I have given birth to five children.  With each one, the signs of labor did not start out clearly.  My contractions came and went sporadically with very little rhyme or reason.  However, as my contractions increased in number, length, and intensity, I knew, without a doubt, that I was in active labor and that soon a new Haasling was about to enter the world.  At the beginning of labor, I could sort of turn a blind eye to what was happening, but as labor increased, I could not ignore it.  This same thing is happening the world today.

Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” The world is groaning and in labor and the contractions are increasing in number, length, and intensity. It’s impossible to ignore the signs.  Oh, may we be wise the signs. Jesus said, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2-3) 

Jesus was asked by His disciples, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:3-8)

Timothy wrote, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Since we are living in the last days, what should we do? 

1. Be Found Ready

• Understand that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 3:23, 6:23)
• Declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
• Know with confidence that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
• Pray to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior by admitting that you are in need of a Savior, confessing your sins, thanking Him for dying on the cross for your sins, and asking Him to be Lord of your life.

2. Be in the Word

• All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
• I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:11)
• Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24)

3. Live Intentionally

• Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:10-13)
• Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

4. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:3-5)
• In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:6-9)
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Blessings to you!

Heather