Asleep, Worried and Inebriated..
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV) "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts
be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life,
and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a
snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36}
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of Man."
What a sad thing that Jesus should have to warn His disciples
against carousing, drunkenness and worldliness! The sequence of
terrible events just before Jesus return will come "as a snare" upon
the whole earth and those preoccupied with partying and possessions
will be caught in the trap. So may of our friends at work - our
colleagues at the office who live for the weekend and who "work hard
and play hard" will be ensnared. What a tragic Day that will be!
Unfortunately many Christians will also be caught - those who have
been trying to "have a foot in both camps" and be drunk on Saturday
night and in church on Sunday.
What is so wrong with having a good time? Didn;t Jesus attend
parties and even drink alcohol! Yes He did - but that was not what
He lived for. I am sure He was never drunk and that while He
attended these functions He did so without sinning or so much as a
wrong thought. Sensual indulgence, partying on, living for the
weekend and for casual sex, all this deadens the senses. It reduces
our ability to hear God and to live the Christian life profitably
which is why Paul says (Eph 5:15-18 NKJV) {15} See then that you
walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, {16} redeeming the
time, because the days are evil. {17} Therefore do not be unwise,
but understand what the will of the Lord is. {18} And do not be drunk
with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
The other thing that deadens our spiritual life and makes us
unprofitable for God is "the cares of this life" (v. 34 above). If
you recall the parable of the sower, the seed which was "choked by
thorns" was equivalent to the Christian who has some spiritual life
but is rendered unfruitful because of his or her preoccupation with
the cares of this world. "(Mat 13:22 NKJV) "Now he who received seed
among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this
world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes
unfruitful." The cares of this life can so overwhelm us that they
completely occupy our thoughts and set our life's agenda. However if
we are to be fruitful for God then He must set our agenda! After all
He is our Lord and Master!
Jesus exhorts us to "watch and pray" - that is to live a lifestyle of
spiritual alertness and sensitivity coupled with prayerfulness. Such
a person gradually becomes receptive to God and senses what He is
doing and goes along with the "divine nudges" that make all the
difference to how grand our life can be. They have a desire to be
obedient even in the small things and to have an uninterrupted and
dynamic fellowship with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Such
a consecrated and receptive person will escape the wrath coming upon
the whole earth during the Tribulation and will not be deceived or
ensnared by the many ploys of the Anti-Christ (Revelation 13, 2Thess
2:9,10) These judgements will not be able to be escaped for they will
"come upon the face of the whole earth". It is those who watch and
pray that will be "counted worthy" and be able to stand before the
Son of Man. "Pray always" is strong language from Jesus and indicates
that we must be unremitting in our prayers or we will fall into these
temptations for they shall be very strong indeed!
This weekend our greatest delight should be to praise God - not to
get drunk and our chief concern should be to be counted worthy to
stand before the Son of Man - not our bank balance or our appearance
or our boyfriend or girlfriend. There is one party worth going to -
the wedding feast of the Lamb - lets make sure we get there and do
not go astray.
Prayer:
Lord bring us out of ourselves and our concerns. Help us to keep
focussed on the Kingdom! Teach our hearts to watch and pray and to
delight in You and to hear Your words to us and to obey them. Lord
keep us in You and may the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit always
cause us to stay with You and abide in You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!