On day #21 of Counting the Omer, we reflect on the number
21 in scripture. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul the apostle lists
21 sins that will be evident in the last days. He calls these days "perilous times" due to these 21 sins. These are: lovers of self, lovers of money, braggers, prideful, blasphemers, parent rebellious, unthankful, unholy, unnatural/perverse affections, ungracious, false accusers, no self-control, fierce, hate those who are doing good, betrayers of close family/friends, hard-headed, haughty, lovers of pleasure, God rejecting, look godly from the outside, deny God's Truth and power.
Paul calls the Church to REPENT of these, to turn away from them (2 Timothy 3:5). Many in the church today keep preaching a grace, grace, grace and more grace message. However, in order to save as many people as possible, God eventually sends Judgment. God's Judgments are MERCIFUL. They are intended to turn people away from their sins and towards righteousness.
On the 21st day of December, 2012, there was a global rumor that the world was scheduled to end, due to the Mayan calendar evidence. The fever pitch of paranoia was so severe that the U.S. Government (through NASA) actually felt it was necessary to issue this statement:
"The world will not end in 2012...and credible scientists know of no threat associated with 2012."
Wow...As someone at that time wryly and succinctly noted on Twitter: "I wasn't really worried about it UNTIL the government told me NOT to worry-NOW I'm really worried!"
Around that same time, a popular TV news Channel aired a special report. It portrayed a captivating, albeit non-scriptural, documentary on the current fascination with Doomsday scenarios. According to the report, much of the human race is living under the imminent feeling that the proverbial hammer is about to fall. Highly "educated" PHD professors were interviewed, all concluding with the most outlandish theories I have ever heard in my life. These included speculations about aliens from outer space and a black-hole time continuum. No wonder all knowledge outside of the Bible is deemed to be utter nonsense:
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?~1 Corinthians 1:20
Then, I had another eye-opening revelation: Besides ruining their present life, these doomsday preppers were not going to be successful in preserving their future life either. For instance, the EMP prepper would be dead in a nuclear attack. The nuclear attack prepper would not be fully prepared for an EMP disaster. ALL would be destroyed by an earthquake or tsunami flooding. How in the world can you successfully doomsday prep for an unknown disaster? What about multiple, simultaneous disasters like the one in Fukshima, Japan in 2011? The Japanese people experienced an Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Meltdown all in rapid succession! Obviously, this was a real scenario played out in front of our very eyes on TV. Doomsday Prepping, therefore, becomes completely absurd and impossible when confronted with the very real possibility of an unknown variable.
The Truth is this, as we read the news today, it is obvious that every one of us must accept the reality that today could possibly be our last day on the planet. For us "doomsday" doesn't have to be a nuclear attack, a natural disaster or a civil war. This may sound depressing, but it is the Truth.
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away ~ James 4:14
Did you ever see a movie where everyone dies in the end? I hate those movies. Yet, in this earthly realm that is both true and untrue:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment ~ Hebrew 9:27
But...then God has a surprise ending for those who put their trust in Him:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; the one believing in Me, even if he should die, he will live. ~ John 11:25
What an incredibly good analogy for the Christian life. If we are to focus on the next life, the "things above," and not on things of the earth, then we should not fear what is up ahead, we should be excited about it. Jesus told us to "build up treasure in heaven" where it cannot be corroded nor dissipated. So what does modern man's doomsday prepping look like? Is it a savings account? Vacation Home? 401K? Pension plan? Even some nice sounding things such as "family" and "friends" cannot ultimately offer you the shelter you seek. In the fallout of this recent pandemic, we will see some serious economic devastation. Wall Street is no sure shelter either. When these things are stripped from us, it is only then that we can truly appreciate what Jesus meant as to "pick up your cross" and follow Me. If we follow Him, He was publicly shamed, stripped of everything, mocked, ridiculed and betrayed.
Sukkot, or the Festival of Booths, is a Feast in which God's people were required to construct fragile abodes in order that they might be able to see the sky through the palms and branches that comprised their covering. This was to REMIND them, that any manmade structure would be flimsy indeed. We are to be reminded ...There is NO SAFE PLACE except under God's protection.
For some people, this repentance requirement will be very obvious: give up your idols, your fleshly sins, your sexual perversions, your money worship, your faith in government and earthly heroes to save you. For others, it will be more "bone deep." Stop relying on your works, your own flesh for righteousness. We do not have what it takes within ourselves to save ourselves. Only the POWER than comes from Christ through the Holy Spirit (dunamis) has any ability to do this. Once we get ourselves OFF the stage and accept our utter fallenness and futility without Christ, we cannot truly appreciate what He has done for us on the Cross. WE ALL NEED CHRIST. Even the "best" among us. Sometimes thinking you are righteous is the hardest case of all to crack as shown by what Jesus said to the Pharisees:
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? ~ Matthew 23:33
Yet Jesus had mercy on even the Pharisees and Sadducees that ultimately repented and followed him such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.
How will we escape the coming Wrath? HOW INDEED? I feel this in my own self. Spoiler answer: CHRIST, CHRIST, CHRIST and CHRIST CRUCIFIED.
So, don't wait until disaster strikes. Do the only truly effective "doomsday prepping right now...
Drop to your knees and repent.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
~ Psalm 32:7
