There is no deviation in the ways of God:  they go straight forward.”
–Watchman Nee

“God fulfills His Word–not your suggestions or feelings.”
 –Dr. Myles Monroe

The next time the world sees Jesus it will be a tragedy for them.  He came the first time with compassion and mercy in His eyes.  Rarely was there seen anger or justice.  However, when He comes again, His countenance with be that of judgment.  John wrote about His appearance twice:

“His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow.  And his eyes were bright like flames of fire.”  (Revelation 1:14, NLT)

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.  And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True.  For he judges fairly and then goes to war.  His eyes were bright like flames of fire….”  (Revelation 19:11-12, NLT)

Now, first of all, do not get the Rapture mixed up with the Second Coming.  Jesus does not come to earth with the Rapture, but He snatches His “Bride” up out of the realm of His enemy.  He saves “her” from the day of destruction that is coming.  The marriage supper has been prepared, and He will accept “her” now in her purity, unspotted from the world.  There is a time of judgment first, and then there is celebration in heaven.  Ahh, but He has not forgotten those who dared try and despoil His “Bride.”
The “marriage” takes place and there are those who are turned away.  There is joy in heaven, but there is also a preparation for war.  Justice must be met and handed out.  The Judge, after the supper, will mount His white horse and go back to earth bringing justice and vengeance upon those who dared to speak against, dared to attempt to touch, dared to mark His precious Bride.
The “fire in His eyes” shows that He is jealous for His own.  He is a jealous God and no one trifles with His beloved.  The Old Testament prophets uttered, “Woe to the earth on that dreadful day.”  There will be a sound, one like never heard before, it will be a “roaring from Zion.”  The inhabitants who mocked Him will shudder and shake on that day.
Our job, until the trumpet sounds, is to not partake of the wickedness of this world.

What is it that guides your life?  What is it that you would rest your life upon?  It is imperative, especially in this hour, that you put your whole trust in the Lord.  Studies I’ve read from Barna show that the majority of Millennials do not believe the Word of the Lord to be infallible and authoritative; that it is only suggestive.  I have had students this year tell me when I’ve pointed out certain Scriptures, “That’s your opinion.”  No, it is not my opinion, it is the Word of God!  Now as for me, I choose to trust in the Lord.

          “‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
           Just to take Him at His Word;
           Just to rest upon His promise;
           Just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.'”
                    –Louisa M.R. Stead

It must all start with the realization that salvation comes only through the blood of Christ.  There are not multiple ways to heaven, only one!  It is really very simple, simply believe and trust in Him.  Jesus came to save all, the solution is in front of man, but He leaves the choice up to man.

          “O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
           Just to trust His cleansing blood;
           Just in simple faith to plunge me
           ‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!”

With Him there is peace in the time of trouble.  With Jesus there is joy in the midst of calamity.  With Jesus there is rest when the nation and the world is in turmoil.  It does not matter who runs this country; what does matter is who runs your heart and mind, and actions.  Are you at peace today?  If not, then you may not be walking with the Lord and trusting in Him.  He has promised that He will never leave or forsake His own.  There is your rest, and peace, and comfort, and joy.  In fact, our life must be based upon that promise.

          “Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
           Just from sin and self to cease;
           Just from Jesus simply taking
           Life and rest, and joy and peace.

           I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
           Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
           And I know that Thou art with me,
           Wilt be with me to the end.

                    Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
                    How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
                    Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
                    O for grace to trust Him more!”

The greatest gift my Grandma and Aunt gave to me was the wonder of trusting in Jesus.  No matter the circumstance to trust Him.  What a great gift! 

But the way must be long, and as there were thorns and rocks for his feet, so must there be bruises to his spirit.”
 –Zane Grey

