Back when I was in Middle School, I was into weather, and if you would have asked me, I probably would have said I wanted to be a Meteorologist. I even remember doing a Science Fair project on how a Cold Front works. Maybe it was because I lived in Iowa, but I was fascinated about storms, how they develop and sat up late watching TV as severe storms moved through the area. I even remember watching approaching thunderheads changing by the minute in the evening sun, and feeling in awe. Though that was decades ago, I am still intrigued by weather and how storms develop on any given day. This past month, I even sat through another storm spotter training class, which is pretty similar every year and is summarized here, but always has some new discussion and videos. One thing they always discuss is what to watch for and what to report when you observe severe weather. Even though you may have observed hundreds of storms, there is always likely something new you haven’t seen before, but things are usually somewhat predictable, which is why they can often now warn of likely severe weather days in advance. Do you ever change your plans when you hear that severe storms are approaching?
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Though we may be aware of changes in the weather from day to day, are we also as aware of changes in our spirit, or changes in the spiritual condition of the world around us? If you are a theology of history buff, there are books and articles on how Christianity has been changing over the centuries and decades. People have been warning that we are in the End Times for over two thousand years, and depending on how you define it, they may have been right. If we really observe the world we are in, it is easy to find trends, problems, bad people, and issues that are concerning to us. We can find these things on a daily basis when we look in the right places. Should this instill fear or despair in us? Hopefully not, but it can be discouraging if we have not hope. Our hope should not be in the condition of the world we are in, but hope in the One who has transcended this world and allows us to do the same.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9
So, we may not know exactly when the Lord will return and bring about what He says will come about, but we can be ready for it. Its like knowing a friend or relative is coming to visit soon, not knowing exactly when, but being ready at any moment for the arrival. Most of us don’t live this way, as if we knew we had only a few days to prepare, we would probably be scrambling to get our house in order. But really, we should all be living as if it may be our last day on earth, because it may be. We should be the last to be living in fear, but we should be living with a sober reality that we are on borrowed time, and to make the most of it, today. May you do what you need to do, say what you need to say, each day, as if it was your last day. As you watch each day move along, may you find joy in being an active part of it, whether it rains or shines, and whether it is your last or not.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Yours in Christ,
Clark
