Discerning Our Time By Luz Cintrón October 21, 2001 Web Site:http://www.thepearlsofwisdom.net

 
 
 

Then You shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.”

Malachi 3:18
 
 

I may be wrong in this, but I THINK, if there is going to be a persecution of Christians in this world,  if the scriptures are to be fulfilled as they were written in Revelation, Daniel, Malachi and many other prophets,  the only religion that can engage in something like that is Islam. I think that our prayers can buy us time to gather the harvest and secure it for the Lord. Just that. It brakes my heart when I see how we dance with the one who will eventually shed the blood of many saints and do nothing.

How far from now?, I do not know. There are parts of the world in which it is already happening,  Christians have endured and still face daily, persecution and death at the hand of Islam. Waged rampantly, unhindered, even encouraged by those in power in the nations of Islam. How long until it knocks our door? I do  not know but this I know, that maybe our children or our children’s children and some of us who may remain will face the consequences of our choices today. I do not feel it will take too long. Things are moving fast nowadays.

When I think of this, I see the faces of my own and wonder what  am I handling down to this next generation, that even now, is taking its place and starting to engage themselves to the Gospel? I think of the two girls from the Antioch Church, imprisoned in Afghanistan, and how that  can be easily multiplied, and brought not far away but right here, where we stand complacent and comforted in our abundance of nothing. It burdens me.

It brakes my heart to see, that it will be our own lukewarm disposition, our political correctness, the world in the church, which is paving the way for the things to come. I can’t help to see it.  Its here, that will happen because we have failed to bring the gospel to these gathered by the Lord from all the nations and placed in our midst. These ones called to receive the gospel from us, His bride. While we in our lukewarm heart, have not carried the burden of those in darkness, and complacency have got the best of us. It may happen that  darkness will rise upon us, and we will live under it and suffer what it is. That is why it is so important to pray and fast and afflict ourselves before the Lord for these souls, these captives of darkness, and travail for their souls. But comfort is a stronghold of darkness in the midst of the church.

I long for the conversion of Bin Laden, that the power of the Lord will turn him into another Paul. I long not knowing how to make these things come to happen. Knowing also that it is not in my power to cause them. In trust, allowing my heart to be burdened, standing in that trust, before the One who has the power to turn the tide around, and bring salvation into the hearts of men. The One who holds the keys of David, whose authority He bears upon His shoulder, the same shoulder He willingly placed under the cross. The same shoulder He did not hide from the heavy price, that salvation of mankind requested from Him. But He placed, willingly,  His shoulder underneath it, and brought Himself low to lift us up  in hope, in  life, fulfilling the desire of not only the Father’s heart, but His own. Him who said of Himself longing to endure the price of love:

“I came to send fire on the earth and how I wish it were already kindled!
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”

Luke 12:49-50

How far our hearts are from His?  Are we distressed to see His salvation accomplished among the people of Islam? Are we allowing  our hearts to be filled with the anxious desire, and burdened with the passion to reach those in darkness? Are we distressed?  Are we? Do we live in  distress before Him not allowing ourselves to be moved until it is accomplished? What are you laying down in your life for this?  Where are you  giving your shoulder unto the Lord to carry the  part of the cross that belongs to each and every believer ? Have you not heard, have you not read?:

“So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:12)

Do not allow yourself to be deceived, what we sow is what we shall reap. If we sow in slumber we shall reap destruction. If we  sow in apathy we shall reap discomfort, and suffering and persecution. Because even in that, the mercy of God is revealed, that He will remain committed to our perfection. For the fire of the crucible removes the dross and brings perfection. We shall enter the kingdom because He is faithful, one way or the other we shall enter. We can enter in glory and joy, assured, firmly grounded in the Lord, in singleness of vision and purpose, knowing the generation to follow has been rooted and grounded on the Rock of Ages and the fires of persecution will only increase the shine of His Glory on them. Becoming as those spoken in Hebrews chapter 11:34

“quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the army of aliens…” (Hebrews 11:34)

Become as those  spoken of, who being tortured did not accept deliverance that they may obtain a better resurrection…  those of whom it is said :

“Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-

Of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise…”
Hebrews 11:36-39

But we have received the promise, making us part of them and them part of us in His provision through Christ, in Whom all is fulfilled in love and justice.

Or we can be  as those who barely escape when the nature of our work is made manifest as it is written:

“ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

If anyone’s work which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward.

If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
Hebrews 3:13-15

And this is not a mystery, but something plainly spoken unto you, that you take heed and become wise in the wisdom of the Lord, and be prepared. Because the time of fire will come regardless of what we do or don’t do,  to reveal all things in their true nature. We can not avoid it, but we can be made ready.

“For behold the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do
Wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall
Burn them up,
Says the Lord of host,
That will leave them neither root
Nor branch.”

Malachi 4:1

 Today is the day to choose, that has been given us, to wake from apathy and slumber, for the arm of the Lord is making Himself ready for battle and His day is coming burning  in the righteousness of His Holiness . Today we can seek Him still, and secure our souls and the souls of those we love, our children, by being wise in His wisdom and heeding His word. Teaching our souls and those given us, to seek Him in  fasts and heaviness of heart. Let us approach the throne of grace on behalf  not only of ourselves and our loved ones, but on behalf of the harvest and secure them in Him. For who knows how many Christians  were fasting and praying for the conversion of Saul of Tarsus when the Lord  stepped on his way and revealed  Himself to Saul.

Oh, if this man, Usama Bin Laden,  would be converted! Just think how many more would come into the light of Christ because of him! How much blood could be averted, how much destruction even of his own soul. That in this conversion the arm of the Lord be manifested and the faith of many strengthened to endure the things prophesized.  Much glory would be  given to the Name of The Lord, our God, in the salvation of this soul! For me, all else is a waste of time aside of intercession for the souls captives to Islam.

If we remain complacent and  our small world untroubled, know this: there are those who are willing to pay the price to destroy the kingdom of God and even as I speak, those are getting strong in their resolve. Resolve who is backed up  by the kingdom of darkness and their hour is near.  What will you do in the day of the Lord?  Where will you be found in the day of His power? What of all you have now will remain then?

If you have the time  I want you to read this article from the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/10/14/MN228341.DTL
 
 

Your servant in His love;

Luz Cintrón
Let us be glad and rejoice,
and give honour to Him: for
the marriage of the Lamb is come
and His wife hath made herself ready
...Revelation 19:7.