“Keep Seeking the Things which are Above”
- Colossians 3:1 -
The nations of the world are being shaken with increasing trials, wars, and tribulations, producing a pandemic of dismay, depression, and hopeless despair (2 Timothy 3:1). There is rampant fear and anxiety of what on earth is coming next! Let us take to heart the Heavenly Father’s encouraging words, “tell the righteous it will be well for them” (Isaiah 3:10). In the midst of these prophesied perilous times our Father is saying, “Come, my people, enter your rooms and close your doors [to this passing world and all of its eternally worthless preoccupations and leave them] behind you, Hide for a little while until indignation [judgment] runs its course” (Isaiah 26:20). In essence our loving Heavenly Father is saying to His children, “I want you to close the doors behind you and spend time with Me in My presence, reading My Word and praying, getting to know My infinite love and eternal plan for you. My love is ever present and never failing and will cover your repentant sins. I will give you “peace that the world can not give” or take away and I will strengthen your faith in the greatness of My faithfulness, by which to stand firm regardless of the trials that are predestined to fall on this world under judgment” (see 1 John 4:18, John 14:27). “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).
The hour is late, the judgments are falling, “hear and heed” His loving call to run under the everlasting wings of your Heavenly Father who wants to eternally protect and bring you securely into His kingdom. Let us heed our Savior’s proclamation, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up [repent and turn to righteousness] and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). The redeemed righteous remnant must be ready, waiting, and longing for our Savior’s appearing and kingdom. In the Book of Hebrews we read, Messiah “will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
“As a loving Heavenly Father these trials serve as disciplines to turn His children’s attentions and affections away from this perishing world, its deceptive pulls, and idolatrous preoccupations”
It is written that Almighty God is once again going to “shake the earth” … indicating the removal of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken [the things of the Spirit] may remain” (see Hebrews 12:26-27). The Eternal Living God has a dual purpose for allowing these prophesied trials and tribulations. He has righteous indignation expressed through judgment on sin and sinners. “For in the hand of Yahveh the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs” (Psalm 75:8). Throughout the Scripture we see the historical accounts of the many times that the Most High God has used man and nations as His instrument to bring forth His sovereign anger and judgment against sinful rebellious mankind (Jeremiah 51:19, Ezekiel 30:24-25). However, for the righteous these trials serve as testings of the heart and the building up of wholehearted faithful obedience to turn His children’s attentions and affections away from this perishing world, its deceptive pulls, and idolatrous preoccupations. “For whom Yahveh loves He disciplines … He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His [eternal] holiness” (Hebrews 12:6-7, 10).
“Regarding these times, Yahshua (Jesus) emphasizes, “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy”
The Holy Spirit is working through these tumultuous times to turn the hearts, hopes, joys, and treasures of His people away from this shaking earth and refocused on the coming glorious King and His eternal kingdom. “Therefore, … keep seeking the things that are above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). The coming “King of kings”, Yahshua (Jesus) is urging us to stay on high alert saying, “You must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (1 Timothy 6:15, Luke 12:40). We must stay awake and prayerfully “redeem the time” by the power of the Spirit, wholeheartedly seeking to be pleasing in His sight, obeying His Word, and doing His perfect will (Ephesians 5:16). Regarding these times, Yahshua (Jesus) emphasizes, “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy” (Revelation 22:11).
Our Savior said, “the wise man builds His house upon the rock and the foolish man builds his house upon the [shifting] sand” (see Matthew 7:24-27). It is eternally vital that our lives be established in the Holy Spirit on the rock of Yahshua (Jesus). All of our hopes, desires, the source of our peace and joy, must not be in this passing world. It is an insanely terrible investment, that obviously will not bring lasting dividends. The prophet’s words, throughout the Old and New Testaments warned of inevitable destruction leading to desolation of the earth as we know it. It is written, “The earth will be completely laid waste and completely plundered, for the Lord Yahveh has spoken this word” (Isaiah 24:3, Micah 7:13, Joel 1:15, 2:1-2,12-13, Acts 17:31, 2 Peter 3:7). But the good news for “the called and chosen and faithful” redeemed is, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Revelation 17:14, Psalm 46:1).
“In the turbulent storms of life, Yahshua (Jesus) “will never forsake or leave us” and will faithfully bring us into the eternal harbor of His Heavenly Kingdom”
We have the encouraging account of Yahshua (Jesus) in the boat with His disciples, taking them over to the other side. The storms came and the disciples shrieked with terror, “we are going to perish!” Yahshua stood up and calmed the storm, increased their faith, and took them safely to the other side (see Luke 8:22-26). Our Savior’s unfailing love is with us in every situation and He “keeps in perfect peace those who minds are stayed on Him” (Isaiah 26:3) Let us keep the faith as we stay in the Spirit and cling to our Heavenly Father, unmoved by the turbulent storms of life. Yahshua (Jesus) “will never forsake or leave us” and will faithfully bring us into the eternal harbor of His Heavenly Kingdom (Hebrews 13:5).
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” and “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”, “you will die in your sins” and will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life”
Our Heavenly Father longs to give wisdom to His children, because His “people are destroyed [eternally] for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). He is beseeching us to take all of our investments, hopes, and preoccupations out of this temporal world under His proclaimed sovereign judgments. Yahveh God’s outpoured judgments must precede the fulfillment and promise of His coming messianic kingdom, the “New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2). As it is written, “according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). This is why Yahshua (Jesus), from the beginning of His ministry continually proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” and “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”, “you will die in your sins” and will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 3:2, Luke 13:3, John 8:24, Matthew 25:46).
As time is running out, let’s remember that the gospel message is “the kingdom of God is near” and the kingdom is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:15, Romans 14:17). Yahveh God is our provider. He is the great I AM who gives us every provision we need to be “more than conquerors” over our self, sin, Satan, and the world. The Messiah specified, “the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved” (Romans 8:37, Matthew 24:13). This required endurance is a by-product of unwavering faith that perseveres in the midst of great hardship and suffering. The redeemed remnant, who through faith in the sacrificial blood of Yahshua (Jesus) to cover their repentant sins, are spiritually “born again” “new creations”( John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Their sins are under the blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit gives them the grace and power to no longer live for themselves but for the One who loved them and gave His life for them (see 2 Corinthians 5:15).
“Heaven is Calling! Yahshua (Jesus) is speaking loudly to those “who have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying”
The righteous remnant are continually engaged in “the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). They are valiant soldiers warring against their flesh nature, their ever present enemy, which rises up in prideful opposition against the leadership of the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 4:7, Galatians 5:17). The faithful obedient remnant continually overcomes their enemies - the sinful flesh, the world, and Satan, “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Their rock solid faith is resting securely on the promise of “the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ]” (Titus 2:13). Heaven is Calling! Yahshua (Jesus) is speaking loudly to those “who have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying” (Revelation 2:29). He is urging all to “deny themselves daily and pick up their cross to follow Him” (Matthew 16:24). May we be inspired and motivated by the words and example of Apostle Paul, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead [and upward], I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Messiah Yahshua [Christ Jesus]” (Philippians 3:13-14). May all of the righteous redeemed wholeheartedly say, “YES and AMEN” to this glorious heavenward call!
