What do a beeping smoke alarm and the early morning hours have in common? Nothing good!!!
Why is it that smoke detectors always seem to wait until the wee hours to chirp or in this case beep intermittently? Trying to tell us it’s time to change the battery but it’s unsettling to say the least…
Isn’t that the way it is with “warning” devices? They interrupt the normal flow – they come with annoying sounds that set us on edge and that is their purpose. A warning has to be something loud or out of the ordinary so that we stop, look and listen!
The same is true in spiritual things. God gives warnings.
He sent Moses to the pharaoh; Noah preached to the world before the flood; Daniel’s dream foretold the fall of the Medo-Persian empire; Jesus came preaching salvation and the end of the age!
“Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him in private and asked, ‘When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?’
4 Jesus answered: Don’t let anyone fool you. 5 Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people. 6 You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end. 7 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. 8 But this is just the beginning of troubles.
9 You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. 10 Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people. 12 Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. 13 But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. 14 When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14 ERV
“The Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe. They will obey spirits that tell lies. And they will follow the teachings of demons. 2 Those teachings come through people who tell lies and trick others. These evil people cannot see what is right and what is wrong. It is like their conscience has been destroyed with a hot iron.” I Timothy 4:1-2 ERV
Things are happening all around us; things around the world and even in our own country and states are alarming. However, we have no need to fear or be in distress.
“Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid. Know that it is almost time for God to free you!” Luke 21:27-28 ERV
The good news is this. The warning signs are given so we won’t lose hope, so we won’t give up. The alarms are sounding. It’s time to look up, the day of His coming is soon!