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"Christians Awake"
And Christ Will Give Thee Light

Christians, Awake!

• "Wherefore he says, 'Awake, you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Eph.5:14)

It is time for the church to awaken to the fact we are on the threshold of the most turbulent period of history. World pressures are mounting as a result of tremendous human need in a world that is increasingly growing smaller as a result of science and technology.

We are quickly coming to a time of "distress of nations with perplexity," as was prophesied by Jesus. (Lk. 21:25) Man is coming to the end of his own strength and wisdom in being able to solve world problems.

He can either look inward to himself or outward toward God for deliverance. As the turmoil of a nation rising up against nation occurs, man will be pressed for solutions for world peace. The "gospel of man" will soon be preached to a desperate world as a solution for peace.

There are new-age religions and philosophies awaiting that will seek to unify man in his sin-fallen nature. We all have a sinful Adamic soul in common. However, it is impossible for man to find true peace with our Adamic natures being what they are. Only when man attains the heart and mind of Jesus Christ will man discover true peace.

Social architects, who build new political, religious, and economic systems, will come on the scene, compelling man to submit to their new world order as the only hope of peace.

The kingdom of darkness will find expression through these systems and put man in bondage. Man will only find freedom, liberty, peace, and brotherhood through the abiding presence of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Man will seek to save himself apart from God by turning to the "god of forces" (Dan.11:38), which is satan himself, to save "their" world.

The Earth is the Lords

The truth of the matter is this. Contrary to popular belief, this world does not belong to man; This is not "our" world. This is "His" world.

• "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and all those that dwell in it." (Ps.24:1)

This psalm is His title of ownership. Because of what He did on the cross, the Father has given Him all rights and authority over heaven, earth, and all who dwell on it. He has been given an eternal kingdom and a people to live in it.

As distress mounts in the world, the gospel of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ will be unveiled and preached to all nations. The kingdom of God will rise up against the kingdom of darkness, contending for the souls of men.

The influence of the kingdom of God will restrain the influence of the kingdom of darkness, leaving the Lord in total control of world events. The gospel of the kingdom will enrage the leaders of nations.

• Why are the nations in an uproar, and the people devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed: 'Let us tear their (the church's) fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!" (Ps.2:1-3)

The cords of love and righteousness that bind the souls of the saints will fetter the devices of evil men concerned only with their own personal influence and power.

The conflict of the ages is upon us as the Lord exalts Himself on the earth casting down all authority. His enemies shall be made His footstool. God the Father will sovereignly and miraculously deliver the kingdom into the hands of the saints.

• "But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom forever, for all ages to come." (Dan.7:18)

The Lamb slain from the foundations of the earth will be exalted King and Lord over all things. Jesus is the Christ, and there are no other. All crowns of glory given to His brethren will be cast at His feet in homage, for He alone is worthy.

God is saving man by creating a "new humanity." He is delivering us from our most virulent enemy, the human heart. As God changes the hearts of men, righteousness will be established and shall spring forth in every nation. The kingdom will be entered by billions of saints even through great tribulations.

• "And after they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith, and saying, 'Through many tribulations. we must enter the kingdom of God.'" (Acts.14:22-23)

The Tree of Life is Restored

• "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God. (Rev.2:7)

To eat of the Tree of Life speaks of partaking of Its fruit; This is not a literal tree and fruit, but rather experiencing unfathomable joys in eternal life. It is experiencing the intimacies of His divine nature. Jesus IS the Tree of Life, and it's energized but His divine Life. When you take partake of it, you live forever.

All our problems will be solved, from personal salvation by the Holy Spirit to the restoration of creation, from our environment to global warming, by the power of His global glory.

The new creation that was envisioned by the apostles and prophets will have become a wonderful reality. Human civilization, as it has been known for six thousand years, is coming to a tumultuous, painful end. But the new humanity in the new creation will endure forever. It will be, in fact, a new civilization.

The millennial day of the Lord is near. It will begin in darkness and end in light. The darkness of sin-laden hears will be swallowed up by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. A people redeemed of His blood will live forever.

There are yet many mysteries concerning the realities of the kingdom age. Just as Joshua and Caleb crossed the river Jordon to spy out the land of Canaan and partake of its fruit.

God has a company of sons and daughters who will enter in and experience the powers of the kingdom age to come by eating its fruit, which is Jesus and the Word of God.

These are people who will walk and talk in kingdom realities, revealing them to the church and the world. God is going to give a foretaste of the kingdom, so man knows what he is freely accepting or rejecting when making his decision for Jesus Christ.

We are living in an hour when we should loosen our grip on the loves and cares of this world. We should set our affections above, where Jesus dwells in heaven, that we may better love Him on earth.

So, let us all freely embrace the cross that comes our way so that we may apprehend that for which we were apprehended by God. Let us call on the name of the Lord to be saved. The name of the Lord is Jesus. Let us praise His name in worship.

Let us walk worthy of our calling; Let us die to ourselves that we may live unto Him. Let us return to our first love so that we may revive our love of God and the joy of our salvation.

Let us be found to be a holy bride that we may be able to share the joy from knowing the intimacies of His divine Life.

Let us love Him and each other with the love wherewith He loves us so that the world may know that Jesus is Lord. And so, come Lord Jesus, come.

Brian McGrath

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