Signs of Christ’s Return

      1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

      3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

      4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.  (Matthew 24)

By His Grace

1. Speak to man about the things of men.

2.  Speak to God about the things of God in regard to judgment .

3.  Speak to God about the things in which we struggle.

4.  Speak to God in the language of God about the things that please God.

I’m sitting at warehouse waiting to the time I can leave.  The engine is turned off and the windows are open.  The doors to the warehouse are also open.

I can hear a radio playing as they work.  The sweet sounds of an emotional song drift through the air.  And a thought surprises me at its appearance.

I don’t listen to the radio except when I come near someone else.  I do not let music effect my emotion.  And when I do, it is not the music to grabs my attention.  The lyrics hold far more value to me.  The music is the gift wrap for the message.  What’s inside is rarely godly.

That’s just the way it is with me whether good or bad.  But the striking thought is, that is not the way it is with America (perhaps the entire world).

It is as though man needs music like he needs water, sleep, shelter, clothing and food.  Lacking or void of the promise of God, they search desperately to be filled with anything of perceived value.   Even most Christians find it difficult to be inspired without the sound of Christian music.  To me it is like audible pornography.  Once a man learns to love it, he cannot seem to find the strength to cease.

I am not boasting of my situation.  I am who God has caused me to become.  But I recognize that the striking diffirence would not be seen if I too allowed myself to inspired by music.  Again, God has done this in me.

I am also struck by the awareness that men cannot turn away from music.  And I cannot understand why silence is such an abomination.  But that’s the way it is, isn’t it.

What does that mean?  It means that because of man’s compulsive behavior with music he is vulnerable through that door.  Whatever the song says, he thinks.  Tell me that’s not exploited. 

Would silence lend itself to conscious prayer or introspection?  Is that what’s going on?  Has anyone else even thought this through, that they may have answers?

If you would be free then be free!  Put away all the things that manipulate your mind.  If today’s music is not of men, what is it?  And if it is of men, can it be of God?

Where is strength?  Is it found in the testimony of others, whether good or bad.  Do we really have such little strength that we require the manipulation of others?   Are we really afraid to think for ourselves?  Are we terrified of the unveiling judgment of God?

To find out, just shut off the music for a month.  Then you will know what YOU are made of, and not what everyone else tells you you must be.

Perhaps I read this wrong.  Perhaps the music was sent by God.  What do you think?