glrapr.keepfocused

The study of End Times (eschatology) can be both fascinating and intriguing.
I have purposed to try and keep a balanced approach to our Web Site
because I really believe it's very possible to become distracted from the true
focus the spiritual race we find ourselves in. We can become so obsessed
with the Antichrist, "666" and world affairs that we fail to give proper attention
to Jesus. It possible to start seeing deems and devils under ever rock and
behind ever stump. I feel that it's important for us to know what we believe
about the End Times and why we believe it and then to allow this knowledge
to direct us to great intimacy with the Lord!

There's enough ungodliness around us today to causing us to have the same
vexing of the soul Lot experienced prior to his removal from Sodom. (2P.2:7) It's
a very troublesome thing to see our western nations moving further and further
away from their Bible roots. Sin is rampant everywhere and the church has
not been exempt from this! Tragedy after sinful tragedy seems to be engulfing
the Christian family! This added to the global violence and spiritual confusion
has the potential of causing absolute despair UNLESS we choose to focus
upon the Lord.

Keeping properly focused has always been important to successful Christian
living. This has become vital in this generation and will continue to be so until
Jesus returns. We have a race to run and one of the fundamentals to winning
is keeping focused on the finish line. A sprinter is never to look back over his
shoulder this only distracts from the goal and interrupts the pace.

Moses serves as good example particle disciplined thinking and focus! During
his earthly pilgrimage as Israel's he had many opportunities to become
seriously distracted. What enabled him to endure? Heb 11:27 - It was by faith
that Moses left the land of Egypt. He was not afraid of the king. Moses kept
right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. This
is exactly what we've been encouraged to do as well. Heb.12:1-3 - Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that
so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race
that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,
on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a
shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his
afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne
in heaven. 3 Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible
things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. We've all been called to first be experts about Jesus! We need to learn how to allow world affairs, End Times teachings etc. to direct our thoughts and emotions towards Jesus. God has promised to keep us in peace as we think about and trust the Lord. (Isa.26:3)

If we're not careful eschatology, like any other important doctrine can become
a kind of hobbyhorse that takes up all our time. We can be experts on the
latest Middle East developments and spend hours trying to figure out who the
Anti-Christ is. Don't misunderstand me! It's important that we fully understand
the time in which we live but what I'm saying is, "This knowledge must
positively effect how we live and what we love". If we really believe that Jesus
will soon appear and that we, at that time will give an account of our lives to
Him, it will effect our daily living!

        1Jn. 3:2,3 - Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we
        can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we
        do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him
        as he really is. 3 And all who believe this will keep themselves
        pure, just as Christ is pure.

        2P.3: 9-11 - The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to
        return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake.
        He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for
        everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as
        unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a
        terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the
        earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment. 11 ¶ Since
        everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly
        lives you should be living!

Jesus gave this generation of Believers very specific instructions in Lk. 21:28, "So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!" Clearly these instructions are to be understood to be spiritual. "Standing straight" implies righteous holy living and "looking up" implies focusing on Jesus. He's the One standing at the finish line encouraging us on! We look to Him! We must learn to refuse to be distracted even by good things! We need to learn to keep a proper balance and always allow Jesus to have the place of prominence in our thinking and emotions as we purpose to glorify Him in these last and closing days of time.

        Heb.3:1 - And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are
        bound for heaven, think about this Jesus whom we declare to be
        God's Messenger and High Priest.
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