“You can never tell what’s in a man till he’s tried.”
–Zane Grey

Did you really think that your excursion into the wilderness was going to be like a walk in the park?  Maybe you thought it was a lark, sort of tip-toe through the tulips.  Doesn’t work that way.  The enemy of your soul is there ready to destroy you if you are not aware of his devices.
You have been walking smoothly after the ordeal of the canyon.  With the respite you are feeling a little refreshed, but then you look ahead and come to a quick halt.  There is something there that looks a little like frost, but you know it can’t be.  Getting down on your knees you begin to examine and find to your horror that beneath that little thin crust of sun-dried mud is an alkali bog.  Another step and disaster would have struck, and the sound of the devil’s laughter would be heard as you sunk deeper and deeper until it was over your head.  One more step and the alkali would have filled your eyes, nose, and mouth and strangled you into hopelessness.  Another narrow escape.  What was it that made you stop?  Was it your own senses that have been trained, or perhaps you are finally beginning to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
The trail cannot go through the alkali bog; somewhere you must have stepped off the trail and now must retrace your steps.  Diligently looking you have finally found the trail and feel almost light-hearted as you begin your travel on it again.  Moving quickly, your heart light, and you might even begin to sing.  You move over a hill and around a bend and then find yourself facing a gorge.  The cliffs loom high and then you check your food supply and find it empty and you realize that you are famished.
In despair you cry out, “Help, help!  I’m lost!”  Then you hear an answer, but not the one you expect.  You hear someone else with the same cry, and then another, and another.  There are souls all through the gorge that have strayed off the path and are lost.  You crawl to the edge of the cliff and peer over and there are shapes, lifeless shapes of others who did not notice and fell to their death.
When traveling in the wilderness it is not safe for anyone to leave the trail marked by the Master, not even for a moment.  How does a person get distracted?  How does one stray off the clearly marked trail?  Maybe it is that first drink of alcohol, or the first taste of tobacco or drugs.  Maybe it is the skepticism of life and a scorn of the warnings.  Perhaps it is sacrilege or cursing and profanity or foolish babbling.  Oh there could be many reasons that a person gets lost.
Remember, while there is still time you can still call for help.  Don’t give up!  If you seek help of the Master Guide–the Holy Spirit, He will come and help you.  You will still have to take the steps but He will show you the way out.  He will also bring the refreshing, cool water and food for the soul.  Your spirit will be revived and before long you will find yourself out of the gorge.  It is now that He will take you to the “still waters” and allow you to “lie down in the green pastures.”

“Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil….  Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.”
–Matthew 4:1, 11(NLT)

What such men have lived–the patience, the endurance, the toil–the fights with men an’ all that makes the desert–the wanderin’s an’ perils an’ tortures–the horrible loneliness that must be fought hardest, by mind as well as action–all these struggles are beyond ordinary comprehension an’ belief.  But I know.  I’ve met a few such men, an’ if it’s possible for the divinity of God to walk abroad on earth in the shape of mankind, it was invested in them.  The reason must be that in the development by the desert, in case of these few men who did not retrograde, the spiritual kept pace with the physical.  It means these men never forgot, never reverted to mere unthinking instinct, never let the hard, fierce, brutal action of survival on the desert kill their souls.  Spirit was stronger than body.”
–Zane Grey

Everyone starts out on life’s journey, and hopefully somewhere along the trail parents, friends, maybe even a stranger, will help the person look for the signs that lead to the “narrow trail.”  The person may be guided to it, or they may be told to look for it, however, each person must find Christ on their own and then follow that narrow trail.
Everyone, sooner or later, and usually sooner will find that this trail leads into the wilderness.  It did for Paul, it did for Jesus, and why should we then be exempt?  Upon entering the wilderness the novice may shudder and decline and thus lose out with Christ.  Upon continuing the journey and growth is taking place they will soon find that there are thorns and weeds ready to choke them out if allowed.  The wilderness was the place that the devil chose to attack Jesus.  He wants to take God’s children and “warp and twist poor helpless human beings into shapeless deformity of soul and body [similar to] the piece of rough, rocky country, broken by barren hills and dismal canyons.”  However, knowing, using, and acting upon God’s Word, the traveler can overcome.
The wilderness may have high mountains covered with snow and lush valleys and meadows that seem to be contrary to the harshness.  But it may also be laden with canyons and gorges, washouts and rockslides, poisonous springs, sinkholes, and akali bogs.  When traveling the trail that God has laid out there may be other trails that criss-cross the one you are traveling.  Upon closer inspection it becomes clear that there are many tracks on those other trails and the thought may come to mind that you are upon the wrong trail, and the temptation may be to leave the “narrow trail.”
Common sense prevails and you stay on the chosen trail for your life.  It is hard and it might soon come to a canyon that must somehow be crossed.  There seems to be the slight notion of a trail in front, so you continue to follow it down to the bottom of the canyon, but somewhere, you slip on the rocks, and a slight avalanche begins.  You try not to fall down, but ride with the traveling rocks and gravel until finally you reach the bottom.  Now to find the trail that will take you up the other side of the canyon.  The basin is rocky and any trail is hard to see.  You begin to climb, but again you fall and here comes the rocks.  There is a “tree” and you grab it and hold on as the rocks rush by you.
As the slide passes, you are in a weakened state, and dare not rise to your feet, so you slowly being to crawl up the trail, fearing another possible slide.  After some time, you reach the top, exhausted, sweating and you look behind and marvel at the feat you have accomplished.  In front of you are slight hills, which you welcome and begin to move forward.  There is a respite, courage again returns, for you have crossed one canyon in your life.  But stay alert!  Don’t neglect your surroundings!  Check your bearings to see if you are indeed moving in the right direction.