Locked In - Is Jesus Coming Back Soon?

 

The year 2020, the start of a new decade was one that many started with high hopes for. For some, it was the year in which they'd finally get their breakthroughs. For others, it was the year in which they'd been determined to make a much needed life change. Everybody had their expectations.

However, in different places around the world, the year didn't begin as well as people would have liked. In Australia, the wild scorching bushfires were still blazing, refusing to spare millions of acres of land and millions of wildlife. In the Philippines, the effects of the devastating floods wouldn't allow for a joyous celebration. In our very own, Rwanda, floods claimed lives, and destroyed the homes of many. Let's not forget those around the world who've been suffering for God knows how long, with no food, homes, healthcare, living in extreme poverty, or under a harsh political climate. Oh... Kobe and daughter, Gianna died too, affecting many who idolised him around the world.

As if that wasn't enough, in came #COVID19, taking the world by storm. We wasn't readyyy (Kevin Hart's voice). There was no cure, no vaccine. Only measures to keep ourselves safe and to stop it from spreading. It sadly claimed the lives of many, and infected even way more at an alarming rate. It SHUT THE WHOLE WORLD DOWN!!! A good number of people believed those are end times, although I don't get how toilet paper would save us. I believe we're living in the end times, but it's not the end yet. According to the Bible, things will be way worse than what was happening then , but what we witnessed was one of the signs of what's to come. We can be as prepared as we'll believe to be according to our own logic, wit, strength, smartness and what not, but the only way to really be prepared is to get right with God.

These times of uncertainty have done nothing but shown that He's in full control, no matter what. Yes, we can and will make it through, but only by God's grace and with His help. Nothing happens without Him allowing it, and He always has the perfect reason, even though many times we'll figure that out long after we've gone through it all. If anything, we should notice how all the idols/gods we look up to and rely on have been proven powerless; Money, Power, Education, Medicine, Religion, Entertainment, etc, can't exclude anyone from getting caught.

See, we can come up with all sorts of justifications and well-put arguments as to live life the way we want to, and ignore God and His commandments. And whether we choose to believe in Him and His word or not, each and every one of us will get what's coming; good or bad, life or death, heaven or hell. We won't justify walking away from God because the church was corrupt. We won't justify ignoring His Word because biblical teachings were taken out of context. We won't justify denying Him altogether because He didn't answer some of our prayers. God is no respecter of persons. God is God!

Throughout the Bible, events have been predicted and each one of them was fulfilled at some point in time. The prophets God used and their prophecies were mocked and laughed at. Those who mocked Noah had never seen rain before, but it was too late by the time they finally did. Those who spat on and killed Jesus didn't see that He was the son of God, until God darkened and shook the earth when He exhaled His last breath. Many are mocked today for saying, "Jesus is coming back soon." I'm sure by now you catch my drift so I'll just leave it at that.

Many of us are missing out on God in these times for various reasons which may be understandable but again, not justifiable. We always have an opportunity as long as we're still breathing, as long as we're still wrestling in our spirits, as long as we're still searching for answers, as long as we're still searching for purpose. We're on lockdown! God's locking us in because sometimes we have to be restrained to sit still, to give Him our attention, to give Him our hearts, to lean in close and listen.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear." (Matthew 11:15)