Nobody on earth strikes the match for burning bushes.  Only God can do that.  Our part consists of wandering through the wilderness until we find that spot, and then to remember to take off our shoes because we’ve stumbled onto holy ground.”
–Tommy Tenney

“Men, trust me, are not born, but fashioned.”
–Erasmus

Right now you may feel that your mind is muddled, that the world is nothing but chaos.  Darkness looms, and in that darkness there is evil lurking, ready to strike you down.  You wander in that darkness, stumbling over the roots of despair.  The branches of immorality scratch at your eyes and sting your face as you continue to walk through the dense brush of a society that seeks your soul by compromise.
How, how will you ever make it?  The news is appalling, not just here in America, but the whole world seems to be enthralled with darkness.  Is evil overcoming the world; is it overcoming you?  How in the world will you make it; how will your children make it?  This is a time to think of Jesus as He was thrust into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.  Don’t think it odd that the world situation is such as it is, and don’t fail to realize that God knew that you would be alive during this time, and going through these difficulties.  He ordained it so, therefore, buckle up to the situation.
Remember, you are a stranger in this world.  Don’t get comfortable with it.  In the midst of traveling through this wilderness look to the Holy Spirit.  As He thrust Jesus into the wilderness, so He has thrust you into your circumstances.  I really like what George Matheson wrote.

“When I stand below the stars without Thee I say with Jacob, ‘How dreadful is this place!’  Take away the dread, my Father!  Light this solemn world with Thy smile!  Dispel with Thy voice the solitude I feel!  Guide me amid the things I know not, the things that know not me!  It is not death I am afraid of; it is life–life without Thee.”

We get too caught up with the cares of life, the trek in the wilderness, and we forget to realize that the Lord is with us each step of the way.  We make praise casual instead of coming from the heart.  When praise truly comes from the heart it will light a fire so that we can see our way through the forest even in the darkest night.  Recognize Him with each step, for He is guiding them.  Don’t turn to the left or to the right, but follow and obey His Word.  Do not give in to the darkness, to the wilderness for it will only bring despair.

“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
–Joshua 1:7-9 (NASB)

I have no idea of why this song came to my mind.  I woke up one day last week, and it was going over and over in my mind.  Sure better than a lot of things though.  Let me tell you for sure that it is certainly going to happen.  The scoffers, mockers, and scorners may be in derision over it, and when it happens they most likely will continue to mock, but one day–evening, morning, or at noon–it will happen.  Be ready!

“There’s a blessed time that’s coming, coming soon,
It may be evening, morning, or at noon,
The wedding of the bride, united with the groom.
We shall see the King when He comes.”
–J.B. Vaughn

I haven’t heard that song in years.  I can remember as a kid, my aunt singing it in the house.  (Maybe that’s where I get my kitchen clogging).  This is a triumphant song, but there are words of warning.  Are you ready?  What will Jesus say when He comes?  He is coming for a bride that is pure and undefiled, therefore, His people need to clean themselves.

“Are you ready should the Savior call to day?
Would Jesus say, ‘Well done,’ or ‘Go away’?
My home is for the pure, the vile can never stay,
We shall see the King when He comes.”

I think of this and there will be many that will not see Him.  When the rapture occurs, only those who have accepted Him will rise to meet Him.  Yes, when Jesus does come to reign upon the earth every person will see Him, and for many it will be too late.  Many, individuals and nations, will fall before Him.  Now is the time to be ready, to serve Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord.

“Oh, my brother, are you ready for the call?
To crown your Savior King and Lord of all?
The kingdoms of this world shall soon before Him fall,
We shall see the King when He comes.

We shall see the King,
We shall see the King,
We shall see the King when He comes;
He is coming in pow’r, we’ll hail the blessed hour,
We shall see the King when He comes.”

