#16 Eclipse

Today is April 8, 2024, and here in the United States, we are awaiting a total eclipse of the sun.  Then I wake up and the first verse I read has to do with the end times. 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11. It starts off with, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

 

There have been several Christian commentaries talking about the last 2 eclipses and the fact that they are 7-years apart, with 7 being the number of completion. That the path of the two eclipses creates an x in the center of the United States referring to God rendering judgment on this nation.  There are also partial truths about the eclipse from 7 years ago passing through 6 cities named Salem, which means peace, and then this one passing through 7-cities named Nineveh referring to God’s judgment.  Again partial truth, most of the cities called Niniveh are outside of the total eclipse, but still to say the least there are some pretty stark coincidences in the path. For a large portion of my life I’ve heard it said before that if God doesn’t judge the United States He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Most of, if not all of the time that I’ve heard that spoken it was almost in a prideful way, almost rejoicing in God destroying a place.  After my small glimpse of God’s love for us, I find myself more broken over the loss of the souls of others than I am longing for judgment.  Be warned God will have His day, He will judge this earth, it has already been spoken it will happen.  

 

Here is my greater concern. It has to do with how much time I’ve wasted in my life, and how little influence on eternity I have made for the souls of men. Many Christians look for judgment longing for the day of “I told you so,” instead of falling on their faces and crying out to move the heart of God for those who do not know. We are looking to one day in time when an eclipse passes over the earth instead of the end times which we are clearly living in. We almost act surprised that there would be such a day, resting in false peace. My heart is too far from Him. I’ve not sought him the way I ought to, I’ve not let him work his life through me onto others, I’ve allowed my tongue to be stuck to the roof of my mouth, instead of allowing it to bring life and hope and His great love to those around me.  

 

Yet, “won’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”  These words come from Genesis 18:25 where Abraham starts to cry out and plead in such a beautiful way for God to hold off judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah.  He prays and converses with God asking multiple times for a better chance for the cities.  Each ask is granted until it is finally decided that God will hold off the judgment of two entire cities for the sake of 10 righteous people. 

 

Here is what I’m asking of myself and of you. Do we have the heart of Abraham? Are we intimate enough with the Father that we can change his heart and plead with Him for a chance for those around us? Are we interceding for those who don’t know Him, and also for those who do? Judgment affects us all. It is harsh, it is scary, it is deadly, but I can’t help but think that it may bring all of us to our knees in repentance. 

 

Father,

 

Thank you for Your great love for us. It is constant and it is perfect. I need You today to bring me to the place where You can use me. I long for a relationship with You that is alive and overflowing, or at least I say I do, but yet I lack so much. I’m weak in so many areas. This world holds so much of my heart and I know You need me and long for me to be fully enveloped and immersed in You. Why do I struggle so? Thank you for Your protection, Your peace, Your favor, Your love. Without it I would be undone, with it I have great hope. Have mercy on us. It’s completely undeserved but without it, we are undone.  Let me know Your love in a greater way today. Let me live in the fullness of it and let it pour through me onto a dry and thirsty land. Jesus be with me all day, may I walk with you so intimately, just like your disciples did. Holy Spirit dwell in me completely, speak to me, lead me, and help me give you everything.  

 

In Jesus name, amen.