it is time to get on fire for jesus
The Rapture of the church is imminent. One only need to read the newspaper or watch the evening news to see all that is going on in the world and know that something big is on the horizon. Even Hollywood knows something is up. Look at all the apocalyptic movies that are being made. People are rushing to theaters to see them. For a while, the world was fixated on Y2K thinking it would result in a complete technology breakdown and lead to the collapse of civilization. Then the world became fixated on the end of the Mayan calendar, December 21, 2012, thinking it would unleash cataclysmic horrors and the end of the world. This unrest and general feeling that something is about to happen is real. However, that “something” is the Rapture followed by Christ’s second coming where he will return to Earth to rule and reign.
The rapture will take place prior to the beginning of the Tribulation period because God does not wish for His children to suffer the wrath of the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a seven-year period of persecution, war, natural disasters, famine, disease, and death described in the book of Daniel, Revelation, and in other scriptures. At the conclusion of the Tribulation, Christ will return to rule and reign. To learn more information about the Rapture, see the Bible study “What is the Rapture” on the Bibles Studies page.
Because the Rapture of the church and Christ’s second coming are so close, it is time to get on fire for Jesus! Jesus wants his people to choose to live for Him with all of their heart, mind, body, and soul. We have to make a firm commitment to live for Christ. There is no time to be a lukewarm Christian. What is a lukewarm Christian? A lukewarm Christian is a person who may show up for church every Sunday and have a general appearance of being saved but in reality is unconcerned and uncommitted to living a holy and righteous life as God requires. Those who are “hot” are actively living for the Lord and are doing all they can do to become Holy as the Lord is Holy. Those who are cold have not received Christ as their Savior and Lord. Those who are lukewarm are indifferent.
Jesus indicted lukewarm Christians in the Book of Revelation. In a letter to the local church established in the city of Laodicea (which was located along the Lycos River in what is now Denizli Province, Turkey), the Lord had the Apostle John deliver a message to the Laodicean church:
I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Revelation 3:15-17
Jesus would prefer outright rejection over lukewarm indifference to Holy living. Here, he said He would “spit you out of my mouth,” – literally vomit – if you are lukewarm. What that means is that he will reject you and judge you for your uncommitted, lukewarm life. The great prophet Elijah asked a pertinent question. He asked, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” I Kings 18:20. This question applies to us today as well. We must either be on Fire for Jesus or reject him. There is no middle ground. Lukewarm Christians will not make the Rapture and will be left behind. To learn more about Holy living, see the Bible studies “God Requires Holy Living” and “Cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit; Eradicate the Lusts of the Flesh” on the Bible studies page.
Choose wisely. Choose to be on fire for Christ. Choose Jesus today!
Download a copy of this Bible Study: It is Time to Get on Fire for Jesus (Adobe Reader needed)
God bless!