He said "How much longer can we afford for this to go on?"
Almost immediately after he spoke those words to me, I woke suddenly and kept asking God, what "this" does he mean? I really felt this was a warning of some sort, but I couldn't figure out what such a broad question was referring to.
For the last couple of days, I found myself reflecting on so many issues going on around me in my personal life, my church life, my neighborhood, and the craziness going on all around the world. The question could apply to any or all of those areas.
Today, I spent some time catching up on news articles and blogs I follow and article after article left me thinking to myself that very question, "How much longer can we afford for this to go on?"
I wouldn't even have time or space to list everything in this post that I am seeing go on all around me and the detrimental consequences if there is not a sudden turn from the direction things are going. The biggest catastrophe that has my attention is the volcano of oil gushing into the waters very close to my home in the millions of gallons on a daily basis while everyone in charge points fingers and downplays the disaster. We are in trouble if something doesn't stop that gush soon! It's a matter of time before that oil finds its way into currents all over the world. The oxygen levels are dropping and that means death to sea life.
Strange and violent storms, floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes are halting normal life on an almost daily basis around the world. The intensity and frequency of these things are noticeably on the rise. Most years I do not get concerned with the approach of hurricane season as I've learned that it's mostly media hype that causes people to freak out unnecessarily. But I've got to say this year, I'm not scared, but I'm keeping a sober watch. I've got a feeling this year will be one to watch. I make no dire predictions and don't predict disaster by any means. Just thinking it might be a good year to be more prepared than I usually am.
I don't say all this to bring gloom and doom. Quite the contrary. These are the very signs Jesus told us we would see. Unfortunately, most of the world is still asleep at the wheel. They're busy explaining away each new disaster but not recognizing they are warning signs from a God of grace and compassion that is simply trying to bring repentance to the inhabitants of the earth before it's too late. Sorry, but every disaster in the world is not because of "global warming." And no, I don't believe that God is judging the world by bringing these things. This is the result of man's sinful condition and arrogant abuse on a world that can only take so much before it groans and shakes in expectation for God - its Maker -- to restore it to proper order.
If you think things are getting bad now, these are only warnings. The real judgment is yet to come! That's why now is the time for repentance so that grace may still be found.
I wondered about the specific words chosen in that question posed to me in my dream. "How much longer can we afford for this to go on?" I searched for the definition of "afford" and found this: to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse affect.
How much longer can the people of this earth afford for these warnings to go on before they finally repent? How much longer can the earth groan as if in labor before heaven must intervene and begin the clock to final judgment? My feeling is not much longer.
I feel the heaviness of the Father's heart as He looks over the earth and how its condition must grieve Him. I think we'd better wake up to the world as we now know it and prioritize first things first. We have chased after our own desires long enough. We can't afford to waste any more time playing games with eternity. Jesus said He was coming back and He most certainly will. It's just about time.
But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! ~ Romans 13:11-14 (The Message)
Amen
ReplyDelete