March 2010, Update:

 

I recall a time over 10 years ago while I was a single man living in Santa Monica, California. I'd been ignoring God for a time, just living my unfulfilling life for myself, each day inching closer to death. Although my back may have been turned, He was always there, waiting patiently, speaking softly.

Some months earlier I had signed-up for a Christian CD-of-the-month club. When the CDs arrived in the mail I didn't excitedly open the box and listen to the latest music, but simply tossed the unopened box onto the floor into the pile of other unopend CD boxes. One day I needed to get out for a walk. Wanting to listen to something new, I randomly chose one of the unopened CDs and ripped open the box. The band was called Plumb, the album was 'Candy Coated Waterdrops', hmmm, this sounded interesting 'so I popped it into my portable CD player, put on my headphones and headed out the door towards the ocean to watch the sunset.

The very first song on the album is called 'Late Great Planet Earth' ... once outside I started my walk to the deliberate, driving beat of the song, when something supernatural happened. The lyrics being sung were, "The sky is falling, voices crying out in desperation, hear the calling, everybody SAVE YOURSELF..." then something caught my eye that wasn't there the last time I walked down Broadway. It was a sticker spirally wrapped around the hand rail of some stairs to an office building. It was smaller than a bumper sticker, I could only read 3 letters on it that looked like "SAV" so I just knew that the rest of the word had to be "SAVE" so I stepped up to the rail and peeled the sticker off and read it in shocking belief, tears instantly welled up in my eyes, it said, "SAVIOR SELF" at the very exact moment that the lyrics to a song I'vd never listened to before were being sung, "YOU CAN NEVER SAVE YOURSELF". Only a fool says in his heart that there is no God.

I recognized the sticker as a mockery and insult to what God has done for us by sending His only son to earth to live a perfect life, and to pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross in our place, so that those who believe in Him and accept His love can be with him in paradise forever. But I also recognized this as a very special moment when God was speaking to me, showing me something. His death and resurrection made a new everlasting covenant between God and mankind. Christ promises those who turn to him: "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed from death to life" (John 5:24).

There were a half dozen or so little blue advertising postcards strewn about on the ground and I felt compelled to pick one up and put it in my pocket. I felt that there was a connection to the sticker on the handrail. Although I don't remember exactly what was on the postcard I still have it stashed away somewhere. There was a website address on it. When I got back home I got on the Internet and did a WhoIs on the domain name... the owner's name, Morgan Bennett, was very familiar but I couldn't immediately figure out why. Then a lightbulb turned on, there was always mail being delivered at my apartment building to people who used to live there but moved years ago...at one time this guy lived in the very same 8-unit apartment building that I did on the corner of Lincoln and Broadway because I'd seen mail addressed to him... what are the odds of that?

So tonight, I watched a 5-minute video clip interview with Anne Rice, author of 'Interview with a Vampire' At one point in her narrative she says, "you can't save yourself" which sparked the memory of what I've just written above. I recommend watching it.

Interesting that the owner of www.SaveYourself.com is Suze Orman, the self-professed financial guru. Somebody ought to tell her that you CAN'T save yourself. The Way to true, everlasting security is Jesus Christ, who said, "I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me." : John 14:6

Today you can come to God by surrendering your life and heart to Jesus Christ. The Bible says: "To all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Right where you are you, right at this moment you can pray something like this: "Lord, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior."

If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you". If you haven't already made a decision for Christ, become a child of God today, while you still can.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
2 Peter 3:10-13

Up to a point, God's judgement is His mercy, but many people don't see it that way. What I mean is that God is long suffering or very patient with people. Many times God has used judgement in the form of death, famine, natural disasters, or attacks from the enemy to get the attention of His people and motivate them to acknowledge His existence and cry out to Him. In His righteous anger God could very easily wipe out all mankind, but His love for His creation overides the requirements of the Law, ... this is mercy. However, for every mortal there comes a point in time or in their life where they run out of second chances to repent or turn to God and live their lives according to His ways.

I believe God gave me a scriptural revelation one night while driving on the freeway, here it is:

The body of Jesus Christ was risen as a new, incorruptible, glorified body early on the 3rd Day. So it will be with the Body of Christ today, which is the Church. On the 3rd day the body, that is the church of true believers, will be given new incorruptible bodies and will rise to meet Christ in the air. The Rapture is nearer than ever, but do not give any attention to anyone who says they know the day or the hour, because God's Word says no one, not even the angels, know what the day or the hour is....but its near.

I believe that the 3rd day has already begun.

Hosea 6:1-2
Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2000 years = 2 days to the Lord
2000 years since Christ is right about now.
Check out this math for fun, click here.

What should we do while we wait for the Lord's return?

• Keep God's Word, don't just read it
• Walk in the Light, separate yourself from the world.
• Please God by the way you live.
• Witness to others, like Enoch who was raptured, tell people "the Lord is coming"
• Persevere, look forward, don't turn back to the life you've left.
• Be Humble
• Be Holy
• Be Blameless, make every effort to stay blameless and pure.
• Be Watchful for the return of the Lord.
• Pray always

"Dear God in Heaven, please help me to live my life in such a way that it is pleasing to you. Please consider me worthy to escape the time that is coming to test this world. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen."