FRUITBEARER: WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, LORD?
Copyright © 1994, 2006 Candace F. Abbott
First printing 1994
Second printing 1995
Third printing 2006, revised
Ebook published 2014
ISBN 978-1-886068-07-0 paperback
ISBN 978-1-886068-60-5 ebook
Library of Congress Control Number: 2001012345
Holy Spirit · Christian Life · Religious and Inspirational
Personal Growth · Faith · Self-Help
Published by Fruitbearer Publishing
P.O. Box 777, Georgetown, DE 19947 · (302) 856-6649 · FAX (302) 856-7742
www.fruitbearer.com • info@fruitbearer.com
Graphic design by Candy Abbott; cover photo from shutterstock.com
Edited by Diane Cook and Marlene Bagnull
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher or author, except as provided by USA copyright law.
Passages from The Helper by Catherine Marshall are used with the permission of Marshall-LeSourd L.L.C.
By author preference, pronouns for the persons of the Trinity are capitalized throughout, including all Scripture quotations from NIV, KJV, and NRSV translations.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.
Other Scripture references are from the following sources:
The Amplified Bible (AMP), copyright © 1986, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
The Good News Bible: The Bible in Today’s English Version (TEV), copyright © 1992 by the American Bible Society.
The King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV), public domain.
The New King James Version (NKJV), copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV), copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
The Living Bible (TLB), copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Used by permission.
The Message (MSG), copyright © 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Printed in the United States of America
DEDICATED
To Mom
who always liked a good puzzle
To Dad
who never wavered
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FRUITBEARER—
“This book is extremely powerful and practical. My mom read it and said, ‘It’s the first book that ever compelled me to have my Bible open and ready to read suggested verses.’ I tried the journaling—God really spoke! In slowing down and writing out what I thought I heard, I was able to hear more clearly and to distinguish ‘me’ from ‘He.’” —Kim Eckman, Coatesville, PA
“Fruitbearer is a clearly written, challenging book inviting Christians to faithful discipleship. I believe that it can help many find their way on the Christian journey.”
—Ben C. Johnson, Professor of Spirituality, Columbia Theological Seminary
“I like how Fruitbearer reads; it is open and transparent and the reader feels very safe. I think my favorite part is where the author records the words of prophecy the Lord has given her. These are extremely powerful and will speak volumes to Christians not yet acquainted with the works of the Holy Spirit. The ‘Seeds for Thought’ give the book the individuality it needs to be remembered. And the prayer at the end of every chapter allows time for personal reflection. Indeed, God’s Spirit seems to have breathed upon the pages.” —Linda Eckman, Kennett Square, PA
“Fruitbearer is an intimate, revealing account of one woman’s incredible spiritual journey as she asks the question, ‘What can I do for You, Lord?’ As the Holy Spirit reveals Himself, Candy Abbott shares her personal discoveries and provides an in-depth guidebook to fruitful living. For those of us who dare to accept His challenge as we enter a new millennium, she provides not only instruction, but inspiration.” —Gail Black Kopf, Author of Rubicon
“Candy Abbott is a superb storyteller. Her writing style is truly professional. I admire Candy’s strong faith and her candid sharing. Her section ‘Love in a Medicine Cabinet,’ on page 203, should be prerequisite reading for all loving couples. Spiritually strong and inspiring!” —Tom Lagana, Wilmington, DE
“Reading Fruitbearer has been like carrying on a heartfelt conversation with an intimate friend. Candy tells the story of her spiritual journey in such a way that any of us can relate to the trip. In reading the book, you will feel more comfortable with your own spiritual journey, knowing you are not alone in the bumps, ruts, scenic views and comfort-stations that you will encounter along the way. For those seeking a closer relationship with the Lord, or for those who already have a close relationship and simply want to review the trip, this book is a must-read!” —Chris Swim, Sorrento, FL
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Letter from Candy
Chapter 1 Wake Up to God’s Alarm Clock
Chapter 2 Report for Vineyard Duty
Chapter 3 Surrender to the Vinegrower’s Touch
Chapter 4 Recognize the Master’s Voice
Chapter 5 Grow, Blossom, Share What You Believe
Chapter 6 Plow Up Untilled Ground
Chapter 7 Receive the Fullness of God
Chapter 8 Pruned to Flourish
Chapter 9 Explore Your Calling
Chapter 10 Stand Firm!
About the Author
Recommended Resources
Order Information
A new convert expressed the confidence he had in Christ, “I feel much better now when I feel badly than I used to feel when I felt good.”
—Anchor Baptist Church Bulletin
FOREWORD
My garden calls me as soon as the ground thaws and is dry enough to turn over. Although the work of planting and maintaining my 7’ x 10’ patch of vegetables (and weeds) seems harder with each passing year, the promise of home-grown tomatoes compels me to keep on keeping on despite my aching back.
After several years of less than bountiful harvests, I concluded the soil was worn out and needed a boost. So this spring, I enlisted my son’s help to roto-till peat moss and manure into the soil. He did not share my enthusiasm that these “nutrients” would make a difference, but he knows me. When I’ve made up my mind, I don’t let anything stop me. I expect he also figured I’d never be able to handle the roto-tiller. Doing it himself was preferable to rushing me to the hospital if I cut off my toe!
Shopping for plants was a painstaking process. Should I go with a new disease-resistant variety of tomatoes or stick with the tried and true Big Boy or Early Girl? I carefully read the tags (what if someone had switched them?) and compared the size of the plants—putting down one pot and picking up another. My husband said he’d wait for me in the car!
My plants thrived for the first month as I faithfully watered them and kept watch with an eagle eye for any weeds. But the flowers I expected to see didn’t appear even though the plants kept growing taller. Out came the fertilizer. The plants, minus the needed flowers, grew still taller.
Then came drought and outrageously high water bills. The cost in time, work, and money for a garden that was not producing was just too high. Disappointed and frustrated, I gave up.
I am so grateful that God never gives up on me. Even when my life was barren of fruit, He valued me. In fact, as my pastor’s wife told me years ago, “If I were the only person on this earth, He still would have sent His only Son to die for me.”
While nothing is more precious than the gift of salvation Christ purchased for you and for me on the Cross, it is just the beginning of what He wants to do for us and in us. Patiently He begins to till the soil of our hearts, convicting us of those things that separate us from Him and helping us to pull out the weeds that would choke our relationship with Him.
He adds just the right things to our lives at the right time to help us grow and blossom. There’s no indecision on His part. He knows the plans He has for us, and they are good plans (see Jeremiah 29:11). And even when we disappoint Him, He does not abandon us.
The Master Gardener’s purpose is unwavering. He wants us to grow increasingly closer to Him. As we obey His command to “take care to live in Me, and let Me live in you,” our lives will produce fruit (see John 15:4–5). While He doesn’t say “when,” He also doesn’t say “maybe.” It’s a given. The more we choose to allow our roots to grow down into Him, the more Kingdom fruit our lives will produce.
I’ve walked with the Lord for more than 40 years and know that His Word is true. But I needed the powerful reminders in the pages of Fruitbearer to rekindle my passion to know Him better and serve Him more faithfully. So thank you, Candy, for sharing your heart. Thank you for challenging me to stay on that growing edge and to bear fruit for Him. And thank You, Father, for the countless lives I know You will touch through this book which so clearly bears the imprint of being written under Your anointing. May we all feel a new sense of urgency to live for You that others may come to know You through our witness.
—Marlene Bagnull, Litt.D.
PREFACE
This is Fruitbearer’s third visit to the printing press. For those who have read it before, I hope you will find the updates fresh and the design even more conducive to the Holy Spirit meeting you between the lines. I expect your spiritual growth has accelerated over the years as mine has; if so, you will understand my strong compulsion to get this book back into circulation.
If you are new to Fruitbearer, I am presenting these pages to you with assurance that the truths the Lord showed me in the ‘90s are even more relevant and life-changing today. But first, a word of caution: One reader described it as “a book that can only be taken in small chunks, one chapter at a time. It’s meaty, and there’s so much to be gleaned from it.” It is common for readers to tell me that they have read the book at least twice—first for enjoyment, and then as a study guide or “workbook” where they looked up the Scriptures and actively journaled in their search for a more intimate walk with the Lord.
I believe history will prove that we are living in the harvest years. May Fruitbearer be to you a gift from the Master’s hand that will stir up your gifts and callings for a bountiful crop. I wait on tiptoe to see how the Lord will use Fruitbearer this time.
Candy Abbott
Fruitbearer Publishing
“The Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
—Vance Hanver
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you, thank you . . .
To Drew, for the consistent balance you provide as my ever-ready helpmate, fun-loving playmate, and emotion-stabilizing soulmate. Of all the husbands in the world, surely you are the best!
To my children: Kim, for understanding your mom’s preoccupation with the keyboard during your teenage years—and for the indescribable joy you give me as a wife and mother who fully relies on God. To my stepdaughter Dana, for being such fertile soil; for suggesting the subtitle; and for the godly example you have established for your household. To my stepson Troy, for clinging to God while it seems all the forces of hell compete for your soul. Never give up.
To my Sisters in Christ, for your faithful prayer support and encouragement to keep on writing when it would have been easier to hide my journals on a shelf and stuff my manuscript in a drawer. Malorie, Wilmetta, Helen, Lynn, Pat, Linda, Wilma, Jean, and all the rest, including the 275 intercessors on my e-mail list—what would I do without you?
To the faithful and candid writing mentors I have in Linda Windsor, Nancy Rue, Dan Hayne, Sara Lewis, Chris Ann Waters, Gail Kopf, Marianne Leavitt, Fran Lowe, Delmarva Christian Writers’ Fellowship, and the Writeen Crue. A very special thank you to Marlene Bagnull and Diane Cook for your prayerful editing and valued friendship.
And to my grandchildren—Natalie, Trevor, Kade, and Saige—for the sheer delight you give me. Truly, I am blessed.
The church is filled with willing people—some willing to work and others willing to let them.
—Author Unknown
LETTER FROM CANDY
Dear Friend,
May I call you friend? We may not have met in person, but the Lord put you on my heart more than twenty years ago when He directed me to write this book, a task I approached with fear and trepidation. I didn’t see myself as a writer, but He did. Actually, I didn’t see myself as worthy of much of anything. I was a single mother with a child who had a learning disability. My finances were in shambles, and my life was nowhere near where I wanted it to be. And God saw me as a fruitbearer?
No way!
Yet, my heart’s cry was for something better. Something bigger. So the Lord took me on a journey that, to this day, offers new insights, inroads, revelation, and adventures at every turn. All because I prayed, “Yes, Lord!”
Have you ever felt like shouting, “Yes, Lord!”?
Has your heart-cry been, “Use me, Lord!”?
Have you ever asked, “What can I do for You, Lord?”
Then this book is for you. Through the story of my calling and faith journey, we will look at priorities—God’s, mine, and hopefully yours.
Who am I? Nobody in the world but a female fruitbearer in the kingdom of God (despite my mistakes, wrong turns, and poor choices). This is my account of how I met the Holy Spirit and have come to enjoy and rely upon Him.
So, why should my story be of interest to you? Where do you fit in? Because if you’re a grassroots believer who hungers to hear the Holy Spirit, if you want to be one of the everyday people God picks to bear His kingdom fruit but don’t know how, then you’re just like me.
Christianity is so much more than a ticket to a heavenly destination; it’s a daily adventure, a journey to be enjoyed moment by moment. Come along with me, and you will find that your faith walk is not a chore where we “strive to arrive,” but an opportunity to grow daily into the image of our Lord.
There is definite progress in my own life. I used to worry a lot about what people thought of me. Now I’m more concerned about what God thinks. I once considered my beliefs “private,” but I recognize that as a flimsy excuse for not sharing the Gospel. The Lord has plucked me out of my comfort zone and put me in a place where I know what I believe and have the courage to say so. During the ten years it took me to write this book, and the ten years the previous editions have been in circulation, the Lord has used me to plant godly ideas in fertile soil and to pull up a spiritual weed here and there. He can do the same with you.
Consider this: What would happen if every steadfast believer allowed the Lord to stir up his or her gifts and callings? What if we all were truly sorry for the many ways we have fallen short of His glory? What if God linked us together, with all of our unique differences and opportunities, in a fresh commitment to clearly hearing and heeding His call? Revival!
History shows that genuine revival began at a grassroots level where the Spirit of the Lord moved in the hearts of everyday people like you and me. Often, it starts with a curiosity or perhaps a nagging dissatisfaction of sorts, accompanied by a yearning to better understand the deep things of God. True spiritual awakening always includes honest soul-searching and heartfelt prayer. The presence of God has a way of drawing people to their knees!
Let’s look at the deep things of God.
My personal objective is simple—to sow seeds. Hopefully, these tiny seeds of faith will grow into fruit you can taste for yourself: Seeds you can plant for others that will make them want to pull the weeds out of their own spiritual gardens and seeds that will get us all thinking about how we can respond to the Lord, to one another, and to the foreboding rumblings that threaten to unnerve our generation.
Please, don’t take my words at face value. Test the things I say! Discuss them with your pastor, your friends, and your family. Get some discussion going. Probe. Dig. Dig deeper.
Please note that you don’t have to read this book straight through. If you run into a section that needs more time than you have to give, that opens a door you wish to keep closed for the moment, then move on and go back to it later. If you find you need to put the book down for an hour or a day, you’re not alone. While writing the manuscript, I had to do the same thing. In returning to it, though, I’ve been blessed and challenged. I trust that you will be, too.
Be sure to use the personal pages at the end of each chapter entitled, “What can I do for YOU, Lord?”. Invite the Holy Spirit to meet you there.
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).
Grace and peace,
“Stir up the gift of God which is in you.”
—2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV
CHAPTER 1
“Don’t worry about tomorrow. God is already there.”
—Carol Hamblet Adams
“You did not choose me, but I chose you . . . to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”
—John 15:16
Listen Up, Lazybones—God Needs You! That was the original title when I began writing this book in 1984, but I realized I couldn’t insult the reader and expect to make any sales. Not only that, but in reality, God doesn’t need anything from anybody. Today, as in 1984, Jesus is calling all believers. Do you hear Him?
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God” (Revelation 3:2).
Do you see these words flashing as if they were written with neon ink on this page? His call is more urgent today than ever before. God is fairly begging us to wake up, hear His voice, and respond to it.
I can wake up all right, but who am I to strengthen what remains of the church? That’s what I wondered when this Scripture first revealed itself to me when the Lord began nudging me to chronicle my faith journey. As the years went by and I saw God’s grace and power manifest itself more and more in my own everyday life, it occurred to me that if I did nothing more than heed Christ’s voice daily and point Christians in the direction of the Holy Spirit, the church would be stronger. I became convinced that every believer has a vital role to play in the global drama that is unfolding before our eyes. This is an exciting time for us!
Like so many of us do when we reach a certain comfort zone in our faith walk, I developed the easy habit of devotions on the run as I focused on my daily tasks. I hit the snooze alarm on my spiritual clock and went about the Father’s business in my own way and on my own timetable. Then, on September 11, 2001, the alarm jumped out of snooze and rang loud and clear.
My husband Drew and I were vacationing in Bermuda. We snapped some great pictures of the Twin Towers as our cruise ship left from New York Harbor three days earlier. Little did we know when we floated joyfully past the towers that the New York skyline would be forever changed.
I was standing knee-deep in the clear water of John Smith’s Bay, and Drew was strolling along the pristine beach when we heard the news. Stunned, I flopped on my beach towel where moments before I sat without a care in the world. The reality of the terrorist attack washed over me, draining me of energy, peace, and joy.
Then my eyes fell on the cover of the book I was reading. There, in eerie shades of red, orange, yellow, and black was the artist’s prophetic rendering of the Twin Towers in flames! The alarm clapper was ringing loud and clear through the “light reading” I had chosen for my vacation. It was Dr. David Jeremiah’s Escape the Coming Night, a commentary on the prophecies of Revelation (see Recommended Resources).
Despite the spiritual alarm sounding over the earth, in the surreal surroundings of crystal clear skies, turquoise water, and pink sand, peace flooded my soul. I flipped through the pages to re-read the part where I left off that said in the last days terrorism and other evils will increase, but we should not be afraid as these things must come to pass.
If you read this prophecy aloud to the church, you will receive a special blessing from the Lord. Those who listen to it being read and do what it says will also be blessed. For the time is near when these things will all come true (Revelation 1:3 TLB, emphasis added).
For decades, I have had an intense curiosity about Bible prophecy and the last days. My search began in 1975 with my new copy of The Living Bible. Its easy reading attracted me to the book of Revelation—territory I had previously avoided as being too weighty and too theological. But I was hooked by the promised blessing and intrigue of the first chapter.
I devoted a night to reading the whole book straight through. Although much of it seemed cryptic, overwhelming, and far beyond my comprehension, I kept on going, right to the final Amen. It left me with one distinct thought—More than ever, Lord, I want to be right with You.
Not long after that, Charlie came into my life. Well, he came into my office at the community college where I worked as the executive secretary. Every morning, this easygoing instructor would pour a cup of coffee and spend a few moments talking with me. One otherwise ordinary day, his conversation took an unexpected turn when he introduced me to new words like rapture and tribulation, Antichrist and Armageddon.
“What do you think about the rapture?” he asked.
“The what?” I frowned.
“You know, the rapture of the church. The catching away of the believers in the twinkling of an eye when Christ comes for His bride.” The Lord was using Charlie to wind my personal clock and equip me for one incredibly important journey in my faith walk.
“I hate to sound ignorant. I’ve never heard these terms before.”
“Well,” he said, “you won’t find the word ‘rapture’ in the Bible.” It’s a word the church uses to describe the prophecies mentioned in Corinthians and Thessalonians. According to the Scriptures, there will be a generation of believers who won’t experience physical death. Instead, their earthly bodies will be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. When the angel sounds the trumpet, all who trust in Christ will be caught up into the clouds to meet Him in the air.”
“I know the Lord will be coming back.” A shiver ran up my back. “But this is a real eye-opener for me. I guess I have a lot to learn.”
When I asked for Scriptures to look up, Charlie sent me to 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18.
From that point on, our coffee was served with heaping teaspoons of biblical insight. It seems Charlie’s pastor was teaching classes on Bible prophecy, and their correspondence course turned out to be just what I needed—just when I needed it.
My Bible got a workout like never before with highlighted passages and scribbles in the margins. Immersing myself in the writings of John F. Walvoord, Billy Graham, and Hal Lindsey, I became better acquainted with Christian bookstores and couldn’t get my wallet out fast enough to buy tapes, novels, and commentaries—just about anything that had to do with the last days.
At about the same time, I discovered the television prophecy teaching of Howard Estep. He was an endearing man of small stature whose broadcast, “The King Is Coming,” presented difficult words and concepts in familiar, everyday language. Although I haven’t seen his show in years, I still have his booklets and fond mental images of his sincerity as he taught from a translucent podium that was almost bigger than he was. God’s tape measure isn’t marked in inches or centimeters but in increments of faith. Little folks with big faith—that’s what counts.
God’s tape measure isn’t marked in inches or centimeters but in increments of faith. Little folks with big faith—that’s what counts.
There was a Man from Galilee who said and did things that raised more than a few eyebrows. Many of the first followers who were attracted to Jesus found themselves asking the same questions we ask today.
“Who is this man?”
“What are we to make of these miracles?”
“How are we to react to His strange teachings?”
Some of the people in Jesus’ day who grappled with these questions scoffed and rejected Him. Others believed and followed Him for a while, but then they drifted away. Only a small handful of faithful believers took the Savior at His word.
Those disciples were ready and waiting when the Spirit’s winds blew through the upper room on the day of Pentecost. At the appointed hour, on the appointed date, in the appointed place, the church was born. What began as expectant obedience ended in soul-stirring power as the disciples prayed together in one mind and one spirit.
The church has changed since then. While the Gospel has spread around the globe, the church suffers from splits, complacency, and theological debate. What happened to the unity, joy, and conviction that used to be the rule of the church rather than the exception?
We may well be seeing the end times. Some in the body of Christ are becoming concerned about the role of the church. Perhaps you are among those asking, “What if Christ returns in this generation?” “How can I be sure I’m ready?” and “What can I do to help others prepare?”
So, why have we changed? What’s made the difference? It boils down to eschatology, which Webster’s dictionary defines as “a doctrine or theory or conclusion concerning the ultimate destiny or purpose of mankind and the world.” I don’t pretend to comprehend all of the various doctrines involved in the biblical study of the last days, but I do have some conclusions of my own from what I’ve read and what I believe the Holy Spirit is revealing to me.
Jesus says He’s coming back, and I believe Him. God’s timetable is perfect. Just as Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem when every last prophetic detail was in place, He will return at the precise moment that was ordained before the beginning of time. When the heavenly clock strikes twelve (figuratively speaking), the trumpet will sound, and every living person will feel the impact. Life as we know it never will be the same.
Since we are told “no one knows the day or hour” (Matthew 24:36), the important thing is not so much when Jesus will return but that we be ready for His return at any given moment. Jesus urges and implores us to be ready, and He means what He says.
As I understand it, Christ’s return will come in two stages—first, in secret, when born-again believers will see Him, and then, seven years later, in power, when every eye will behold His glory.
Many well-respected Bible scholars think the next big item on God’s agenda will be the removal of all Christians from the earth. According to the Scriptures, there will be a generation of believers who will not experience physical death.
For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18, emphasis added).
Before the terrorizing reign of the Antichrist (that will come during the Great Tribulation), I expect Jesus will make a private visitation to gather those of us (His bride, the church) who are “still alive.” Eugene Peterson’s Bible version, The Message, paints a beautiful picture of believers who watch for His return:
The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10).
This is not passive faith. It is active faith. These are the people who will be caught up to meet our Lord in the air.
I have a dear friend who lovingly scoffs at the whole idea. She winks and asks, “You really believe this crazy stuff?” And I say to her, “With every fiber of my being.”
The question is not “What if this happens?” but “What will happen when this happens?” The simultaneous disappearance of so many Christians will be more than a curious mystery to those left behind. The people of the world will be confused and thrown into chaos as they try to cope with a loss of this magnitude. Those who have closed their ears to prophetic warnings won’t be able to understand. They’ll be easy prey for the deception of a charismatic ruler who’ll appear on the scene. This “benevolent” leader, the Antichrist, will promise restored order and peace, but he will deliver tyranny and torture instead.
By contrast, we who place our trust in the Lord, not in ourselves, have hope. Though the quicksand of society tries to draw us in and drag us under, we can look forward to a dramatic deliverance from this earthly mess. One spectacular day, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the grave will lift us up to meet Him in the air. In light of our supernatural escape, Paul’s admonition to “encourage one another with these words” makes sense.
Some call this event the rapture, some prefer the term “translation.” Regardless of terminology or hair-splitting doctrine, the apostle Paul teaches us that we are to be encouraged, not afraid.
The apostle Paul teaches us that we are to be encouraged, not afraid.
Of course, the pretribulation rapture of the church I have described is only one of many theories. Some believe that Christians will be caught up after the tribulation. Still others believe that this translation will occur in the middle of the tribulation. Each of us must decide for ourselves which teaching to embrace, just like deciding which church to attend.
Are we in the tribulation now? Well, consider this. It’s a fact that Christians are experiencing persecution today, especially in foreign lands, and they are clinging to their faith in Christ with supernatural strength. How can they do that? Because the Scriptures consistently point to hope and protection for those who place their trust in God.
How much trust did Moses’ mother have when she placed her infant son in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile River (Exodus 2:1–10)? How strong was his faith in the promise of God when he bore witness to the Red Sea splitting on each side so the Israelites could escape from Pharaoh (Exodus 14:21–30)? What level of faith did Daniel have when he sat among the hungry lions (Daniel 6:16–22)? And don’t forget Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, better known by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—the ones who danced in a blazing furnace and came out not only unharmed but unsinged (Daniel 3:1–26)!
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy (Psalm 145:18–20, emphasis added).
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24: 37–42, emphasis added).
Are you a morning person? One who jumps out of bed when the alarm first rings? Or do you hit the snooze button, hoping to get a few more minutes of precious sleep before starting another hectic day? I think Noah must have been a morning person who responded to God’s first call.
Note that God didn’t say, “Now, Noah, I want you to stand in your front yard every day and peer into the sky until I send the flood. I want you to spend every spare minute speculating about when the storm is going to hit. When you finally see the rain clouds gathering, I want you to rush around and throw a shelter together.”
What God did say was, “Noah, build an ark!” And He gave him blueprints. Noah didn’t procrastinate or panic; he heard and obeyed. Methodically, with patience and perseverance, he built that ark, one gopher wood board at a time. Faithfully, he carried out the Lord’s instructions to the letter in spite of a scoffing society.
And Noah was saved. Granted, he might have been tossed and heaved around during those 40 unpleasant days afloat and confined in the ark for 300 days (150 days until the wind blew and another 150 days until the waters receded enough to get out of the boat), but Noah and his family were saved (Genesis 8:7–11; 9:6). To say that Noah and his loved ones were “uncomfortable” would be an understatement. But what happened to the scoffers?
God may put us through what seems like torture, but He gives us second chances. He always sends a warning before He sends His judgment. Unfortunately, Noah was the only one who had ears to hear and a heart to respond to God’s voice.
God saw how corrupt the earth had become . . . [and] said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people . . . So make yourself an ark . . .” (Genesis 6:12–14).
The people who mocked God and Noah perished. They didn’t think they needed to listen to the ramblings of a prophet. They didn’t have ears to hear. But the Lord promises to strengthen those who do listen and heed His call.
If we take our Lord’s commands seriously, we are offered a comforting reminder in Matthew 28:20 (KJV), “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Jesus wants us to be just as dedicated to preparing people for His sudden return as Noah was about building a refuge from the flood. The Lord still gives practical, specific assignments to those who have ears to hear Him. It’s not our efforts that count but our obedience and reliance upon the One who calls us.
Getting ready for the rapture is like building a modern-day ark. Noah may have personally guided each animal into God’s safety zone, but it was the Lord who rounded them up. Today, the Spirit of the Lord is moving across the face of the earth, guiding believers to a place of refuge.
The more I study the mystery described in 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18, the more I marvel at God’s eternal grace and mercy. Yet, imperfect as we are, we might find ourselves obsessing over the silliest things. At one point, my biggest concern about being raptured was whether or not my bed would be made should I disappear unexpectedly. The Holy Spirit gently led me to 1 Thessalonians 5:6–9 and adjusted my focus to “be alert and self-controlled” (v. 6), to “put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (v. 8), and to hold onto the confidence that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9). He showed me that there is work to be done, not just cloud-watching.
Some believers have spent an incredible amount of time and energy debating the time of Christ’s return. Although no one can really know the day or the hour, we are given lots of clues about the signs of the times and a clear mandate to “keep watch” (Matthew 24:42).
As in the story of the five foolish virgins who ran out of oil (Matthew 25:1–13), it’s possible to be caught off-guard. My friend, Kay, said what motivates her to be ready and watchful is not so much that Jesus is coming but that Jesus is here now! We don’t have to wait for His return to be in His presence. We can experience Christ today.
These are intense days. Whether they’re exciting or frightening depends on our perspective. While the world groans in chaos, the Holy Spirit moves in fresh, unprecedented ways to counter intensifying evil during these millennium days. It’s not unusual to overhear conversations of believers and non-believers alike buzzing about the signs of the times. Nobody knows exactly what lies ahead, but the body of Christ is being prepared, tested, strengthened, and equipped to handle victoriously whatever may come, whenever it comes.
While the Bible doesn’t paint rosy pictures of living conditions just before our Lord’s return, Christ assures us that “he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13 and see 2 Thessalonians 2:13–17). Repeatedly, He instructs believers to be alert, saying,
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
We can see many of Jesus’ predictions (recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13) being fulfilled before our very eyes.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:32–33).
Here are a few examples:
1. False christs and false prophets deceiving many (Matthew 24:5, 11). Cult leaders like Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and David Koresh and “New Age” authors like Shirley MacLaine are luring sincere seekers away from family pews and biblical teaching into a mystical realm where spirit guides lead them astray. Others walk in delusions of greatness either by design or by their own mental instabilities. I actually received a mass mailing from some con artist who said, “Beloved, it is I, the Christ, bringing you greetings.” The letter went on to ask for money.
2. Wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:6–7). Daily we hear about Middle East turmoil, South African racial violence, nuclear threats from emerging nations, or political upheaval. The Iraqi situation has been referred to as the “restoration of latter-day Babylon.” Visit www.countdown.org/armageddon/war.htm if the nightly news isn’t convincing enough. The twentieth century witnessed the escalation of wars unlike any other century. The Red Cross estimates that more than a hundred million people have been killed in wars since the beginning of the twentieth century.
3. An increase of famines and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7). Who hasn’t been touched by pictures of mothers and children with distended stomachs starving in Bangladesh or Ethiopia? And what of the United States? As I write this, the Gulf states are still reeling from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Earthquakes in Mexico and California are more frequent, with tremors in unlikely places such as Delaware—not to mention the increase in volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, fires, and tornados. Consider the tsunami of December 2004 that took more than 10,000 lives in southeast Asia. Matthew 24:8 says, “All these are the beginning of the birth pains.” Just like when a woman approaches childbirth and her contractions steadily increase in frequency, so the birth pangs of Matthew 24 will increase. Here are some interesting statistics I found by visiting www.propheticrevelation.com/quake.htm—
16th century . . . 253 (2 major earthquakes)
17th century . . . 378 (2 major earthquakes)
18th century . . . 640 (5 major earthquakes)
19th century . . . 2119 (9 major earthquakes)
The 20th century alone saw the greatest number of earthquakes rocking the earth. There were some 91,000 of them (ranging from a magnitude of 0.3 to 6.99 on the Richter scale) and 198 major earthquakes (of 7.00 to 9.99). This pattern is likely to continue in the twenty-first century.
4. Christians being persecuted and put to death (Matthew 24:9). I awoke on a summer’s day in 1992 to live coverage of Christians in Peru being shot in the streets in front of their children because they refused to renounce their faith. The “Persecuted Church” in our day is widespread. According to www.christianfreedom.org, “The holdout Communist states of China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam still bear down heavily on Christians who dare to hold another master higher than the state.” In 2004, I received an e-mail with this “breaking prayer request:”
Iraq—Pray for safety for the Christians living in Iraq and that violence in the country may come to an end.
North Korea—Pray for thousands of Christians in North Korea’s labor camps and for the estimated 400,000 Christians who worship God in secret.
Colombia—Pray for the over two million internally displaced refugees in Colombia and for courage and hope in the midst of relocation, violence and intimidation.
Eritrea—Pray for hundreds of Christians who have been arrested, interrogated and tortured in this small African country over the last year for meeting in unregistered churches.
Tragically, Christians in Islamic-dominated countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Indonesia live in constant danger. It is unthinkable that Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite channel with “updated news and views,” would air live footage of beheadings of those they consider infidels, but they do. For comprehensive, up-to-the-minute information on what the church is doing to help, visit Dan Wooding’s ASSIST News (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times): www.assistnews.net.
5. Former believers turning from their faith, exhibiting betrayal and hatred toward Christians (Matthew 24:10). Islam, one of the fastest growing religions in the world, is converting Christians. One web site (www.thetruereligion.com/priests.htm