CHAPTER 23: ASK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE
There’s are many wars around the world. Russia and Ukraine are battling every day. Before the first day of that war there were people having dinner, going to work, driving their cars, going to the movies, making a living, saving money, spending money, preparing for a future. Then, in nothing more than a single moment, all of that changed. Bombs, rockets, artillery, destruction, death, mayhem and what was a day at work, or perhaps the museum — the list, all of it stopped. They could not continue. When I think of it like that, this chapter becomes everything. What happens if Putin drops a nuclear war head, here in America? What happens to my list? What if…, do you see? What I do today, what is so incredibly important to me, my trials, my complaints, my chores — all of it stops, ripped away. It could happen, as it did to so many. Any number of things could stop my plans for today. A home invasion, an accident, a health issue, any number of things could interrupt or tear from me what I thought I was going to do today. It brings a stark reality to how fast .., I could not continue.
Job 1:20-22
21st Century King James Version
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped,
21 and said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Am I strong enough, are you? How grateful to have what I have this very day? How would I long for this day, if it was taken from me?
Romans 13:11-14
New King James Version
Put on Christ
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [a]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Let me give you a little update in the middle east. Dozens of Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze UAVs have been employed by Russia against Ukraine’s electrical supply.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus is allowing access of Russian soldiers through his country and into Ukraine.
Moscow has begun preparing its streets and its underground for nuclear attack.
It appears that Tehran’s terrorist regime will supply long-range and surface-to-surface missiles to Russia.
Israel gave up maritime rights to the Qana — turning over the mediterranean sea to Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon in return for “stability”. Hezbollah is in fact considered a terrorist group by most of the world, so giving up maritime rights to a great body of water for stability to such people may not be as good of a deal as hoped for.
The relationship between Russia and Israel is already tenuous at best. The EU, needing fuel, now turns to Israeli gas after the Nord Stream 1 & 2 explosions, not a good situation in light of Russia. It is out of this diplomatic deterioration that the Ezekiel 38 war could very well explode. Scripture is clear, it gets worse, God’s prophesy throughout Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah — it gets worse, not better…, for the world.
North Korea’s Increasing Nuclear Strength.
In the U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned her position 45 days after assuming office, her tenure in office — the shortest in history.
Putin marches on even against U.S. sanctions, the Ayatollahs after the U.S. lessened their sanctions, are still moving forward with nuclear programs and supplying Russia with various weapons. Nobody is afraid of anybody…, and so, nothing good can come from that.., especially when nobody, I mean nobody fears God. All nations have forgotten our Lord and our number one prime objective.
Proverbs 8:13
New King James Version
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Everybody asks the Lord for many things. And there are many problems and reasons to require the Lord in all matters. I realized in Chapter 23, there is one request more important — one statement of fact, one realization for me, “thank you, my God in Heaven, for the peace I have in this moment, to talk to you, prepare for the day and continue.” I was free from a never-ending list of I must get that, or do that, or be that. Instead, I left it in the Lord’s hands, perceived problems, real problems, catastrophic failures, challenges beyond my comprehension, all of it. The day I figured out the gigantic gift of a single prayer that simply requested the opportunity to “continue.” An epiphany, especially in regard to sin, my own and what has come against me, He Loves me.
Daniel 9:4-19
New King James Version
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
Look at the lives we “get” to do today. We “get” to do these things. Be important, take showers, pick out our clothes, talk to clients, complain about cell phone service and any number of aches and pains — and sit comfortably listening .., and preparing for what else we “get” to do today.
Only in God’s mercy am I allowed to continue. The world is coming apart. America is coming apart. The southern borders, fuel expenses, supply chain, water, medical and health issues, government, where would I be without God? I would be afraid, I’m afraid today with God, but I learn to strengthen my Faith, through the Word and listening to correct teachers — a gift to help me understand what’s happening. Ezekiel 38-39 tells me the end of the world as we know is coming — it’s coming whether I like it or not, whether I’m comfortable with it or not, it doesn’t matter. A godless world is going to bring us into Armageddon by a just and righteous God. The World has quit asking God for help.
Hebrews 5:11
New International Version
Warning Against Falling Away
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
Pray for the Opportunity to Continue – Continue in the knowledge and wisdom of doing “what you get to do”, not “what you have to do”, rather “what you get to do”, in the Grace of God for yet one more day. When I really got that in my head — my bottom line became an extraordinary opportunity, rather than the old ball and chain. My challenge is renewed, my day filled with gratitude and cause to reflect on what God has given me.
