KEEP LOOKING UP

                                                                                                                                                               By W. G. Guy

Luke 21:28 – And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

          We are instructed to look up when we see certain things that Jesus described begin to occur.  Why did Jesus say this?  Because the things that are coming that show His soon return will be bone chilling; so terrifying that to see such things will cause such fear that men’s heart will fail.  Thus it is best to keep your eyes on Jesus and His kingdom rather than on the catastrophic things that are going on in the earth. 

Luke 21:25-27 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;  men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

         The Bible gives us clear descriptions of events that signal the soon coming of Jesus Christ to set up his kingdom here on earth.  These events will involve horrendous events and things that should make people cry out for God’s complete intervention.  However, most people fail to recognize that God has already made all the intervent that is needed.  He gave his only begotten Son to bring us total redemption from sin and all the vileness that is in this earth and the ungodliness that is in man’s carnal institutions.

Romans 8:31-32 –  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

          So what kind of things can we expect to see coming upon the earth that Jesus warned about?  He said things in nature will start to convulse, not just in the earth, but also in the heavens.  “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”  This tells us that there will be massive earthquakes, with volcanoes and tsunamis, that will darken the light of the sun and moon; causing great distress throughout the world with no solution in sight.

Joel 2:30-31 – And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.   The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
 
          The Day of the Lord and His coming is represented as the harvest of souls and the Day of Redemption, referring to the resurrection of our bodies.

Joel 3:13-15 – Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down: for the press is full, the fats overflow: for their wickedness is great.  Multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Acts 2:19-21 – and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:  the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:  and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

            The remaining time of salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD is very brief, so decisions to receive Him must be made as soon as possible.  Then comes the need to grow spiritually as the children of God.       

Matthew 24:29-30 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

          In addition to these natural disasters will be the man caused catastrophes by wars, which create pestilences and famines due to destruction of the environment.  Such wars are described in Ezekiel 38 and in the Book of Revelation regarding Armageddon and the attack on Israel.

Matthew 24:6-7 – And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

          Obviously we have seen such wars, especially in the past century with WWI and WWII; and now we are on the threat of WWIII.  Such wars are a major cause of death and destruction: all a toll used by Satan to steal, kill and destroy.

John 10:10 – The thief (Satan/devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

          We will also see the rise of false preachers, claiming to be the anointed of God, who will bring great deception into the churches.

Matthew 24:4-5 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (anointed); and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24-25 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before. 

          Obviously we will see these things come to pass as they are already beginning to occur.

Luke 21:31-32 – So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 

          During these last days it will be essential to keep your spiritual guard up and be alert so as to not be misled, deceived or distracted.

Luke 21:34-36 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

          The return of the LORD Jesus will be seen:

Matthew 24:27 –  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

          God is looking for His children to rise up in faith and acknowledge Him as being His light in this world of sin and darkness.

 Romans 8:22-23 – For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

          Watching the things that are unfolding on the earth will cause faith to fail, so do not allow such things to be a distraction to you: keep you focus on Jesus by looking up, in spite of what is going on in this vile world.

​          Therefore, KEEP LOOKING UP to JESUS!