Houston in the Harvey:

The Enemy Came In Like A Flood

By Pastor Vinnie 

 Why didn’t they get out? They had time. Yet many stayed. They believed the worst would not happen. Houston was perhaps the hardest hit. It is a city on flat land and was a sure hit for incredible flooding given where landfall of Harvey was happening. But even this reality could not shake the city free of its apathy.

Photo: Austin American-Statesman

The lack of belief that I need to be prepared for the worst is an infectious problem we all struggle with, in the realm of balance. I think, to some degree, it is actually healthy and functions as an internal trade-off to afford ourselves the peace we need to avoid the slippery slope of pessimism and defeatism. Still, while I am no fan of fear mongering, maybe there is room here for a healthy wakeup call in all of this.

As bad as Harvey, and its aftermath, is going to be, the truth is that we know even worst things will come upon this earth before Jesus returns. One striking thought hit me as I read through the various news articles on Harvey is that, realistically, all the people who had to move out of the path of the storm could not have evacuated even if they had wanted to.

Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner said it best in a Press Conference, “You literally cannot put 6.5 million people on the road.” “If you think the situation right now is bad, you give an order to evacuate, you are creating a nightmare.”^[1]

If that is the case then what will happen when one day worse than Harvey hits? Imagine, if you will, a scenario of disasters Harvey- size running continually and simultaneously all over the nation at once. There literally would be no way to escape, nor any place to escape to. Yet that is exactly what the Bible predicts:

“The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Revelation 6:14)^[2]

And Jesus himself said,

“How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Matthew 24:20-21)^[3]

The unpopular truth is, there is a time of trouble that is coming upon this whole earth that will be many times over the problem of Harvey and will leave no place to evacuate to. There is a time coming, for which we cannot physically prepare. And the only rescue boat that can save you is Jesus!

Photo: AP HARVEY A USA TX

You can hoard wealth, but it will be useless in that day as commerce is swiped away. You can hone survival skills, but there will be no resources in that day. You can stockpile weapons, but the evil of that day will not be people. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it will never happen, never come, and pretend it is all fear mongering and speculation. However, that will only make you be the greatest “Houston in the Harvey” the world has ever seen.

Only Jesus saves in that day! Only Jesus can reach you in that day. When 911 no longer works, and rescue boats no longer come, and when the whole world has lost hope, look up, look up to the light in the sky because it will be Jesus and His mighty army of angels returning to get you and bring you to safety.

The question is, how is your relationship with Jesus today? I know, “Tomorrow, tomorrow we will always have tomorrow…,” said Houston yesterday! The truth is there is no tomorrow unless there is today. Matthew chapter 25 makes it quite clear that if you have not prepared a relationship with the bridegroom (Jesus) today, then when He returns there will be no time do so.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:10-13)^[4]

Jeep Cherokee Sports Edition 4 Wheel Drive model. This is very similar to their model.

I remember a few years back when I was living in the more southern part of the United States. One day I was in the church parking lot on my way into worship, and a saw two very elderly sisters drive up whom I knew well. Betsy and Dana^[5] who were well into their late 80’s drove up to church in a massive Jeep Cherokee Sports Edition 4 Wheel Drive with giant tires on it. I felt pretty sure Betsy and Dana were not the off-road driving type so I asked them why in the world would they buy a giant Jeep like that!

“Oh the time of trouble is coming, Vinnie, you better be getting ready!” Dana spoke up proudly. “And we plan to paint it camouflage too” busted in Betsy as an add-in. “Yep, yep,” Continued Betsy, “You better look seriously into getting your escape together now! You know the Bible says in those days there will be no buying and selling so if you plan to flee to the mountains when all hell breaks loose you better get it together now!”

Intrigued I looked right at both sisters and asked, “If you can’t buy or sell, where are you going to get the gas to put in this giant gas guzzler to get away?” And not even understanding the ironic hypocrisy of her answer Dana shot back, “Oh, the Lord will provide that!” And Betsy quickly backed her up and vocally supported, “Yep Yep, my Jesus, hmmm hmmm… my Jesus, yep yep, my Jesus, will provide!” And I walked away scratching my head wondering why Betsy’s Jesus could provide gas, but not a Jeep. I guess Betsy’s Jesus has limited supplies on demand!

Photo: Mashable

That is the tension we live with as faithful Christians living in what are some of the earth’s final days. We don’t want to live in fear-laden hypocrisy of Dana and Betsy, nor the unready apathy that can lead to the havoc of Houston in a Harvey. And it seems pretty clear with every passing day that likeliness of man to solve his own problems are about as probable as evacuating 6.5 million people from every urban center all at once, as the world tumbles around you. The only viable solution there can be is to have a solid trust-filled, loving relationship with Jesus now, today, that builds you with the certainty of tomorrow. You must have the faith that Jesus will move Heaven and Earth to save you in that day! Jesus will be the only rescue boat safe to be on when this world starts to fall apart.

