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Making Resolutions
The New Year has arrived and so have the resolutions. Consider the following quote by a notable author: "Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life." Jonathan Edwards Every year countless thousands, even millions of people began the New Year with resolutions. Some resolve to lose weight, quit smoking, spend more time with family and friends and give more money to charity. Psychologists suggest that making resolutions assists individuals in setting goals and foster measures to achieve those goals. While I am a staunch advocate of goal setting and planning, I couldn’t help but reflect on what Edwards asserts: We should live out our days as if they were our last and never resolve to do anything that could cause harm or unfavorable consequences to come to us now, nor in the years to come. Consider this saying, "Live today like you will die today." That’s a heavy statement but nonetheless true. Many of the victims of the Katrina and 911 tragedies didn’t get an opportunity to think twice. They awakened that morning and it was their last. If they had made any resolutions, they had no time to fulfill them. Life, as they knew it, had ceased. Sounds melancholic? It is! Dear people; if there ever were a time to stop and think, that time is now. The televisions are overrun with violence and death. Rarely, if ever, does anything good occur in the news. For this reason, I have many associates who tell me that they have ceased watching the news. My response to them is, "Can we blame the media for what they are reporting?" Not solely. They report what occurs for the most part. The problem with what is occurring in our nation and around the world has as much to do with prophesy as was the flood in Noah’s day. According to scripture, "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:37-39. While many scholars differ as to whether the events that we are witnessing are end-time occurrences, many agree that they are not random acts of nature. Just as it was prophesied in the days of old, we are given a directive from the man Himself, to keep a watchful eye. In addition to keeping a watchful eye, we also teach concerning signs and wonders. While we don’t base our faith solely on signs, we believe it is our Godly duty to warn God’s people of the signs of the times. It is also our job to warn individuals not to base their faith on signs alone. This is imperative because the Bible warns of false prophets who are out to deceive many based solely on signs and wonders. Being watchful is further emphasized in the 42nd verse of Matthew 24. Here, the scripture declares, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come." Jesus goes on to tell his disciples the story of a homeowner whose house was broken into because he was not aware when the thief would come. He warns us so that we won’t meet the same fate as the homeowner. We are constantly told to watch, because we know not the hour our Lord will come. Those with an observant eye will watch and prepare themselves for the day when our Lord will return. Others will be like the people of Noah’s day. They will go on ignoring the signs and dismissing them as unfortunate acts of nature. People, I beseech you not to let that day catch you as a thief. Be watchful for He (Jesus) will come at an hour that we think not. The Bible says "blessed" happy is the man that when his Lord comes, he will find him so doing. We must be at work, doing God’s will when He returns. When I think about the poor victims of the Katrina and 911 tragedies, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that they were not given another chance. Their homes and affairs must have been in order as they were called to go home. To those of you who have not thought about these words spoken by our Lord, I admonish you to take hold of these words and let them govern your lives. Prepare your hearts to meet a soon coming King. Although I can’t tell you the exact day our Lord will return, I can tell you that he is coming back and you must be ready. The time to prepare is now. Don’t; please don’t let it be said, "Too late!" Don’t dismiss this message as one from a Jesus fanatic, as you continue on with business as usual. This may be the last message some of you will receive, as we know not when death will come also. My plea is to make Jesus the Lord of your life and let him give you rest from the troubles of the day. In conclusion, I quote the words of a Christian author, "The answer the world needs is not in success, government, nor in religion. Jesus is the answer the world is in need of." Travestine J. Wright |