March 19, 2002
Close at Hand
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand-a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.
Joel 2:1-2 (NIV)
The great day of the Lord is near-near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath and a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Zephaniah 1:14-18 (NIV)
The day of the Lord is close at hand. Now, I will not propose to put a date or even a time on that statement. However, all of the earth groans, for the earth knows that which is to come. In reading this of the day of the Lord, I was greatly distressed, for this is not the description I expected to find. I have always been led to believe that the day of the Lord will be this grand and glorious day. It shall be grand and great. It shall also be a day of terror for those who are not right with the Lord Jesus Christ. There shall be tribulation and hardships unlike any other time since the beginning (Mark 13:19, Matthew 24). Could this trumpet of warning be the same as the trumpets in the book of the Revelation? We have been warned and should not be caught unawares. We see the signs all around us, and yet it seems as if we do not believe he could come today. Jesus very well could return this very moment. Are we ready for this day?
Are our hearts pure before him? Is our sin washed clean by the blood of the Lamb? Have we shared with all whom we want to go to heaven the truth of the word of God? No amount of possessions or money shall save anyone on the great and dreadful day of the Lord. His wrath, he judgment shall pour forth upon the land. This shall not be withheld forever. His word says it and we must believe that he does not lie. We are warriors, training for that great and dreadful day. We are the brides that were to be waiting for the bridegroom. Are you one of the ones who has her wicks trimmed and full or are you one of the foolish virgins who were sleeping. Look to the East! The Lord draweth nigh!
Father, I cannot seem to convey the urgency of this message from you. Lord, let us sleep no longer. In Jesus name, wake your sleeping bride for the return of the Lord is at hand. Lord, let us listen no longer to that message of comfort of earthly wealth and no worries. Father, in Jesus name prepare your soldiers for the battle that is to come. Lord, you are gathering your saints to you to prepare and equip us. Lord, in Jesus name, let this warning not fall on deaf ears, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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