Photo: Houston Transtar

Yes, it is like the old song said, “The enemy came in like a flood…But he was defeated by one drop of blood.”^[6] We don’t have to live in fear of the Harveys of life to avoid the dangers around us. We can see the storm of today as seasonal warnings to have a daily and ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. The opposite of apathy is not fear; the opposite of apathy is faith. It is true that the havoc of Harvey in Huston is nothing compared to the trouble coming upon this earth. But it is also true that the spilled blood of Jesus proves that the Father will stop at nothing to save you in that day if you believe in him. The faith of today has the power to stop all the storms of tomorrow. But unless that faith is forged, now, it will be lost as in the havoc of Huston. Harvey has sent us yet another reminder to set our eyes on the sky in which Jesus will return. Set your faith now!

Photo: NewsWorks

Footnotes:

^[1] https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/27/us/houston-evacuation-hurricane-harvey/index.html

^[2] NIV

^[3] NIV

^[4] NIV

^[5] Not their real names

^[6] One Drop Of Blood by Ray Blotz

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Are We There Yet? 

Where is Jesus, Anyway?

By Pastor Vinnie

“I don’t want to hear it!” He yelled rudely from his pew at me with a flare of red fire in his eyes. “You guys, you keep saying it will happen. But I am in my 80’s, and you have told me Jesus will come any day now my whole life! I am done with it! I don’t want to hear another word!”

I was a new teacher in my church, and I had no idea how to respond to this man’s emotional outburst on what I thought was a rallying point of doctrine.

“When Hitler invaded Europe they told me this is it! Read Daniel chapter 2 the end is coming, the toes of clay and iron are merging! But Jesus did not come!” He ranted on.

I had been asked to teach the lesson on the second coming of Christ. The lesson I was provided was mostly a lesson designed to hold the line, keep the faith, and affirm the truth of Jesus’ expeditious return. But, this angry elderly man was not going to give me a break.

He continued his rant from his pew, “We dropped the bomb! Surely this is the end, all the pastors told us. He did not come! What do you want to hear about the Korean or Vietnam wars? Every major event was to be the big one that would end it all! Do you know how many sermons I heard about the nations being in wrath before the return of Jesus? Where is He, huh?”

I was like a deer caught in the headlights. Because I, too, heard such sermons at even a hint of war on the horizon.

The words poured forth from this dear, heartbroken elderly man, “Lastly JFK was in the White House! Can you imagine that; A Catholic in the White House in Protestant America? And then the Cuban Mission Crisis broke? You know Pastors had a heyday with Revelation 13 and that one! But still, no Jesus!”

His words haunted me then, and they haunt me even more today. And worst yet many more major world shifting events have happened since his protests. Just where is Jesus? And why has he not come? The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation have never been more clear. Scholars, Pastors, and Church members all seem to agree things can’t keep going on like this. So what is the deal; why has he not come?

Recent events have me more convinced than ever that Jesus is coming and perhaps quicker than any of us think! Age and wisdom have since taught me that I can preach, teach, and write about the return of Jesus without being the Pastor who “cried wolf.” The truth is that the prophecies in Daniel, Revelation and the rest of the Bible are so strong and so clear regarding the Second Coming for Jesus that they do not need me to stir up over -inflated speculative support.

I don’t want to be the downfall and stumbling block of men like that angry, elderly man in the pew who are hurt by broken promises. I am as dedicated as ever to preaching the truth about the soon return of Jesus. But I don’t need to engage in “fake news” style prophecy to drum up loyalty interest. Still, that gentleman’s question, “Where is He?” deserves an answer.

Not everyone is a pure-hearted, disappointed elderly man awaiting the return of Jesus. Peter warns us that there will be real scoffers in the last days who deny that the Lord’s returning is even a valid point of doctrine at all.

“I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? Forever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:1b-4)

Peter then goes on to list the flood as an example of things evil people said was taking too long and would never come. But, when it did come, it was sure and too late to get ready. He goes on to elucídate how the destruction of the world by fire at the end of the age will by no means be different than was the coming of the flood. He warns his readers that time passes differently for God than for us, and “a thousand years is but a day to God.”

Peter’s reasons are all reasons I have heard and used from the pulpit hundreds of times. And as far as “hold the line” of standard doctrine they get the job done. However, what Peter says next is more rarely preached, and if you ask me, it is the bedrock of the issue.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. “ 2 Peter 3:9

What if Jesus did come back today? Would you be ready? What about your loved ones? Could it actually be that God has not allowed Jesus to return, just yet, out of mercy?

