By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Mark 13:23 "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." - NIV
In the whole chapter of Mark 13, Jesus was teaching about the end times and its signs. These things were yet to come. Their appearance was to indicate to those watchful enough that the end is close. In His grace and mercy, God doesn’t want to take us unawares. But many people don’t listen. Although no one knows the day or hour, we can see the seasons in comparison with Bible prophecies and tell how close we are. And we are right in those days!
To discern the times requires that we are on guard, watching and waiting. As we notice in our world today, the so much happening are the very signs Jesus warned us about. One of the warnings to guard against is deception from false Christs and false prophets performing signs and miracles to decieve. They come in Jesus’ name, but driving people away from Him. Others are increase of evil, pestilences, wars, and falling away from the faith.
It is unfortunate to be warned ahead of time and to fall victim of the very thing you were warned against. And yet this is happening to us upon whom the fulfillment of the signs and the end of time has come. Many are blinded by the cares of this life and pleasure seeking, and are trivialising or ignoring the glaring warning signs. They will only have themselves to blame for failing to heed the obvious warning signs Jesus clearly gave ahead of time.
Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Shalom children of God.