Keep Looking Up

1 Samuel 30:16-19 And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.

As I read these verses, I could not help but think of the return of the Son of David, our Lord and Savior, returning to take possession of what is rightly His. His return to takes us away, His church, His Bride, will be like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 16:15). While the world is busy eating, drinking, being merry, and saying, "Peace and security," their destruction will be sudden and catastrophic (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The Amalekites were so busy celebrating their temporary victory, that David's appearance caught them completely off guard. Christians, are we being lulled to sleep by the things of the world? Have we become complacent in our Christianity, and become like the world, living as if Jesus is not going to return any day now? Have we looked around and observed all that is happening, and realized that the Lord's return can happen at any moment, any second? What are we doing, how are we living, in light of that? Are we living lives that honor Jesus? Are we telling others, with urgency, about Jesus coming back to get His church, so that they are not left behind? What are we relying on to recognize the sign of the times, the news, social media, or the ultimate authority...God's Word? My brothers and sisters, we need to wake up and stop being distracted, and lulled to sleep, by the world. Jesus' return is certain! He will first come back for us, and later return to fulfill His promises to Israel. The exciting news is this, not only will Jesus come back to get us, but like David brought his men with him to this battle and victory, we too will return with Jesus and witness His ultimate victory over evil and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom! Exciting times ahead! Keep looking up...it can happen any moment now!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).