The end of the world is coming. It’s not a mystery or a secret, it’s very obvious. Lately you might have heard people say things like, these are uncertain times or these are scary times, and it’s true these are perilous times that we are living in. It may be hard for some of us to understand the fact that these are the last days. This could be due to a lack of faith, the desire to remain in sin or simply because we may not be majorly affected by the signs (listed in the book of Matthew chapter 24) like pestilence, famine, war and earthquakes. However, these are not the only signs to be aware of.

2Timothy 3 : 1 – 5

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

In the second book of Timothy chapter three Paul describes the selfish, proud and ungodly spirits that will abound in the last days; He highlights the lack of warmth and love in the world which causes peril and danger which we all can see with the things happening all around us. As wickedness covers the earth in obscure darkness, it’s essential for us to let our lights shine. Others can be drawn to that light ,which is Christ, or burnt by it, like flies to a flame. Therefore, it’s clear, that the signs of the end times are not only physical but spiritual also, as evil spirits are glorified and satanism slowly becomes more and more popular. It’s clear that evil forces are at work in the spiritual realm. It seems strange that many people are completely oblivious to these things but, people are blinded by their own lust and desires, and the coming of christ is the least of their concerns.

This reminds me of the corruption and evil that the world was crawling with in the days of Noah. In the book of Matthew Jesus Christ affirms that the last days will be similar to the times Noah lived in.

Matthew 24 : 37 – 39

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

These few verses express a time in which people are living careless and idle lifestyles. It illustrates the common carnal mindset (at the time) that ‘The Lord is delaying his return and you only live once! ” Not surprisingly this is exactly what we see today, many people have no regard for the fact that Jesus will be returning soon, and solely care about self pleasure.This deficit of fear for the Most High is exactly what will place many people outside the ark (doors bolted) and too late.

Just like the flood took many people by surprise, so will the return of Christ, but those who are vigilant and sober will rejoice upon the coming of the Lord knowing they’ve done their best to prepare and heeded to the warnings and prophecies in the bible.

It’s completely imperative that we repent today! Right now! Perceive you reading this, as a warning to put away the sins you are nurturing and meddling with and leave them forever, because although the world will eventually end we never know when ours will. There is no guarantee that the Lord wouldn’t have our souls depart from this world, tonight OR NOW! Therefore, while there is breath in our lungs we must seize the opportunity to repent from our sins, or we could very well find ourselves on the outside of the ark.

Genesis 6 : 12 – 13

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Reading these verses may send shivers down your spine knowing that they are a mirror image of the world today. The world is corrupted and full of violence and abomination which are all displeasing to the Most High, however we mustn’t fear understanding that all kinds of sorrows must occur before Christs returns, before the kingdom comes.

So with all the signs of the times unfolding how are we as God’s people to act?

Matthew 5 : 16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Letting your light shine is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As he led by example so should we. Don’t marvel when people will be drawn to you to navigate through these dark times, not because you are a light but because you have the light of Christ which he willingly shared with us.

In these last days repentance is the key just like it has always been. As tribulation and turmoil increases in the earth it’s our personal responsibility to ensure that we don’t end up victims of the wrath of God, rather than receiving his protection and fortification, because we chose to remain and indulge in our sins.

Sirach 17:25-29

25 Return unto the Lord, and forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before his face, and offend less.26 Turn again to the most High, and turn away from iniquity: for he will lead thee out of darkness into the light of health, and hate thou abomination vehemently.

Our Lord and Savior was perfect and blameless, and as we strive for perfection it’s essential to take into account that change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice to make progress. With repentance we should pray, study and apply, doing our best to sin less each day. Although it takes time to make progress, we can’t take the space and time that the Most High has mercifully granted us ‘for granted’. “As his majesty is, so is his mercy”, his great mercy is not a tool for us to abuse and exploit, but rather take pleasure and rejoice in the fact that, on top of sending Christ to wash us clean in his precious blood, he gives us more than enough time and space to turn and forsake our sins.

2 Esdras 16:67

Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him: leave off from your sins, and forget your iniquities, to meddle no more with them forever: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble.

Repentance isn’t a temporary thing, we can’t resist a lust or temptation for a time and then return to it again! Once we have repented we must never go back to it so long as there’s breath in our lungs; when we keep going back and forth in resisting and relapsing we begin to meddle with our sins which displeases God and leaves no room for fruits of repentance.

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

If these fruits don’t grow on our branches we will be separated from the vine (Christ) and without him we are helpless.

John 15:1-5

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

From Christ we draw the nutrients to produce the fruits of the spirit; with these fruits on our trees we will constantly be in the spirit and a pleasure to the Most High and his Christ.However having produced fruit he will purge us and try us so that we can produce even more!

So, lastly, in these days of Noe we are to endure trials of tribulation and hardship as good soldiers until the very end.

God will refine us if we have come to serve him! And as we approach the time we should become closer and closer to him. If we endure, the kingdom of God awaits us , a crown of glory, eternal peace and extinguishing of all sorrows.

My brothers and Sisters hold fast until he comes.

BE ENCOURAGED!!

Revelation 2:25

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation 21:7

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

1Thessalonians 4:16-17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelations 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.