MATTHEW 24
8. All this is but the beginning – the early pains of the birth pangs – of the intolerable anguish. Amp.
DEFINITIONS
Intolerable -d) unbearable, too severe or painful to be endured.
10. And then many will be offended and repelled and begin to distrust and desert Him Whom they ought to trust and obey and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.
13. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
We are being warned in Matthew 24 about many hard things that are coming upon the earth and God’s people. But most of God’s people believe they will be raptured away and there is no need to prepare or suffer. So, what is their condition but “not prepared.”
We are told in verse 13 that he who endures to the end will be saved. Endure means to suffer pain. That is what Romans 5:4 is all about. Endurance develops maturity of character and faith. The trials give us pain to endure. We can always find a way around the pain if we try hard enough. But if we truly follow Jesus, He will lead us to painful trials that will give us the needed endurance that we need to make it through the end.
When Jesus came to the 10 virgins, He did not open up to the foolish virgins, He told them who were prepared to go into the marriage of the Lamb. The others were shut out because they were not prepared, and He did not know them. They had not spent time with the Lord, and they had not endured the trials He sent.
I have spoken about the many trials I have had. I have not said much about my furnace. My furnace went out 3 years ago on Christmas Eve. I believe I heard the Lord say this was His gift to me. Of course, I tried my best to get it fixed. But nothing I did would work and I knew I was trying to force my way out of it. I bought some heaters and use the stove downstairs and my house is actually so much better.
Now I can look back and see how I have changed from this trial. My prayer room used to be the coldest room in the house in the winter and the hottest room in the house in the summer. Now it is the best room in the house. I bought 2 great portable air conditioners that work remarkably well. I used to have such fears of being too hot and too cold. I have adjusted to the heat and cold. I have changed the way I dress. I have had so many blessings because of this trial. No one would believe how much better things are for me. My trust in Him has grown and I know He will always take care of me.
When you look at the warnings for the last days this world will be judged by fire, and it starts in the sky according to 2 Peter 3:10. If the sky is engulfed in flames what will happen to the satellites? What will happen to the internet? What will happen to the power grids that control the electricity and every furnace?
Are you prepared to live without your furnace?
The definition of intolerable is unbearable. I have learned because of His great mercy how to live without a furnace. My body has adjusted to temperatures that I never would have been able to handle. He controls my thermostat, and I am blessed. He takes such good care of me, and I know He is preparing me for the intolerable.
The temperature tonight is 9. Yes, that is cold, but I know in Whom I believe, and He always supplies my every need.
Amen!