Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 January 2014 Romans 13:12

Romans 13:12.    The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Well hello there all you beautiful believers in Christ Jesus! And a good morning to all you unbelievers too, because there’s nothing that Christ and I would like more than that you become believers, by accepting His saving grace and redemption and thus freeing your souls from eternal separation with the Most High God Jehovah. Oh what a day that would be in your lives, in the life of Christ’s church and in heaven too, where joy reigns when even one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7a)

Anyway Friends, it looks like I’m only going to have time to start the Bit then run, because we’re supposed to be going for breakfast down the street at Rosie’s Bakery at 9 – it’s now ten after – then head for the beach at Store Bay. So I won’t be able to continue until after that. Oh it looks like the Duchess is ready, so I’d better run. More time!
 
Aye mih bredden, the ole fella’s back to the Bit at last. I know you’re disappointed that it doesn’t always come in the early morning hours, but you have to cut the ole fella some slack. (smile) I’m on holidays, and have no idea what one day to the next will bring. So if some days it arrives a tad late, just be happy for me, because it will most likely mean that I’m out somewhere enjoying myself, before returning to that awful cold up north, or I enjoyed myself the night before and couldn’t rise early in the morning.
 
The good news though is that we’re here now, after a nice dip in the almost calm, beautiful, aquamarine, restorative waters of Store Bay, including a couple of turns up and down the beach. Then coming home to chow down on some carrot and coconut bake and saltfish from Rosie’s, washed down with some dark, delicious mauby.
 
Oh Friends, that’s surely what heaven’s like! And obviously, after all that exertion, (smile) I had to rest a spell. But now we’re up, bright eyed and bushy tailed, just rearing to go. And my Friends, we have to pay very careful attention to these quickly passing days, for as our Bit so wisely informs us: ‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.’
 
And all of that is undeniable, gospel truth Friends! For the powers of darkness certainly have a strong grip, a stranglehold on our world right now. But have no fear people, for the cleansing light of day, Jesus’ return, is imminent! The problem though my brethren, is that no one knows exactly when.
 
For as Christ Himself said: ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman (master) of the house had known in what watch (hour) the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered (allowed) his house to be broken up (into). Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt.24:36-44)
 
Oh my people, what could be simpler and more explicit eh? Jesus has put it there for us in Technicolour! How can we not understand and follow His wise advice eh? We do so at our peril, at the loss of our eternal souls!
 
That’s the best possible reason for us to get up and get ourselves ready for that most important and memorable occasion; the Second Coming of Christ! And remember, Jesus says that ONLY the Father knows when it’s going to happen, that’s why He cautions us to watch and pray, so we won’t be caught napping, caught unawares.
 
Now here are some interesting and important comments from the scholars. ’24:35-38. Verses 35 and 36 warn against attempts to set an exact date for Christ’s return at the end of the church age. To speculate that “day” and “hour” do not eliminate “year” is a gross oversimplification. The Father only knows the time of Christ’s return since it has been set by His authority (cf. Acts 1:7).
 
However, we are given a comparison to the days of Noah (and the Flood), which illustrate and prefigure the condition of humanity at the time of Christ’s return. The last generation, like the one of Noah’s day, is pleasure-oriented and self-gratifying by eating and drinking. The reference to marrying and giving in marriage may refer to carrying on the normal course of life without heeding the impending judgement.’ 
 
Oh Friends, I surely don’t need to point out to you that this generation fits that description perfectly! The pleasure-oriented and self-gratifying lifestyle fits us to a T!
 
Now hear these other comments of the scholars. ’24:39-42. The observation that the people of Noah’s day knew not the severity and suddenness of the coming destruction indicates that this last generation will be totally unprepared for the coming of the Son of man, the return of Christ to judge the world. (See 2 Thess.1:7-8.) The reference to two being in the field or at work at the time of Christ’s return implies the suddenness of His coming to separate the lost and the saved.’
 
And therein lies the dilemma my brethren! Christ’s return will be a sudden happening, so if we’re not prepared, then simply put; crapaud smoke we pipe! In other words, we’re lost forever!
 
So please, let’s wake up, let’s be wise and set our houses in order so that we will be ready whenever our Saviour returns. Be it today, tomorrow, or many years hence, let’s be prepared. Much LOVE!
 
…preparedness for Christ’s return is not an option…it is the only wise and sensible way…