An ostrich is jokingly said to hide from danger by burying its head in the sand. The danger may be real or it may be imagined, but instead of facing the danger or looking for a way to avoid it, they hide. That’s just an amusing legend, but that describes the actions of many people. They shut their eyes to truth and ignore what’s happening around them. They stay ignorant; the danger is real and can overtake them as a thief in the night. This should never be a part of a Christian’s life, but many choose to live in ignorance rather than being aware of the danger around us.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away“ (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
We truly live in perilous times. All of the things listed in these verses are happening today. If your head is in the sand, you’ll say that these things have always gone on, but those of us who aren’t afraid to look know that it’s never been as perilous as it is today. Biblical prophecy is becoming clearer each day, or at least it is if you don’t have your head in the sand.
There are various ways to be an ostrich, and one way is to watch network news. If you do that, you’ll believe that evil is good and good is evil.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!“ (Isaiah 5:20).
The liberal agenda is promoted and Godly values are mocked. Deviant lifestyles are pushed, abortion is considered a woman’s right instead of murder, wickedness among politicians is accepted as long as they are liberal, and Christian values are considered hate.
Stop being an ostrich and get your head out of the sand. Listen to conservative radio or watch the many conservatives who are speaking out on You Tube. A couple of programs that will open your eyes are The Hagmann and Hagmann Report and L.A. Marzulli. These men look at what’s happening in the world from a conservative perspective and will open your eyes to just how perilous the times are in which we live. You’ll be amazed that there are Christian voices out there who aren’t afraid to take a stand for Jesus and to uphold God’s word – who aren’t afraid to call evil what it is… evil.
If you still want to be an ostrich, consider ignoring Biblical prophecy. There are many news stories that will bring fear upon you. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of His power.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind“ (2 Timothy 1:7).
By studying Biblical prophecy, you will begin to understand that God knew exactly what would happen and told us about it in order to calm our fears. God’s word also assures us that, no matter what happens, He wins in the end. If you keep your head in the sand and don’t open your Bible, you won’t understand His peace that passes understanding. It’s been jokingly said that, if you can keep calm when all those around you are in panic, you don’t understand the situation. I beg to differ. If you can keep calm in the storms of life, then you know the peace that only comes from knowing Jesus.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus“ (Philippians 4:7).
Get your head out of the sand and be aware of what’s happening in the world, but pray and trust Jesus to see you through.
Prophecy is a study that every Christian should take seriously. Most preachers don’t speak about it, but those same preachers usually don’t preach line upon line through the Bible. Those shepherds don’t want to upset their sheep, so they leave them wide open for the wolf to destroy the flock. Prophecy is given by God, so we can be aware of the times in which we live, and to act appropriately.
“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not“ (Luke 12:39-40).
Good resources to learn about prophecy being fulfilled today are by listening to Amir Tsarfati of Behold Israel, JD Farag from Calvary Chapel in Kaneohe, Gary Stearman from Prophecy Watchers, and Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries. If you’re an ostrich, you just don’t care or are too afraid. If you’re wise, you’ll study prophecy and become a watchman who is able to read the signs of the times and defend your faith.
The wickedness we see in the world is just a sign that the end times are upon us. People say that things have always been bad and each generation has thought they were the last. That may be true, but there has never been a generation that has seen what we are seeing today. A major sign is that Israel is once again a nation in the land that God gave them eons ago. It’s their land, but many nations want to take it away…just as prophecy reveals. The proposed peace agreements will never accomplish what humans want. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Oh, there will be a pseudo peace, but there’s a very evil man who will come against God and the Jewish nation.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate“ (Daniel 9:27).
There will be a seven-year time period known as Daniel’s 70th week or the time of Jacob’s trouble, which will be the final years of the earth as we know it. The events of that time period are hard to imagine, and the last 3 ½ years will be filled with horrors that an ostrich with their head in the sand denies is rapidly approaching. To find out what that week will entail, read the rest of Daniel, and Revelation beginning in chapter 6.
There are many things that “science” is developing that no previous generation could imagine. These “advances” will make it very easy for the man of sin to use technology to control all people. Technology of today is making way for every human to be tracked. Do you have a cell phone? Find out how it’s tracking you. How can every human on earth be tracked? Look into artificial intelligence. Listen to Pastor Billy Crone and get your head out of the sand.
For Christians, this knowledge shouldn’t be frightening. The Rapture will take place soon. Very soon. Maybe even before you finish reading this. As we see the signs of the times which Jesus as well as Daniel and John spoke about, we can know for sure that the “Church Age” will soon end and God will turn His attention back to Israel. Those last seven years will begin after the Rapture and will eventually turn the nation of Israel back to God. It has nothing to do with Christians. Since we will be raptured prior to that last week, we won’t face God’s wrath.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ“ (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
There will be people who come to know Jesus during that time of God’s wrath, but it won’t be easy for them. No date can be set for the Rapture, but we have the God-breathed promise that we will be saved from His wrath.
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come“ (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
The time to accept Christ is now. You don’t want to be here when the man of sin (the Anti-Christ) comes to power.
When Paul wrote to the congregation at Corinth, he had strong words concerning the sin they embraced. They were Christians but weren’t living in a Christian way. Paul confronted their sin. That’s what we are to do. Sinful lifestyles are permeating our congregations today and, like the Corinthian Christians, most pastors, elders, and deacons ignore it.
Homosexuality? Adultery? Fornication? It isn’t judging to use the Word of God to discern sin within the congregation and bring the unrepentant Christian back to a right walk with Christ. It isn’t judging when you take your head out of the sand to help a fellow Christian out of sin. It’s a sign of the times that few people confront sin in themselves or in fellow Christians.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables“ (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Paul wrote those words to Timothy who was a young pastor in Ephesus to warn him to stand firm on God’s truth. In these final days, don’t bury your head in the sand and ignore the sin within your congregation.
We all sin, but what if the Rapture happens and finds us embracing sin? When Paul confronted the sin in Corinth, he also gave hope. God sees lying as sin just as He sees murder as sin. People tend to think that a lie isn’t as bad as murder, but Jesus didn’t pick and choose which sins His blood would take away. When you truly accept Him for salvation, all your sins are forgiven, but you need to let Jesus change you and move away from sin.
When Paul spoke of the Rapture to the sin-filled congregation in Corinth, he gave them hope. “Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality“ (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
Paul says that we won’t all die (sleep) but we will all be changed. Only the blood of Christ takes away all of your sin. If you’re a Christian you’ll be raptured, but if you openly live a sinful life then the first question is whether you have truly accepted Christ; and the second question is will you be ashamed to stand before Jesus? It’s time to get your head out of the sand and understand that time is short. If you’re a Christian then live for Him. If you haven’t accepted Him yet, don’t put it off. Time’s running out.
Are you an ostrich? Brothers and sisters, it’s time to get our heads out of the sand and face the truth. We need to understand the times in which we live and share the Gospel with as many people as you can today. Tomorrow may be too late.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.
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