Will You Invite Jesus?

Will  You Invite Jesus?

In John chapter two, we read about the story of water changed into wine, the first public miracle Jesus performed.

In those days, weddings lasted for days, perhaps weeks. They served wine at the wedding feasts.  It was the custom to serve the best wine first, then the cheaper wine later.  On the third day of this particular wedding, they ran out of wine. 

His mother Mary told Jesus about this embarrassing situation.  He told her it was not his time to start doing miracles.  But he told the servants to fill six large jars with water.  He dipped into one of the barrels, filled a cup, and told someone to take it to the master of ceremonies. The master tasted it and took the bridegroom aside.

He told him it was the best wine he ever tasted and impressed because he saved the best for last.   The bridegroom got the credit for the miracle that Jesus did. It saved him from social scorn and showed him to be a man of substance.

Jesus was there because they invited him.  He created a miracle because he was there.  He can perform miracles in your life, if you invite him.  He is waiting but will not enter without an invitation.  Won’t you invite him today?

 Photo: A 14th century Fresco from the Visoki Dečani monastery.

http://www.wegm.com/coins/frescoes/decani.htm In public domain

The Mark of the Beast

 A couple of thousand years ago, a man named John experienced a vision.  A vision is like a dream but the person is awake and looking at it like they would a movie or TV program. He saw the vision as a prisoner on an island called Patmos.  His crime was standing up for God.

In his vision, he saw things that did not and could not exist during that time.  He saw our society as it is today and in the future.  He wrote everything down the way God instructed him and that scroll became the Book of Revelation in the Bible.

It is happening soon.

One thing he saw was the Mark of the Beast.  He saw a society that no longer used money.  All people needed a chip that recorded information about each person.  You needed the chip in order to buy or sell.

Rev 16 “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:” And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.    

Also the Bible says “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Revelation 14:9,10 KJV      

Who is the beast?

I believe the Beast is Satan, the enemy of the world.  He is a liar who wants to steal us away from God and claim us as his own.   He comes in many forms and will fool many as an angel of light.

We seem to be rapidly moving toward the Mark of the Beast.  Trusting God will help us through that time.  Put your trust in Him today.  Read the Bible, get to know the word so Satan cannot fool or confuse you.

First photo 

Jacopo Vignali, San Giovanni Evangelista a Patmos.jpg

Vignali is an  Italian painter who died on 03 August 1664 

  

Second photo 

 John's Vison from Wikimedia Paintings  According to Wikipedia the religious artist Antonio Allegri da Correggio lived from  August 1489 – March 5, 1534.

Jesus, Light of the World

  

  

What is the darkest place you have ever been?  I remember a pyramid tour in California once.  In the middle of the pyramid, the tour guide doused the lights. Total blackness enveloped us. Fear and dread slammed into me.  I hated that darkness.

I suspect that others felt the same way.  Someone lit a cigarette lighter and held it up above his head. The little light comforted me, gave me hope that I could get through this day.  Another click of the lighter closing plunged us back into oblivion.

What a relief when the guide relit the light.  It allowed us to find the way out of this despair.

We live in a fallen and evil world of darkness. We light it up with all manner of lamps, decorative lighting, overhead lights but the world is still dark.  Evil still lives everywhere.  The light gives comfort and an illusion of safety, but it is temporary.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 King James Version (KJV)

Jesus is the light that always shines for us in the deepest abyss of the world.  I did not really know that on that scary day in the pyramid.  When Jesus came into my life, he shined the light on truth, hope, and purpose.  That light never went out even in the worst days of my life.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5   (KJV)

What lights your world.  Will a fallen wire or transformer explosion plunge you into darkness?  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and let him be the light of your world. He is the light that no force can quench.  It will guide and encourage you as long as you let him shine!

The King James Version of the Bible is in public domain.  Quotes taken from BibleGateway.com.

Photo is from Public-Domain-Images.com

 

Signs of the End of the World

 While reading the comments on a web post, I saw this statement (paraphrased).  “Half of the world is smart enough to know that the Bible is a book full of c---.”  The writer obviously missed does no believe the many signs pointing to the return of Christ.

The Bible is filled with accounts of the signs of the end of time, things that are happening before our very eyes if we would just look and see.

No secrets

Luke 18:17-19 For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest: neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

All things are becoming known via the Internet, spy cameras everywhere, and super computers.  Someone monitors every phone call, email, and social network post.  The government encourages people to tattle on each other. We do not know whom to trust.

Someday all will know everything that we think and do today.

War and pestilence

All around us the signs loom ominously. Wars and rumors of war increase around the globe.  Devastating geological events occur more frequently; earthquakes, volcanoes, Tsunamis, floods, wildfires.  Droughts threaten with the specter of starvation.  Strange new diseases crop up often.  Matthew 23-24

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters destroy daily.

Ezekiel 38:20 says that the mountains shall be thrown down, the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground." 

Affliction

 

Matthew 24.9 speaks of a time of affliction when all will hate anyone standing for the name of Christ.  9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.”

Christians everywhere face increasing danger and peril.  Missionaries around the world are beaten, the churches destroyed, and some face death for their beliefs. It is a sport to ridicule and malign Christians, the only group not protected by laws.

We do not know the hour

3 “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

People predict when the earth will end.  Many of the dates have come and gone and we are still here.  The newest date is December 21 of this year.  It is foolish to try to guess when the earth will be no more.  It will be here until God decides otherwise.

 Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matt 23: 5 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Take heed

These signs are all around.  The days are growing short.  What will you do with the time left?  Everything on earth will pass away and crumble to dust but God’s Word will live forever.

 Pictures from Wikimedia Commons 

The Gossipers

Water Scene-Name unknown

 Quotes from King James Bible-public domain