Take Shelter Now :: By Nathele Graham
In this world, we are warned about many things. Geologists warn us that a major earthquake could strike at any time. The San Andreas fault is way overdue to shake California. The New Madrid Fault along the Mississippi River seems to be giving warnings of an upcoming large quake. Many volcanoes seem to be rumbling and warning of possible eruptions. Recently, there was a tornado outbreak in the southern part of the United States, and the US Weather Service issued “Take shelter now” warnings.
When these warnings are issued, prudent people immediately take shelter. The tornado may not affect everybody who receives the warning, but if the warning is ignored, it could result in death. People tend to pay attention when a weather alert says to take shelter, but those same people will ignore God’s warnings. God gives us many warnings in Scripture; we call it Biblical prophecy.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:19-21).
He tells us what to expect in the future, so we can be ready for what is coming. Jesus is the only shelter we can trust for perfect protection. Put your faith in Him and take shelter now.
People tend to listen to other people and think they have all the answers. They don’t. True wisdom comes from respecting God and living to please God.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
Fear of the Lord means we need to study His word and understand what God desires of us. We learn how to conduct our lives so that we don’t contract disease or cause ourselves or other people grief. Christians have no need to cower and tremble before the Lord, especially if we aren’t living sin-filled lives. On the other hand, non-believers have every reason to fear God and tremble before Him. The Ten Commandments are not Ten Suggestions. The way we gain wisdom from God is to study Scripture and pray.
There are many Biblical accounts of men who failed in their service to the Lord, but if we study their failures and learn from their mistakes, we gain wisdom.
Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of the Promised Land, but instead of driving out all of the tribes that were trespassing in the land God gave to Abraham, Joshua left a few pockets of squatters. These are areas of contention today. Joshua would have been wise to fear the Lord and finish the job.
When two angels were sent to rescue Lot and his family from the wickedness found in Sodom, Lot’s wife would have been wise to heed the warning to not look back. The husbands of Lot’s daughters would have been wise to leave Sodom and the sin found there and escape judgment. They preferred dying in the sin around them. Had they taken shelter with the Lord, they would have been wise.
Scripture warns us about sin. It’s anything we do that’s opposed to God. Adam was given one rule, and that was to not eat the forbidden fruit. He was also told what the result of that sin would be. Did Adam listen? Did Adam explain it to Eve? Eve spoke with the serpent who twisted God’s words and convinced her that she could be a god herself if she ate the fruit. Well, that spoke to her pride and was too tempting. She ate the fruit and then convinced Adam that there were only benefits in sin. The fruit looked good and tasted good, so God must be wrong.
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).
Had Adam and Eve heeded God’s wisdom rather than Satan’s stupidity, they would have been much wiser. They did learn a lesson that we all need to take to heart: God is always right, and His rules need to be respected.
“For the wages of sin is death….” (Romans 6:23a).
When you’re tempted to sin, take shelter in Christ. We all sin. Whether we think angry thoughts toward other people, look lustfully at another person, or judge others for things you do yourself, we all sin. The good news is that we can find forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus.
“…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).
Don’t just give Him lip service. Take shelter in Him, and mean it when you repent of sin and turn to Him for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When you admit you have sinned and ask Him to forgive you, mean it.
One of the warnings we must heed is the way many pastors teach God’s word. It’s the fad of our times for preachers to make life easier on those sitting in the pews. Sin seems to be acceptable, and even encouraged, and the Bible is considered outdated. If God’s truth is preached, or too deep of study of Scripture is taught, the pew-warmers won’t like it, so God’s word is compromised in order to keep membership up and collections high.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:2-3).
Paul warned Timothy to stay true to God’s word. Preachers need to teach sound doctrine, but the congregation needs to study God’s word and not get miffed if the preacher speaks against your favorite sin. The time that Paul warned about is ours. We need to pay attention to that warning and take shelter in God’s truth now. Study Scripture for yourself.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Jesus’ disciples were curious about when He would establish His kingdom on earth. Christians should be very curious about that, too. Jesus gave His disciples some warnings to watch for. He warned them (and us) to watch for wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, disease, famine, and more. God will only put up with sin for so long, then He pours out His judgment.
Jesus used two examples of when God poured out judgment because of sin as signs to watch for before He returns. One was Noah.
“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke: 17:26-27).
What was happening during the days of Noah? Genetic manipulation, and it’s happening now. Study Genesis chapter 6 and understand what the Nephilim were. They were hybrids from the union of fallen angels and human women. All of God’s pure creation was genetically tampered with. It’s happening today, but most Christians are blind and not paying attention – eating, drinking, marrying. We’ve been warned, and it’s time to take shelter in God’s truth.
The other judgment was upon Sodom and the surrounding cities. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:28-30).
It was the same attitude as Noah’s day. People were steeped in sin but accepting it as normal and just living life as usual. They were numb to the sin around them. Sodom was filled with sexual sin… the men of Sodom lusted after the two angels and after other men. Judgment came. Today, it’s all happening again. Jesus Himself gave warning, and we need to pay attention and take shelter in God’s truth; repent, turn away from sin, and honor God.
The warnings are clear to anybody who pays attention to Bible prophecy. God doesn’t want us to be surprised. The wars and rumors of war, disease, and famine are all happening, as are sexual deviance and genetic tampering. He doesn’t want us to be surprised at the wickedness that is filling the whole world but doesn’t want us to take part in it. God wants us to see the warning signs of the Rapture, and take shelter immediately in the Lord. The Rapture is the blessed hope we have to be safe from the coming judgments, just as Enoch was taken prior to the Flood, and Lot was removed from Sodom prior to fire and brimstone falling. Paul spoke of the Rapture when writing to the congregation in Corinth.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Only those who truly believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus will be taken to Heaven prior to the judgment which is soon to fall on all of mankind. Don’t ignore the warnings.
King David knew about God’s protection over those who love and trust Him, and he wrote psalms about it. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2).
There is no safer place to be than under the protection of God Almighty.
Heed God’s warnings and take shelter now.
God bless you all.
Nathele Graham
[email protected]
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).
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