I remember when I was in India doing evangelism with a group of pastors. Because of the efforts of many, over a year’s time, before we even got there, we were able, as pastors, to swoop in and preach a multi-week evangelistic effort and baptize just under seven thousand Hindus into Christianity! Can I get an Amen?

I literally took part in a baptism service by a river bank in India that went on from sunup to sundown and never ended nor finished. People from our meetings kept coming all day long to give their lives to Jesus. Never in my life had I seen anything like this. I felt like I was living the rerun of Acts Chapter Three. It was an amazing and life-changing event that I don’t know if I will ever see again in my life. Yet it is a memory I long in my heart to become a reality, again, in my life.

I recall when I was getting ready to leave, that the area Church Administrator, who set up the effort, turned to me and asked me to stay. At first, I thought he was joking but he went on to explain he had other missions fields just as full of souls to reap as the ones I had been to but not enough pastors to reap them. He began to tell me of people and villages who had Christian names, and they could not remember why but it turned out that when the British missionaries came through years ago they promised to come back and the people named their children names from the stories so they’d not forget them. He said there were not just thousands, but millions, not only waiting but fully willing to hear the gospel but it would take generations of hard work to get organized to reach them all.

I could not stay, I had not only a church, but a family waiting for me in America but I recall that church administrator’s words as I departed, “Vince, I understand why you need to go back, I really do, but promise me one thing as you go? Promise me that when you’re back home in your church praying for Jesus to come right now because you’re so convinced the world is too wicked to continue, promise me you won’t forget millions still are waiting for their turn to hear the Gospel.”

Jesus will come. He will not delay forever. The time will come when probation will close, the mouths of scorners will be silenced, and the dreams of disappointed elderly men will finally be realized. And while I long for the day to be face to face with my Savior and to be rescued from the pain and suffering of this age, I must recall His mercy!

I don’t want a single person to be lost because I was impatient for the promise. Yes, I am still of the Spirit of John in Revelation, “even so, Lord Jesus come quickly.^[1]” But love, mercy, and hopefully Spiritual maturity have helped me to temper that eagerness with the Spirit of Peter’s expression of the Lord’s will concerning His return, “ (He) is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Maybe the truth of the Second Coming of Jesus is that it is not all about me and my suffering and getting me out? Maybe the truth of the Second Coming is a whole lot less selfish and just a dash more Grace-filled then I once thought? Maybe the truth is God wants me to share in the desire that all may come to repentance and not perish? Perhaps, we are closer to the Second Coming when I “love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, that they may be children of your Father in heaven, too?”^[2] When was the last time I heard of a terrorist attack and prayed earnestly for the salvation of the terrorist? When was the last time I heard an abortion statistic and prayed for the healing and salvation of the woman who aborted her baby when was that last time I even bothered to pray for my neighbor on the other side of the political aisle? And yet, I have the gall to pray, “Even so come Lord Jesus,” without first praying, “Make me willing that none shall perish?

In the end, many will perish, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and few find it.”^[3] But I know that I don’t want to be in the Kingdom and look for my dear love one and not be able to find them, only to ask Jesus where they are and to hear him say, “They were on their way, but you could not wait, so for your sake I came quickly, as requested.”

“Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,” but at the same time, come in the holy timeframe that, “is patient… not wishing that any should perish, but that all (who will) should reach repentance.“ In the end, it is God’s calendar, not ours, and we must learn to cooperate with Him in Spirit and deed.

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——-

^[1] Revelation 22:20

^[2] Paraphrase of Matthew 5:44-45

^[3] Matthew 7:14

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Fools Rush In

Sign Hunters

By Vinnie MacIsaac

I was recently in a Facebook conversation about prophecy and the role signs and miracles would play in the lead up to the return of Jesus. It was an interesting discussion to read and join in with.  Plus, I have to admit I love me some good signs! Who does not want some sort of clear finger coming out of no place and pointing out the right way to go? Because at the end of the day, in more ways than just understanding prophecy, have we not all tortured ourselves over what God’s will is, at some point in our life? I know I have.

I honestly don’t think there is anything, intrinsically, wrong with signs. After all, Matthew 24 for example, is jammed packed with all kinds of signs; big and small. Both about the return of Jesus and also the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, and about what we should watch for and what we should be doing while awaiting the second coming of Christ[1]. But, recently, I have seen the fascination of signs reaching new proportions, often power-packed with sensationalism. And much too often very odd and outrageous speculation, for which there is no Biblical support for at all. Yes, according to Jesus, in Matthew 24-25, there are indeed, real signs, yet, He also warns of false prophets, and false teachings, not to mention even global deceptions to lead people away from the clear teaching of the Bible.

