Gods Perfect Path

    
    You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:6-8 (NKJV)
    
    I remember riding my bike home from Westminster High School when I was 14 years old. The school was about 6-miles from our house, and the journey took me through some rough neighborhoods as gang activity was prevalent. I remember that it was a little nerve wrecking knowing that I had to forge ahead to make it back home, even when my path looked to be tough going. 
    
    Here I am some 34-years later, and looking back on it, I can clearly see that God had His hand on me every step of the way. Its like I have made it through the obstacle course of life, and I am still in the competition. I would imagine that each person reading this can relate to this feeling to a certain extent; maybe youve collected a few scrapes, scratches, bruises, broken bones or even a couple scars, but your still here.
    
    God allowed ALL of our past experiences to prepare us for our future. We are living in the last days before Christs return to gather up His church. This shouldnt freak anyone out, unless youre not ready to see Jesus face-to-face.
    
    I want you to think about something before we go any further here: You have been chosen by The God of all creation, to be here during these times. He could have just as easily created you and put you in the middle of a farm back in the early 1900s, but He didnt. He chose this time, and this place, to have you here at the cusp of ushering in the final harvest of people to the Kingdom of God.
    
    As we head into a new chapter this day, we see a world in the midst of chaos. We see Russia starting to flex its need for power again. We see an angry Iran in the middle of creating nuclear capabilities, and we see Israel getting very nervous, as Iran has stated its intention to destroy Israel. We see numerous devastating earthquakes and famine killing millions of lives yearly. 
    
    So what does this mean?
    
    According to Jesus, this would be the setting in the end, as it would be the beginning of birthing pains.
    
    He goes on in Matthew 24:10 to tell us that many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and in verse 12, He tells that because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most would grow cold.
    
    As I was looking at some feedback online about proposition 8 passing, which makes same sex marriage illegal in the state of California; I saw hundreds of comments, mostly from younger people who were angered. They talked of love, but they spewed anger and hate as they pinpointed the blame of this passing on the Christian community. 
    
    I viewed one persons blog, who stated that they hated the Christian hypocrites for doing this. They then went on to state that they were Christian too, and that they knew of the teachings in the Bible about homosexuality being wrong according to God, but then they went on to say that was just the Bible, and it wasnt really what God said. 
    
    I realized that the bible prophesized that this would happen in the last days.
    
    For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2Timothy 4:3 (NKJV)
    
    We need to be wise to the enemys scheme to indoctrinate us with the lies that he spreads through the deteriorating ways of our society. We need to open our eyes and challenge the things that are culturally okay these days, and align them with Gods Word.
    
    He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9 (NKJV)
    
    Heres my point on this: We are walking into a time and on a path that is crazy. We are the people who God has chosen to use during this time. And just as it was when I was riding my bicycle through the dangers of the alleyways in my youth, God will guide our paths. He knows exactly what we need to do and say, and to whom were to say it to, as well as when. We just have to be willing to allow Him to do it through us. 
    
    God loved us so much while we were yet sinners, shouldnt we do the same with others?
    
    STUDY QUESTION: What does 2 Timothy 4:3 tell us about those who dont want to listen to what God says?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to be used by God in these last days? Or will you be an interested observer?
    
    APPLICATION: Ask God daily, to show you what He wants you to do, and say. Ask Him to use you mightily in His Kingdoms work.