Pastor Ricky
Kurth
…are closer than they appear.”
That’s the warning you see on the passenger-side mirror of your car. The
convexity of the mirror gives you a more panoramic rear view, but it also
makes the cars behind you look smaller, and further away than they
actually are. This can give the illusion that there is room to change
lanes, when the truth is that the driver in the adjacent lane may have to
hit the brakes if you do—and the horn!
This mirror warning always reminds
me of God’s words to Ezekiel:
“Son of man, behold, they of the
house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come,
and he prophesieth of the times that are far off” (Ezek. 12:27).
You’ll notice that the problem
wasn’t that God’s people doubted that Ezekiel’s prophecies would come true;
they just didn’t think they would come true for a long time. And
you know, God’s people today are no different. When we read Paul’s
predictions about the Rapture (I Thes. 4:13-18) and the Judgment Seat of
Christ that will follow (Rom. 14:10), we believe these things will happen,
but we tend to think they are a long way off. This can lead to complacency
in serving the Lord, just as it did in Ezekiel’s day. Thus we would do
well to read God’s response:
“Therefore say unto them, Thus
saith the Lord God; There shall none of My words be prolonged any more,
but the word which I have spoken shall be done…” (Ezek. 12:28).
While we cannot say that the Rapture
will be prolonged no longer, we can say with equal assurance that the word
which God has spoken to us shall be done. The panoramic view that
the mirror of God’s Word affords us (James 1:22-24) allows us to see
everything that is ahead of us, and these things are closer than
they appear! If you are not living for the Lord, “boast not thyself of to
morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). The
Rapture may come today, and you may find yourself standing before your
Lord and Judge this evening. Why not heed Paul’s admonition,
“…knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom.
13:11,12).
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
https://www.facebook.com/cecil.spivey
https://www.facebook.com/cecil.spivey
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