Let me be clear about the Bible. It is a very unique book, it tells me of the future, and so far, it has always been accurate, exactly accurate. Not only is it a history book of the universe from the beginning of time, it also provides absolute evidence of the future. Prophesy by God is true, been proven time and time again, and continues to do so. Every prophesy of the “messiah”, every single one, the cross, the sword, the auctioning off of His clothes, the donkey He road through the town, how and where He was born, and that He rose from the dead, all prophesied hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. That and soooo much more. No other book or belief system has prophesy, none, absolutely none. Only God could create for you prophesy. And why would He do that if it wasn’t going to be true? He wouldn’t, that would only prove He is fallible and He is not fallible, historically speaking God is perfect and fiercely accurate. Why does He tell me in scripture the world ends? Because He wants me to do what I’m doing and know I am safe with Him, and that these things, that will happen, will happen, but not for you, if you believe in Christ. False prophets and twisted teachers who manipulate the word were not acceptable to the Lord as far back as the Word is written. Don’t be confused by them.
Deuteronomy 18:20
New King James Version
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
Ten years ago, nobody would want to hear such things, “everything is fine”, it’s all doom and gloom for you christians! Did I say ten years ago? Ten minutes ago.., yes, now, people are listening, it’s becoming clear, bad is winning. Still people are going about their business, as if the good times will never end. Be aware of God’s mercy.
Ezra 9:8
New International Version
8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place[a] in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.
In Christ, I am a minority in this world. We are His remnant. The world is closing in, but today, for yet another day, you “get to do” the list. Oh my God, what a blessing! Stay the course. The opportunity to continue! In the midst of it all, politics, religion, conspiracy, media, money, democracy, republican, democrat, health care, relationships, America, our children, the world, here I stand with God’s list for me today. Frustration, confusion, sanity strained, unusual situations, conflict, destruction, transition, government, disagreements, brothers, sisters, cell service, unemployment, WiFi, Sempre Fi, gun control, riots, systems overload, nuclear aggression, Israel, Egypt, China, Russia, history, war, no vote, democracy, hypocrisy, you – me, here we stand with our list for today, knowing that in a second, it could all change. I finally realize what I have and I don’t want to lose it.
“Jesus, in the midst of the storm, allow me to continue in Your Holy Grace.”
In 1915, Albert Einstein published his General Theory of Relativity, arguing that the universe consists of a fundamental fabric. Big stuff. I don’t care about that today. He did write something I do care about today. It’s a great little true event. On a day Albert found himself at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. His pockets empty, Einstein apologetically offered “a note” to a messenger boy in lieu of a tip, saying that it could be worth far more one day than a tip. He was right. Some years later, 95 years to be exact “The note” bearing Einstein’s “Theory of Happiness” sold at auction for $1.56 million. It said, and I quote.
“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
Great story, I hope Albert found Jesus. We have no time to talk about the way things are supposed to be, I have to deal with whatever actually is. If I worry about the past and the future, I don’t get anything done in the present.
Matthew 6:34
New International Version
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Unreal expectations and unfair expectations, we all have them. All these intense goals of money, power and prestige. Then what? It’s easy to come up short, without Chapter 23..
Luke 1:23
English Standard Version
23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
Going home means you’re dead. There is plenty to do until that happens, so let’s just “continue”, and be so incredibly grateful for each second of this day, until Christ comes and takes you home.
Frank T. McAndrew, a Professor of Psychology at Knox College, wrote. “That’s why people who have supposedly reached the apex of happiness – lottery winners, successful entrepreneurs, and celebrities – often don’t seem much happier, sometimes ever worse off.” Good information..
Ecclesiastes 3:1-10
English Standard Version
A Time for Everything
3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
The God-Given Task
9 What gain has the worker from his toil?
10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
If you’re always thinking about the future how can you enjoy the right now? “What do I do when I disagree with the bible?” You know what I do? “I change my mind.” Same thing, when you don’t think you’ve got anything to be grateful for, best to change your mind. Be happy for the list.
5 THINGS THAT INTERRUPT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE
- Out of control schedule
- Misplaced affection (anything or anybody more important than our List, and the learning of balance in our lives)
- Discouragement without prayer
- Abundance of the Flesh, too much party time: Satan wants us to get complacent.
- Parasite sins: I feel so guilty that I don’t go to church, pray or study.
Deuteronomy 30:9,
God will prosper the works of our hands if our hearts are fully turned towards him and we are walking in obedience.
Be grateful for today, thank Him, and work the list, as if it was your last day on Earth before you meet the King of the Universe. The truth? It could be, your last day on Earth…, make it count, right now — work, in the fields of the Lord, IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD, WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU — give thanks, Chapter 23, “Ask God, for the immense gift that He gives in His mercy — “the opportunity to continue.” Amen.
