May 21, 2011 - The 2nd Coming?

I just got out of a flu and today is the 1st day that i'm feeling better. I checked my facebook account and found disturbing news about today being the end of the world. I said to myself, "really? I just got well and at 6pm today, as what they say, the world is gonna end. I haven't even taken a bath yet and it's been 3 days already, i don't want to smell this bad when i meet my Saviour." But kidding aside, I can't help but wonder if there's any truth in this. I made some research and found out that this message originated from an 89 year old leader of the ministry Family radio worldwide, his name is Harold Camping and he already predicted the end of the world once before and was wrong. He initially predicted that the end of the world was last Sept. 6, 1994 and as you can see, the world is still intact until his next prediction. He said that there were some miscalculations on his initial results but they already got enough time to review and do further research. So this time, it's the real deal! So today, May 21, 2011 (Saturday) at 6PM, the world is gonna end!

I do not want to take this lightly because the end of the world is coming and it's coming soon. But to make assumptions based on calculations as to how or what methods used, i don't know...I think this is out of line. Jesus clearly said in Matthew 24:36-37, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Will the Lord reveal this day to a man? i don't have the answer to that. Will God choose a single person to warn everyone? I believe God has chosen each one of us to be a warning to the rest. God said in Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." The Lord has been reminding us of the 2nd coming and we are all aware of it, even the atheists have heard of it. And We, Christians, should be a constant reminder of it to the world. So what is the commotion all about?

I believe that when the Lord comes, we will know! We will be filled with that peace that passes all understanding and we will know that the day has come. Have you had that experience when you know that things are going to be fine no matter how bad the situation looks? Do you remember that feeling? That assurance within that things are gonna be okay. I believe that in the midst of any chaos or any battles, when He comes, wherever we are, we will be ready! I don't know but my imagination on that day is different from what i'm hearing in the news. I don't see any earthquakes or typhoons or fire coming down from heaven to destroy the world. I imagine myself doing my daily tasks and then, out of a sudden, i'll feel it. The silence will allow me to hear my heart beating faster, I do imagine myself freezing when it happens but that's because everything will stop at the sound of the trumpet and my body will shake. I will try to move with all my might to break free from whatever is holding me because the time is here and i am ready. Once i get free, I will leave everything and run as fast as I can to His direction. And there I will see my God, my Jesus, my Lord with arms open wide waiting for my embrace. It will be majestic! It will be beautiful, amazing, marvelous... i will run out of words to describe it but it will definitely be something memorable. This is the 2nd coming i imagine. After that comes the tribulation but that's another story.

The real question is, are you ready to meet Him when that time comes? Will you be able to break free when He arrives? Just like the 5 virgin brides who brought extra oil for His coming, will you be able to say that you're ready and will He finds you waiting when He comes back?

Last Sunday, i was introduced to a speaker. I got the link from FB (Facebook) and was invited to listen to him speak. His name is Rev. Paul Washer and oh boy, I was up for one surprising time of my life. He's a southern baptist preacher and his message is not typical. The 1st time i heard him speak about salvation, it struck me and i took the time to search and google for more. Then i realize as i researched more information about this person that I am doing it all wrong. Rev. Paul Washer was talking about salvation, specific to how we know that we are saved. Most people when ask this question would say that, they know because they believe. This seem to be a logical answer but Rev. Washer challenged that answer by asking a follow up question. "How do we know we believe?" When i first heard that question, i got interested. The Rev. definitely know how to catch the public's attention. Then he started elaborating by pointing out the difference between an unbeliever and a believer and surprisingly nowadays, there's none. More often than not, after we asked the Lord Jesus to be our Lord and Savior of our lives, we go on our daily routine as if nothing really happened. True enough, I've seen this thru the years of being a Christian. I've seen people asking God's help and making Him their Lord and Savior but the day after next, they go back to their own ways. It's funny because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Wherefore is any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new." So how do we become a new creature? Well it is a process, the Bible says in Philippians 1:6, "...being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ."

I am not a graduate of theology and i do not have any pastoral degree or something but clearly, i know for a fact that when we are sincere in asking Jesus to be our Lord and Savior of our lives, then our new life begins. We can never expect too much from ourselves by changing everything in an instant but clearly, living our old life is not what is expected from us. Our goal changes after that one moment of repentance. With every cry and words from our lips, comes defeat and surrender. Defeat from fighting against our God and completely surrendering to His will. Then this lead us all to acceptance which now clearly indicates the change. Because if we feel and believe before that we are our own god and master of our lives, this time, we gave that right up and gave Jesus what's rightfully His at the start, and that is to be our God and the master of our lives. I believe and i know that when this happens, God will start His marvelous works in us and change comes naturally.

There has been a debate on whether Rev. Paul Washer is legit or a false prophet? To some, he has come on too strong to them and there are articles pointing out accusations of him being blasphemous or twisting the Word of the Lord. But i ask myself, does it matter? I know that Rev. Paul's words have truth in it. I may not totally agree on how he conveys his message to the people but i cannot and will never deny the fact that there's truth in his words. All i know is that, once salvation is received, new life begins. If we claim to be a Christian and are living the same way we used to, then what has changed? Have we totally surrendered our lives to the Lord and gave HIM the full authority to manage our lives? If not, then it's about time! Talk to God right now and in your own words and free will, repent, admit defeat, surrender and accept. But more importantly, expect a new life with Him to begin!