Saturday, January 3, 2009

Left Behind

I’ve put off writing this post because I haven’t felt adequate enough to say what is heavily burdening my heart ~ and I reckon that’s me not trusting as I should. You know how that goes ~ until you surrender and write what the Lord has burdened your heart with ~ well ~ no matter how hard you try to write a post about something else ~ the "writer’s block" won’t leave.

And, so, I decided to step out and share what has been on my heart. Any time that it involves the book of Revelation and the end times I can get a little uneasy. I’ve studied this scripture before ~ though not as indepthly as I need to ~ and I’ve heard many a sermon over the years about the rapture, and the tribulation, and Christ’s return ~ but there are parts of it that I am not comfortable in having lengthy discussions about. I read it, I believe it, I accept it ~ though I don’t completely understand all of it. And I know this is where my feeling of inadequacy comes from ~ for Revelation can be somewhat intimidating. And then I realized I didn’t have to "discuss" Revelation ~ at least not today :) ~ I just had to be faithful to share what God burdened my heart with.

I recently watched a movie about "end times." I had seen it one other time ~ and, as before, it left me feeling so terribly sad about all that will occur after the rapture. There is disagreement in the Christian circle about this movie’s Biblical accuracy and about even supporting anything that comes out of Hollywood ~ or Holl(ow)ood ~ as Jennifer at Double Nickel Farm calls it. And I reckon I can appreciate both of those arguments ~ but the fact remains that the movie was compelling to me ~ a believer ~ to quit sitting so much and start reaching out more to the lost. To see someone’s portrayal of this earth once the Holy Spirit has departed, to see the faces of individuals searching for their loved ones who were raptured, to see the total chaos across the continent ~ it continues to be a wake-up-call to me that this is real, that it is going to happen ~ possibly in my lifetime ~ and that there are so very many folk not ready.

It is sobering. It is sad. And I keep having this thought of someone out there that I could have witnessed to and didn’t ~ and they keep saying "Why didn’t Cathryn tell me? She knew. She knew all along the truth. She knew and she didn’t tell me." Those words haunt me. Frankly I don't want to be in that position. And right now unfortunately I am. Oh Dear Lord, may I not lose this urgency to share the gospel with this sin sick world. For you are returning someday ~ may we all be about Your business!

Matthew 24:38-46 ~
[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, [39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [43] But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [44] Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. [45] Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

11 Thoughts On The Matter:

Karin said...

Thank God for your heart of compassion and empathy in reaching out to those He sends your way each and every day! We sow the seed and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring forth the fruit. We do the watering, but it is His working that cause the growth! Let's join Him wherever He is at work!

Michele Williams said...

Amen! We need to share his Word with everyone. You are right...That is why I gave the plan of salvation in my Christmas letter to family and friends. Several times over the years I have done just that... I don't want any of them to say I didn't tell them about the Lord. When my father died, I shared with family and friends at his "memorial" service that dad had trusted the Lord as his savior. I shared the gospel them too. But I fail every day though... I see strangers every time I go out... I don't share with them... I should always be ready with a three minute testimony! Thanks for sharing... I need to be ready all the time to share...

blessings dear friend!

Marsha said...

I kept thinking of the song, "People Need the Lord" as I was reading your post.

May we all continue to pray ~ asking Him to prompt us when we need to plant a seed or maybe even be part of the reaping process.

Thanks for sharing this, Cathryn.

Cathy said...

How true that is Cathryn. Yet it is so hard to witness even our own families. I have felt the need to witness more too in this secular world we live in. Your music is so pretty. Thanks for visiting today and leaving your nice comment.

Lora said...

A sobering post indeed Cathryn. To think that God has specific work for each of us to do to further His kingdom is an amazing thought. I pray that I too, would be about His business.

Blessed New Year!

TO BECOME said...

A very good post. I hope that I can reach more this year than last. It would be horrible knowing that you know the answer and then just let people die without telling them, May God give me the grace to "see" those faces as souls going either to heaven or hell. connie

Cindy said...

I pray that the Lord will break our hearts to the plight of the unsaved around us and that it will urge us on to be a light shining in the darkness.

Deborah said...

Great post, Cathryn, so true!
On a sidenote...if you are talking about the movie by the same title, I wouldn't call it a Hollywood movie. The actor in it is one of the few who claims salvation who really seems to live his faith. Also, his website has a list of Hollywood movies and which ones have bad language etc. so I doubt he is popular in Hollywood!

Abounding Treasures said...

Cathryn,

Thanks for sharing what the Lord has burdened your heart with because I have been feeling the same way and also don't want to have anyone say that I didn't share what I knew ... I pray the Lord opens opportunities this year and that He gives me the grace to share the glorious Gospel message as simply and clearly as possible!

~~Deby said...

You are so right...we have a country where we can share and yet feel so intimated...recently I heard a pastor say...the fields are white for harvest....someone is reaping them...either the enemy or Christians sharing the Lord...with everything going on in the middle east....with our nation changing .....there really is no time to waste...may the Lord give us a boldness and a caring for souls in a real way...thank you for this post, it has confirmed somethings that have been on my heart....
Deby

candy said...

Hi,
I came across your blog thru my friend Sharons blog. This was a great post.
Just last week my husband son and myself watched the movie Left Behind 3. Wish we could find the first 2 in that series in our city.
Im a KJV Bible supporter too, grew up as a pastors daughter and been saved since a little girl.
I always think about how Im not witnessing hardly enough. I too feel a strong urgency to share the gospel than ever before in my life. I will pray for you, you pray for me too :) so we can all share the gospel without being scared or shy or anything. There may soon come a time where it might be illigal to talk about The Lord. We ought to be doing it now while we actually can. Im going to start today.

God bless,
Candy :)