A new year, a new opportunity...

I remember getting close to the year 2000, it all seemed to get to an end, there were a general fear and all kinds of presumptions and "prophecies" regarding the end of the world, the Apocalypse. Nothing happened. Then 2002 came with a total solar eclipse, and even if this phenomenon happens every 80 years, this seemed to be one of the special signs to mark the end of the world...

Here we are in 2019, still alive and still on earth, waking up each morning and living our lives, fighting out battles, getting older, breaking into the third millennium. How much is this going to hold?

I really don't have the answer to that, but I sure have the words of Jesus, teaching us how to live our lives as if the end was imminent. In Matthew 24:42-44, Jesus says:

⁴² Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We are living difficult times, not because of persecution to the Church, the difficult times of persecution just made the Church stronger. We are living difficult times today because sadly the modern Church has been invaded by a materialistic comfort lifestyle, more proper to the enemies of the cross than to those who live for the kingdom of God.

Luke 12:15 says: And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Our lives are precious in the eyes of God, of course, material things cannot compare to the gift of life that God imparted to every human being in a special way. But sometimes, we let ourselves be fooled by the evil one's twisted view of reality. We just give up and go with the flow, taking care of our earthly issues as if there was no loving God wanting to save all people through us as if there was no Bible to give true comfort and instruct for the better, as if a new life in Christ is just a mere statement with no power to change a life for eternity.

Matthew 24:10-12 says: "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

I know you may feel identified, I do too. It's a constant battle to stay focused on Christ and our Father's business. Not easy because we are fighting against Satan and his plan to weaken the Church and keep as many people in the darkness.

Thank God, He renews the opportunities, He is a God that knows about our weaknesses and He is the one that lifts us, holds us and gives us the power to complete His holy plan of salvation in Christ Jesus.

Jesus's way of life is described in John 9:4 - "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."  

In Luke 4:43 Jesus says: "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose."

There are two main things Jesus states in these verses, and we, as his disciples should have them as truths to focus on this 2019.

1. There is work to do and it is urgent, because "the night cometh, when no man can work"
2. The work consists of a burden to "preach the kingdom of God", the good news of salvation from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Is your heart synchronized with the heart of the Father? Are you living for the material or for the spiritual riches? Do you have a burden for lost people? Do you feel responsible to share the Great News to a needed and thirsted family member, friend, neighbor?

There is no bigger goal to reach this 2019 than getting close to the heart of God and working in the Father's business.

I wish you have a blessed year, may we all get Heaven closer to earth this 2019 and each year, month, day to come, until God decides to put an end to this fragile world.

May all the glory be to God!

With love in Christ,

Tiby, JT4Christ Founder

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