It's Time to Look Up!

2020 was a turbulent year and from the early signs, it appears that 2021 will continue that trend. There is an acceleration of darkness on many fronts, with persecution of Christians at an all-time high. In fact, more people are being killed or persecuted for their faith today than in the days of the Roman Empire. Ideological, and even armed, civil war is rising, as evidenced by the great division in America. Wheat and tares are growing to maturity just as Jesus predicted for the last days (see Matthew 13:24-29, 36-43).

This can all be very unsettling, even fearful, for believers. But Jesus gave some very wise advice to the church for a time such as this.

Luke 21:25-28 (NKJV): “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity… men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth …Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The world is entering the beginning of this time. The fullness is not yet here, but something has shifted this past year; evil has become more rampant, and the wicked emboldened. While the spiritual awakening many are praying for will help, there is no turning back from this point.

God will judge sin and in a recent vision, I saw Father on his throne holding the gavel of justice in his right hand. His hand and arm were raised at a forty-five-degree angle as if the lowering of the gavel of righteous judgment is imminent. He patiently waits and continues to offer mercy, as he wants all people to be saved. But his kindness will not wait forever.

While it’s all too easy when we see the world the way it is to LOOK DOWN in discouragement, Jesus’ advice to us when we see these disturbing things is to LOOK UP. Look up to heaven and know that he will return to rule the earth, and restore paradise. That is our great hope.

But to only look up in these troubled days would be grave irresponsibility. We must also LOOK OUT.

John 4: 35-36 (NLT): “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!”

To look up without looking out on the field of humanity that needs salvation is negligent.  We dare not keep to ourselves the good news of Jesus returning to rule a restored earth with all those who believe in him. You may not be an evangelist, but you can pray for the people in your circle who do not yet know Him to be saved, and as the Lord gives opportunity, show them acts of kindness and testify to them.

The story is told that the great Victorian philanthropist and evangelist George Mueller began praying for five of his friends to be saved. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Muller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Muller's funeral the last one was saved.

The point is that some people you pray for will come quickly to the Lord. Some may take a few years and others even decades. And some you may not see saved until after you get to heaven. But if you keep praying they will come. And the paradox is, the worse the world gets, the greater the harvest will be.

Acts 2:17, 19 – 21 (NLT): ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people…And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below - blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ “

So in these shaky days, keep looking up and be encouraged that the things we see happening now are signposts pointing to his coming. And ask the Lord to give you a great love and concern for lost family members and friends who need to know that there is hope and forgiveness of sins in Jesus our Messiah. In these days look up and look out, and whatever you do don’t look down.