The Blessings Which Could Be

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject: The Blessings Which Could Be

The Blessings Which Could Be

Scripture:

The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:1-5)

And that, knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ: and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences. (Romans 13:11-14)

And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For, as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark: and they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Watch therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. But this know, that, if the good man of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. (Matthew 24:37-44)

Reflection:

What blessings would come to the children of His creation if they but sought to learn of His ways and live according to His Word? The greatest of His commandments are to love Him and to love their neighbor. If all sought to live seeking Him and in care of one another rather than in search of selfish desires, then, there would be no food upon which evil might feed.

If the people of all nations sought to live to yield no harm and to promote the blessings of all, there would be no conquest, there would be no conflict, there would be no war, there would be no oppression. Soldiers and their weapons would become useless for there would be no threat to the innocent and defenseless. There would be no need for the law keeper, the lawyer, the judge or the jailer for evil would not be able to tempt criminal hearts from weak souls.

If the ambitions of the people were to build riches of soul over riches of the world, blessings would be shared from heart to heart, from community to community and from nation to nation. If the Holy Spirit led every heart, no one would need to worry at how they may be treated, for He is love and He seeks to guide all to the blessings of His light. If every child of His creation sought to live by His Word, no one would seek the destruction brought by the intoxicants of the world, for there would be no pain, no emptiness, for each heart would bask in His warmth.

If every mother and father were filled with His love, no child need fear as they fill the womb. There would be no family which is broken by selfishness or abuse. Each generation would guide the next with the blessings of love. The elders would prepare the youth to assume their place according to the design of God to guide the generation which follows so all might claim the blessings of peace and rejoice in the glory of their God.

The days of salvation from all which is wrong with the world are near. The faithful have but a taste and are thirsty for what He will bring upon His return. Those who have felt Him in their heart are weary of the ways of the world and look to the moments which draw near where He will gather the faithful to His kingdom. The challenge thrust upon His believers will be lifted and He will reward love with an even greater love. All who have kept Him faithful in their hearts will rejoice in this day.

Many speak of and will ponder what will happen in the last days. They speculate the warnings placed before us and the signs of the times. They seek to calculate the moment when the end might be near, but what if our last day were today? What would be the last moment shared with our families and loved ones? What would be the last moment we would present to Him as evidence of our belief in Him?

Would the memories of our time reflect a prevalence of sin or virtue? To have but one sin should fill us with the full weight of sorrow; how is it, then, we are so willing to crush ourselves with the weight of the sins which fill our days? How is it, then, we contribute so freely to the evil which surrounds us? How is it, then, we expect Him to come to claim us when we fail to heed His teachings? And still, His love is so great for us, He sacrificed Himself so that weight may be lifted to us if only we seek Him.

If we find but a small ember within our hearts of the desire to know His love, He will reach out to us. We can fan the ember to a flame through prayer and how we choose to live our days. If we are pulled to the side of evil, we may reverse the tide by reaching to Him. If we invite Him into our hearts through prayer, He will not deny us; but the time is now, for not one of us know for certain the moment our days of this world will end.

The young do not always comprehend the value of their days for they do not perceive the shortness of their lives. Those who realize how their final moments draw closer with each winter, with each moon, with each sunset, with each breath; are left to reflect upon what they have done and what they have failed to do. Some will deny there is a judgment which awaits them, but it matters not for the hour will come where He will bring certainty to them. It is better now to reflect upon that moment and pray for the forgiveness of our sins than to face Him in the final moments with a heart shuttered to Him. The responsible one will stand watch and be ready to rejoice as the light draws near, but the foolish will wander and become lost in the darkness, risking that they may miss the day of celebration for which every heart should yearn.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier