The End Will Be Sudden

115 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ” The Holy Spirit has a warning for the church as He reiterates some of what Jesus warned about concerning the Last Days. But what are the Last Days? Can we get some kind of a time frame in order that we might be better prepared? Personally, I think there can be no better preparation for the Last Day than to follow the advice of Jesus who said, “Watch and pray!” It's not so much about watching for the signs of the end as it is about standing watch over your faith! While we anticipate our Lord's soon return, we certainly don't want to be one of those who while waiting, “give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” and wind up departing from the faith! Jesus said this about “watching and praying:” Lu 21:34-36, "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." So, guard your faith, that you will be able to stand before Jesus on that Day! For it will come as a snare. Think about that! Have you ever seen someone caught in a snare? One minute you are walking through the forest enjoying the view, and the next moment you are hanging upside down by your ankles. That's how sudden and unexpected the end will be. We Christians ought to know that! We expect it to be sudden and therefore we must always guard our faith! This snare of the Last Day will come on ALL those who dwell on the face of the earth. No one is excepted! Therefore, watch and pray that when it suddenly comes, you will be found in the faith and worthy to escape. The snare has been set since the pouring out of the Spirit on Christ's church. The Apostles and the early church believed it could happen at any moment! And we ought to believe it too! Mankind is marching relentlessly toward it, and only God knows when He will spring it. Therefore: Watch and pray!