Stay Tuned....

The phrase, "Stay Tuned...." usually means that there is more to come.  Sometimes that's a good thing-- and sometimes not. 

If we're watching an intriguing television program and just before the commercial break, we are told to "Stay Tuned," we will gladly do so because we want more of what we've already seen. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to doomsday forecasters like Harold Camping, reality is not enough of a check to stop their pompous, pointless and perilous prognosticating.  May 21, 2011 has come and gone, but folks, he's at it again. And so, sadly, we must "Stay Tuned" for more madness.

Yes, the signs of the times clearly indicate that we are approaching the end times.  The very fact that there are those who would dare exalt themselves to a place where they can essentially claim to be like God and know the exact day and hour of the end of time is also an indication that we are drawing closer to that great day.

It is critically important that during this tumultous season in history we keep our spiritual ears tuned to God's word.  We can not afford to think that it's enough to allow God's word to be no more than a faint cry amidst the static of life.  We have to fine tune our hearing so that God's word comes through loud, crisp and clear.  Otherwise, even though we may be clear enough to tune out the Campings of the world, we just might fall for someone else who is able to more cleverly sandwich their lies between God's truth.

We also need to be careful about placing blind, unbridled allegiance to any political party.  Our full allegiance should never go to anyone but God, because there are elements in all political platforms that sound good, but are inevitably and unavoidably mixed in with other agendas--for "there is none righteous, no not one." 

With regard to the "end times," God makes it clear and says more than 12 times throughout scripture that "no man knows the day nor the hour...."  The Greek word used in the majority of those passages is "eido" which by definition means we will not even be able to "perceive, discern, discover, look at, experience in any state or condition, get knowledge of, pay attention to...."

Any voice that doesn't line up with the word of God is a voice that we must tune out--and that includes our own voice.  All throughout the 10th chapter of the book of John, we are told that God's sheep know His voice: 

The watchman opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. (3)

When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. (4)

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." (5)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. (27)

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. (28)

Please pray for those persons who seem to have forgotten that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT seen," and are vulnerable to leaders who promise to provide tangible evidence in places where God has instructed us to place faith. 

In the meantime, instead of obsessing over the end of the world, let's get busy living the lives we've been blessed with and focus on being a blessing to others.  We haven't heard the last of Campings or others like him, but, we don't have to worry about any of that static.  If we diligently read, study and pray God's word, we will be like fine-tuned instruments in the hands of a master musician, fully relying on the Master to help us "Stay Tuned...."

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen