After all these years you should know me pretty well. I’m not one to go around spouting prophecies, although the LORD has revealed a lot to me over the years. But the Bible tells of future events before they happen, and as we study the Word of God, He reveals what’s about to happen on God’s calendar. The Bible tells us what Daniel heard in Daniel 12:8-10


8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Well, that time is upon us and I’m understanding what is coming upon us soon. Let’s have a look at Matthew 5:1-16. The Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples, as well as the multitudes that gathered to hear Him.

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

These words spoken by Jesus are “to the wise”. They were good teaching for “then”, but they are especially for “now”. This is not the time to think “business as usual”. This is a different season, and all you have to do is look at the news, and you can see the shift in people’s behavior, not only in the rest of the world, but right here at home. Yes, RIGHT HERE AT HOME! Did you ever think you’d see such disasters, such fires, flooding, pestilence, riots, looting, and division here? Well, we all hoped not, but Jesus warned us, didn’t He? And people are carrying on “business as usual” as best they’ve been able, considering the Covid pandemic. But we’ve entered a season unlike any we’ve ever experienced before, and it isn’t a good one.

Now it is written in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14,
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

So, what am I telling you? We’ve seen fires, flooding, Covid, civil unrest, and God’s people are being told to REPENT!! Pay attention here: God isn’t talking to the lost and unsaved here, He’s talking to HIS OWN PEOPLE who have turned from being lights in the darkness, to blending in with the lost and unsaved, to the point where GOD’S OWN PEOPLE ARE PARTAKING OF THE EVIL AROUND THEM! And if they repent, God’s blessing will once again be upon them, shielding them from the evil around them. But if they DON’T? they will partake of the pains that are coming upon those who reject Christ.

I don’t know about YOU, but I don’t want any part in this evil all around us. I want to be a representative of Christ Jesus, preaching the Good News of the Gospel every day of my life. I want to be a light in this dark world for Jesus. And believe me, the world is becoming so dark, that even ONE person lit up for Jesus sticks out like a sore thumb, so think how we could ALL shine for Jesus and the difference we could make in this particular time. The question is not COULD we make a difference, but WILL we make a difference?

WILL we humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face, and turn ourselves from the things that displease God and bring shame to His Holy Name?
WILL we represent Christ, in patience and love and longsuffering? Will we love the unlovely (like me?) Or will we hunker down in our RELIGIOUS SHELTERS and hide ourselves from the lost, thinking we’re so glad we aren’t like THEM, that we pray every day (sometimes)?

There are too many Pharisees today, and not enough humble publicans. I’m well reminded of this passage from Luke 18:9-14;
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Friends, the times spoken of in Daniel are now upon us, and the wise will understand and prepare. By “prepare”, I mean make sure YOUR heart is right before God, and that YOU are representing Christ to the lost and unsaved around you. Don’t worry about what I’m doing or someone else is doing. This is about each of US personally. If we are “wise”, we will be doing all the things Jesus taught in Matthew 5 in the Beatitudes. I see that teaching as the “BE-attitudes”, that we should BE like Christ Jesus, not just “talk the walk”. Seeing how God saw the need to tell HIS people who are called by HIS NAME to repent, there must be a reason, amen?

We have entered a season of trying times, where the devil, knowing his time is short, is working overtime to discourage and de-activate God’s people. Don’t think some strange thing is happening to you because of this, God told us beforehand it would happen. Look at 1Peter 4:7-19;
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I will close with that. God wants us to be “wise and understanding”. He is also calling us to represent Christ Jesus so all that can be saved WILL be saved. We have a job to do, let’s do it exceedingly well!