The problem I see is, some are seeking after a sign so passionately that they go against what the Bible clearly teaches. And that is the real danger that many sincere students of prophecy are unaware even exists. Think about it; this was a massive problem in Jesus’ day. Did the Jewish leaders not have enough Bible prophecy in their day that pointed to Jesus as the coming Messiah? Of course, they did!!! They refused to see who Jesus was because, in their heart, wickedness was still hidden. So when they were finally cornered on the truth of who Jesus was, they demanded a sign, or a miracle, from Him as proof. And that is the danger. Jesus was not above doing signs and miracles, His life was full of them! But He did not do them to prove who He was; He did them out of compassion and love. The proof of who He was came from the scriptures that testified of Him and the prophecies that foretold of Him. The danger is in setting aside the clear teaching of Scripture because of a miracle or sign. Notice what Jesus calls them when they do that, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29, Mark 8:12, Matthew 16:4. The sign of Jonah was the fact that Jesus was in the grave three days and was resurrected. His point is that if this sign, His resurrection, is not significant enough to them, nothing else will be. Look, if you can’t believe the reality of the resurrection, then nothing else, no matter how sensational, will help you.

Doomsday prophecy is a steady diet for some Christians

Paul warns us, as well, that not all that glitters is from Heaven. He warns that as time goes on false teachers will arise and lead people astray in the same way that Satan has. “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14.  So according to Paul, we must be careful because even Satan can make you think he is an Angel of light, while he is leading you to destruction. No wonder Paul says in Galatians, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8

Furthermore, the book of Revelation tells that such deceptions will only increase as we get deeper into the time of the end. In Revelation 13 it says that the Beast power will,”….perform great signs, even causing a fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.” And John warns, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”1 John 4:1. Jesus, Himself, gives us the most gut-wrenching, sober thought on signs in the end times, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

Sign Psycho: That condition you get when your eyes gloss over, and you obsess on the end the world.

So here is the point, signs are excellent. Seeking them, or needing them as your source of proof can lead us to self-manufacture them from the world of current events and not the Word of God. And that is not excellent but is to subject yourself to the Devil’s play yard and toys. When a sign comes, and it confirms what we already can see, clearly, in the Bible then we can welcome it; because of the Bible and what is says about the sign and not just the sign itself! The miracle must confirm the message! The Bible remains the burden of truth. All the sign does is point back, or bring to mind, the conviction of the Truth of the Bible. Many, and according to Jesus, if possible even the very elect, will in the end days be deceived because they choose a sign over the clear word of God. This is a worthy warning to be aware of!

 The Sermon of Olivet (Matthew 24-25), a profound and complex teaching that exceeds the length of this blog, involves more than just the return of Jesus; it also deals with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, and the end of the age. There is a simple tool I use to keep the balance of recognizing signs, yet not being compelled to seek a sign in everything. I liken Matthew 24 to an interstate, which is full of many true signs of the road. Not every sign applies to you and where you are going. Jesus repeatedly says in Matthew 24,“Do you see this sign, the end is not yet.” There may be many mile markers along the road. They help you to know how far you traveled, and when to expect a rest station. But some signs actually can take you off your route and even turn you around, unless you know from the map where you are going. While all the signs you see are worth noting Jesus says there is one big exit sign that means you have arrived at your destination, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

One of my favorite movie comedies of the 90’s was “Fools Rush In” starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. In the film the couple’s ill-gotten and destructive relationship is doomed with hang-ups, which keep two people greatly in love apart from each other. Everything in their lives just keeps pulling them further apart. Finally, when she has had enough, Salma Hayek’s character (Isabel Fuentes) runs away to Mexico with plans to never be found again. And Matthew Perry’s character (Alex Whitman), feeling like a failure, gives up on love altogether. However, a series of common everyday events serve as “signs” to guide them together across two countries to meet at the exact time of their child’s birth. Now, I know it is a movie and filled with all kinds of Hollywood gobbledy- gook to sell us on the magic of it all. But still, those are the nature of signs I can get behind! Why? Because the romance, Hollywood’s glitter, or the fairytale ending? No! Because the Bible says, “”For I hate divorce,“ says the LORD, the God of Israel” —Malachi 2:16 and their signs were supported (in my eyes as the viewer) by the Word of God. I know it is a fictitious movie, but don’t miss the point. Signs always point us to the Word of God and never away from the Word of God, or what it teaches for our current generation. Lest we become “an evil generation that seeks for a sign…”

Let every sign we find be cemented to the principle of Scripture or else be tossed away, lest it lead us into outer darkness. “To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” — Isaiah 8:20

Don’t be a fool who rushes in, insist that the signs you accept are rock solid in their connection to Scripture.

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[1] I urge readers of Matthew 24 not to forget to read Matthew 25. There are no chapter divides in the original text, and despite being two chapters in our modern Bibles, the truth is they are both equally the answer to the Disciples question about the end of the age and the destruction of the temple. In 25 we see three parables of deep focus on how we the church ought to be conducting ourselves as we see the signs of the times being fulfilled.

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