Like a thief in the night….

Like a thief in the night….

It’s been an interesting week….a lot of stuff has been going on. The topic that God has put on my heart this week is ‘a thief in the night’. My boyfriend, Robert, some of you have met him at church, had his house broken into Monday evening – when we were having dinner at my house. The thieves stole his TV, his brother’s Wii (that was broken and he was planning to fix), a remote that he had fixed up to work as a mouse to control his computer via his tv, they broke glass and kicked in a door. He and I were talking about how it’s a creepy thought to think that people waited for him to leave, broke a window in the back of the house and let themselves in. Then they wandered through his house, they went through the bedrooms, looking for money and/or jewelry. Who knows how long they were inside. We wondered if his car had been there would they have still tried to come in…probably not…but sometimes with a weapon they will. What would have happened if Robert had come home while they had been in the house.

I’m actually going to look at this topic from two sides…one being how we need to be ready for Satan’s sneaky ways and the second being how Jesus will ‘come like a thief’ upon His return to reclaim the earth.

Read 2 Peter 3

My bible study group just started a study called Arm Yourself Against the Enemy’s Schemes…When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. We’re only a week into the study but, man, is it good. It really is in line with what God has been telling me. The thing is…I’m still struggling….and I’m a little scared. I like to know what will happen and when. When I go to the dentist, they need to tell me exactly what they are goign to do before they do it...that way i can be prepared.

A lot of people believe that we are getting close to Jesus’ return, like, could be in-our-lifetime-on-earth close. Even if it is 'close' we still don't know exactly when. Sometimes that lack of knowing causes us to get complacent. Satan, who has had temporary power over the earth, knows that his time to reign is coming to an end…and he’s not happy about it. He’s acting like a big baby and making a big mess, and turning over tables, and putting a fight while he can until Jesus takes that power back – because He is the true, one and only Prince….King of Kings…Lord of Lords. We’re kind of stuck in the middle, in this time where Satan is attacking more than ever. But, if we believe this then we should have more faith and strength to have God driven, Christ centered decisions.

We can no longer just be living this life like tomorrow will always be here…I pray that we, as a youth group of the church of Christ, live each day knowing that Satan will attack…and being ready for it. God gives us warnings, in the Bible, about Satan’s tactics, but we need to be knowledgeable. We also need to know what the Bible teaches about how God can help us in these attacks. However, we need to also remember….there is light at the end of the tunnel, we can see it…it’s not a mirage…God promised it to us….so we need to live with hope, faith and passion in and for Christ.