really to blame
for the tragedies that have befallen us. How is it that such a thing
could happen here? How could the government have allowed it to happen?
Where is God? There will be endless questions and few answers.
The numbness and the grief will go on. We will try to return to a
normal life, but life will never be the same again.
Last Thursday, September 13, Rev. Jerry Falwell and Rev. Pat Robertson created
quite a controversy among some viewers of the popular Christian program, The
700 Club. The program, hosted by Rev. Pat Robertson, focused on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon atrocities. In a report from the Associated
Press, Robertson is quoted as saying, "God Almighty is lifting His
protection from us," in a four page statement issued following the
broadcast by his Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).
"We have imagined ourselves invulnerable and have been consumed by the
pursuit of health, wealth, material pleasures and sexuality," Robertson
said. Falwell, a Baptist minister and chancellor of Liberty University in
Lynchburg, Virginia, said that he blames the attacks on "pagans, abortionists,
feminists, homosexuals, the American Civil Liberties Union and the People for
the American Way." "All of them," Falwell said, " who
have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say, you
helped this happen."
On Friday, when asked for clarification following substantial public criticism
from the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, Falwell said the
"he didn't mean to blame any one group. But, I'd say this is a
wake-up call from God. I feel our spiritual defenses are down. If
we don't repent, then more events might happen in the future."
Robertson said, "We have insulted God at the highest level of our
government. Then, we say, 'Why does this happen?"' I believe
that Falwell and Robertson are right on target. In a nation so blessed by
Almighty God, why do we believe that we deserve divine protection when we have
turned our back on God and His Holy Word?
We are, my friends, living in the twilight of civilization. Man is busy
about the awful business of destroying himself. God has been kicked out
of our schools and much of society. He has been replaced by secular
humanism which holds evolution as its religion. The truth of the matter
is that man is not evolving, he is devolving.
The stages of man do not support evolution at all. Those, however, who
choose to be related to lower class animals do not listen to truth.
Abortion and pornography are the death knell for this society. They
share one thing in common. They place no value on man, the crown of God's
creation. Abortion is about killing babies, because there is no respect
for life. Pornography is about using God's creation in a debased and
valueless style. Both have the same Satanic root. They place
creation as their plaything, not God's creation. They want to have sex
without marriage. It's playing without paying. If a baby comes along,
just kill it. They argue foolishly about when life begins. When does life
begin? God says his life is in the seed:
But God giveth it
a body as it hath pleased him,
and to every seed his own body.
---I Corinthians 15:38 (KJV)
If you want a sexual thrill, turn to pornography with images that cheapen the
created human to a worthless piece of dirty merchandise. We have been
unwilling to stop the massive amount of pornography, so freely accessible
through the internet. We call it freedom of speech; God calls it the
pathway to death:
But every man is tempted,
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
---James 1:14-15 (KJV)
That death speaks not of physical death, it is the eternal
separation from God. It points to an eternity in a literal hell.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
---Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV)
In the name of tolerance, we have
become the children of disobedience. We have mocked God and have ignored
Him and His mandate for us all. Even Jesus would not be welcomed in most
of our churches in America. We have every reason to wonder and ask,
"How soon the end?"
I believe, rather firmly, that we are witnessing the beginning of the end.
The prophetic signs have long been fulfilled. There remains nothing
that would prevent the Second Coming of Our Lord. This nation, founded
with great blessing, no longer can consider itself to be a Christian land.
"How soon the end?" For many, too many, the end came last
Tuesday. There will be no more opportunity to seek the redemption of God
for those who have stepped out into eternity. There is no opportunity to
repent beyond the grave. What a person is at death, they are for
eternity. If you are a Christian at death, you are a Christian for
eternity. If you are lost, an infidel, at death, you will be an infidel
for eternity. For the Christian, heaven awaits. For the infidel, nothing
but a hell of darkness, loneliness, separation, and a fire that burns without
consuming.
"How soon the end?" Jesus is coming soon -- very soon!
But, in the midst of this mess, there is good news for you. For the
sinner, the lost person, the one without Jesus Christ as a personal savior,
there remains hope:
For God says, "Your cry came to me at a favorable time,
when the doors of welcome were wide open.
I helped you on a day when salvation was being offered."
Right now God is ready to welcome you.
Today he is ready to save you.
--II Corinthians
6:2 (LB)
For those who profess Jesus Christ as
Lord AND Savior, but are not ready this hour to meet the Lord, there is a
wonderful promise that applies to the individual and collectively to the
nation:
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves,
and pray,
and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.
--II Chronicles
7:14 (KJV)
I plead with you in this darkening
hour, surrender your life to Jesus today; life has no guarantees. Today
is your day; call on the name of the Lord, repent [turn from] your sins and
invite Him into your heart. The link below will allow you to listen to
the great, old hymn, Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home -- the words are
printed below and on that page. Today is your day, the choice is your
choice.
"If ye will
hear His voice, harden not your heart" -- Hebrews 4:7
Jesus
Is Tenderly Calling You Home
Words: Fanny Crosby (1883)
Music: George C. Stebbins (1883)
Jesus is tenderly calling you home
Calling today, calling today,
Why from the sunshine of love will you roam,
Farther and farther away?
Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.
Jesus is calling the weary to rest,
Calling today, calling today,
Bring Him your burden and you shall be blest;
He will not turn you away.
Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.
Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now,
Waiting today, waiting today,
Come with your sins, at His feet lowly bow;
Come, and no longer delay.
Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.
Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice,
Hear Him today, hear Him today,
They who believe on His Name shall rejoice;
Quickly arise and away.
Calling today, calling today,
Jesus is calling, is tenderly calling today.
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The Benediction
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
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