Everything But What The Text Says

 I have an estranged friend who has cut off fellowship with me because of my Eschatological belief. He considers me a cultist. I still consider him a friend and often pray for his family, health, and his Christian walk. He can take a passage of scripture, count the number of words in it. compare it to some mathematical equation and find the number three or 7 in any passage. He can tell you the number of verses, words, chapters, paragraphs, jots and tittles in the Bible. It is something to see. He can tell you the history behind the verses. He can draw parallels to the illustrations, he can even tell you what preacher preached on the topic recently out if his vast selection of online resources. He is mesmerizing. Something he cannot do as well is to allow the passage to tell you exactly what is being said. What does the Bible say? What does it mean? How does it apply to my life? 

Imagine with me we are in a dark room. There is no light to be seen except for a red lettered illuminating sign above the door. WOW. Great imagination! I can see it too. Ok, what does that sign say? I am not asking what it does not say. I am asking what does the sign say? E X I T. 

This means that this is the exit. While some will grope around in the darkness and clawing at the walls trying to provide their own way of escape; someone has provided a designated way out. It is called an EXIT. That way out is clearly and boldly identified by the illuminated letters giving hope to those struggling and stumbling in the dark. 

It is not condescending. it is not inferring that someone is less intelligent or incapable of one day finding the exit as they bump into things. It is merely stating that this is a designated exit. E X I T. That is it. That is what it is clearly stating. 

What does it mean? It means that someone involved in the construction of the building knew that one day there would be a power outage or a fire. some urgent need to find the exit. They knew there would be no light source from the outside since there are no windows. They knew that people would one day need to find a portal out of the danger they were in. They knew people normally do not embrace physical darkness. Nobody who faces diminishing eye sight rejoices that they will soon lose their sight. Last night I was in a large building when the power went out. It was dark. My heart skipped a beat as I sat startled for a split second. I began formulating a plan of how I would safely secure my possessions and escort my two girls to safety. I heard in the darkness "where is the exit?" Imagine that. Someone wanted to see E X I T above a physical means of escape. It also means that there is not a way to climb out from the ceiling or tools to dig a hole in the wall from the inside. If someone was going to escape this dark room it would have to be through the EXIT. 

How does it apply to our life? 

Hey, genius! USE THE EXIT. WALK TOWARDS THE GLOWING RED SIGN. FIND THE DOOR AND ESCAPE. 

Ok, so, did i really just write a blog about an exit sign? Kind of. 

The Bible tells us that we are going face sudden impending danger and darkness. A darkness that wages war against the saints. A darkness that seeks to destroy. It seeks to persecute all who do not embrace its wickedness. Yes, I am speaking of Antichrist. He will force marks upon the forehead and hand of all those who conduct according to his government, religion and economy. There will be a righteous remnant who have already been marked. They have the mark of God upon their hearts and head. The earth will not be hurt until God marks his own. You are either going to take the mark of the beast or you will have the mark of God. YOU are NOT EVER your own. You are not a free entity. You are either a servant of God or a slave to sin. 

The way of escape is not a secret gentile door. It is Christ Jesus. We are not appointed unto wrath. (I Thess 5:9) The wrath of God is slowly yet exceedingly and purposefully tilted and will be poured out upon unrighteousness. Have you found your exit?