CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The day of the rapture of the church is fast approaching. We are commanded to not predict dates and hours but we are commanded to watch for the season of His return. In Matthew 24 Jesus said that the time just prior to his coming would be like the “days of Noah.” What were those days like? It is described for us in
Genesis 6:11-13 “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on the earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.’” Is the earth today like the days of Noah? I submit to you that it is. Just a few examples off the top of my mind will prove the point. Radical Muslim groups all over the world are murdering innocent people with IEDs, suicide murderers, enforcing Muslim law at the point of a gun or the edge of a machete, hijacked airplanes and the like. The Mexican drug cartels are murdering with impunity on both sides of the border with the US in the furtherance of their drug trade. All over Asia, Europe, North and South America, practically world-wide, unborn babies are being murdered by the tens of millions each year. God forgive us! Tribal war in Africa has killed millions in recent years because one light skinned African group claims superiority over another darker-skinned tribal group. Most recently we hear of the murder of 13 people by a US Army officer at an Army Base where soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were being processed. These types of mass murder by a crazed gunman are becoming almost common place. In addition the US in embroiled in two wars of its own. I think I have proven my point. These are becoming more and more like the days of Noah.

With that in mind and without claiming any particular day or time, we can see by the “season” of events around us that the day of “The blessed Hope”, the rapture, is upon us.
Did you know that if you love His appearing, that is to look forward to it with anticipation and delight that you will receive a special reward? 2 Tim 4: 8 reads this way; (Paul writing) “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day – and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Why would those who long for the Lord’s appearing receive a crown of righteousness? What does righteousness have to do with anything? Do you remember what Paul reminded us about Abraham? Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Rom 4:3). Obviously if we are looking forward to something with anticipation we must believe that it is going to happen. If we believe then, in God’s eyes, we are righteous (in right standing with God). What is it that we are to believe? Let’s look at 1Thes 4:13-18 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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 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."
That is why I remind you of these things, as an encouragement! If you believe and look forward with anticipation to the return of the Lord and the rapture of the church, you will receive a crown of righteousness that will identify you for all of eternity as one of those who believed and set apart. For those of you who have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ and discovered that tens of millions of people have just vanished off the earth, you may still be saved. He who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. The days ahead for you will be terrible as the wrath of God is poured out on an unbelieving and evil world but you can still be saved and go to heaven. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved
(Rom 10:9) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . .” (Jn 1:12) He is coming soon, look up for your redemption draws near. Even so come Lord Jesus!