So don’t be fretting and worrying about tomorrow.  Do not be anxious.  In fact, testify and pray as John admonishes us.  “He who testifies about these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’  Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!”  (Revelation 22:20, HCSB)

You don’t have a soul.  You are a Soul.  You have a body.”
–C.S. Lewis

“At no time, perhaps, since the Reformation have Christians as a body been so unsure, tentative, and confused as to what they should believe and do.  Certainly about the great issues of Christian faith and conduct is lacking all along the line.  The outside observer sees us as staggering on from gimmick to gimmick and stunt to stunt like so many drunks in a fog, not knowing at all where we are or which way we should be going.  Preaching is hazy; heads are muddled; hearts fret; doubts drain our strength; uncertainty paralyses action.”
–J. I. Packer

Only a few more days left.  Are you all in a tizzy over the election?  What will happen?  One thing I can almost guarantee; life will continue, but things will definitely change.  The thing is, are you prepared?  One more thing–don’t fret!
There are a few things to consider.  Jonah went out one day preaching to that evil city Nineveh that represented the most hated people of ancient time–the Assyrians.  They were extremely cruel, ruthless, and inhuman people.  Yet, by the time he finished his preaching the city had repented and God spared them.  Another time, Jeremiah preached hope.  Hope that the nation would repent because there was a coming invasion that would destroy Jerusalem.  There was no repentance, Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed, but that didn’t stop Jeremiah from preaching hope.  Then there were those taken captive during this invasion to Babylon.  You do remember Daniel and his friends?  Three different situations, but God was involved with them all, and most important God had people involved.
Now you say, that is fine and good but it is Old Testament.  Let’s move to the year 313.  Christians for a couple of centuries had been persecuted by Imperial Rome.  Then in that year at Milan, Constantine made Christianity a legal religion.  Rome indulged in all sorts of decadence, immorality, and wickedness.  One of those things was putting to death Christians as a spectacle in the arena.  Now in the reign of Constantine there was a reprieve.  You may say what you want about Constantine, but there is little doubt that he was an instrument of God in this situation.  True, Rome fell, but it was 150 years later.
No matter who wins the election, Christians continue to have an obligation to serve God.  Obedience to His Word will become more and more paramount, especially as evil may continue to rise and show its uglier face.  When will the end come?  I don’t know, but until that trumpet sounds we are to occupy.  Light, salt, spread the Gospel, live the Gospel, and don’t compromise.  Take some time and review Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.  The testimonies of those who compromised versus those who stood for Christ.  This is not a time to be ashamed of the Gospel!

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

Folks are in a dither with the coming election.  Christians are fighting Christians about who they should vote for.  Maybe they should quit looking at the candidates and look at the platforms and the issues.  Lest we forget – the Lord knows what is happening and it fits into His master plan.
There is a reckoning coming, and I believe soon.  How much longer the Father can wait before sending His Son back, I don’t know.  We have to be on the brink of His return.  Yeah, yeah, I know people have been saying that for centuries, but look at the signs.  America has been a great nation; it has been called forth to show the glory of God to the world and has done so.  It has been instrumental in sending the gospel around the world.  It has funded and aided the poor and downcast around the world.  But now…  So many have turned their backs, ridiculed, mocked and scorned the principles set forth in God’s Word.
Now throw this in the kettle as well.  What will happen to American should the rapture take place, say, before the election?  The nation would change rapidly.  How would America view Israel?  Would they join in the globalization of world politics?  Imagine what would happen when believers are no longer influencing America, or any other country?  Elliot Johnson wrote this, “When believers are raptured, America will disintegrate, as the ‘salt and light’ is removed.  Antichrist will have a perfect opening to control the world!”
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Ahhhh, some aroma therapy this morning–the coffee is brewing!  Maybe I’ll get lucky and there will be the added aroma of bacon.  I don’t hold much to aroma therapy, especially as far as the New Agers take it.  There is nothing spiritual about it, or is there?  I know this is not Saturday, so no time for a Perc, but isn’t that a comforting smell in the morning (or anytime)?  It does make you want to sit back and sigh.  Before that can happen those beans have to be roasted and ground.
Perhaps that is true of life as well.  I’ve had to sit by people and smell their aroma.  There is that sweet smell of a lady’s perfume and also that obnoxious smell of someone with body odor.  It’s not wrong to keep the bad odors in check, but some men out there don’t know when to stop perfuming themselves.
One of the Church Fathers, John Chrysostom wrote, “To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the fingers, so it is the same with the Scriptures; the more familiar they become, the more they reveal their hidden treasures and yield their indescribable riches.”  Even reading must be roasted with the fire of the Holy Spirit and then ground deep in our heart.  We often say we have favorite verses, but why?  Why is that verse so precious to you?  I have heard of people who have “life verses.”  They chose that verse to guide their life.  Now, I don’t have a real problem with that, but the Holy Spirit should do the choosing.  Many times I have been asked what my “life verse” is.  My answer:  it changes.  There are so many, but the Spirit reveals verses throughout a person’s life to meet the needs of the season.