Are We Staring at the Gates of Hell or the Gates of Eternity?

“…¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart… 

“…²⁵ Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷ neither give place to the devil…

^“…29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying, as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear. ³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.”

These verses contain the most imperative instructions you can receive to get through the times we are living in, at least in the United States. I want to spotlight the word “edifying”: (def.) being instructive or informative in a way that improves the mind or character (of others). Edifying those who disagree or do not understand our LORD may be the most constructive way to live in this world, however unpopular it may seem. 

The next phase

There is more.

If you believe you were created to be a warrior for the LORD – now is the time to rise to the occasion. Do not wait another day to prepare yourselves mentally, physically, or spiritually. There is no putting it off `till tomorrow; simply start walking forward, then Yahweh’s spirit will impart within you the necessary tools, strength, and courage. I see strength rising from within the souls of my fellow brethren who have felt shackled yet have chosen to allow Yahweh to help them break free. Trust, where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor 3:17). But when fear resides in a mind, even in secret, you are more likely to question what Yahweh is doing and not want to step out in Faith, or in His supernatural strength. 

One place in scripture He used to send me to that drove me a little batty was Jeremiah 12. Each time, I would get stuck on the same verses, and I would hear Him chastise me a bit. “Why do you hold me captive in these verses?” I would ask. “I am waiting for you to understand them and how they pertain to you,” was His response. I finally did, and in relation to the call on your lives, I encourage you to meditate upon them until you do too: 

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?” (Jer 12:5)

Please, use me as an example

May I share something from a deeply personal place? Being a warrior for my Lord, my God, is something that HE has spoken into my spirit, more times than I can count. It is not something I asked for or strived for. He has spent the past 16 years preparing and molding me. And, two years ago, while I was struggling to even walk, sit, or hold a pencil, the thought of that being taken away grieved me. I kept reminding Him of who He said I am in his eyes. I begged for restoration so I could still be that warrior for Him. I do not know if it was my prayers (and those of many saints) that have gotten me to a much better place physically or simply His mercy, but at least now, if I had to battle on a level other than spiritually, I might have a fighting chance. 

What did I possess during that difficult season that made me endure? The Spirit residing within me and a deep ability to trust Yahweh for all things, both, readying me for unforeseen events. Building me up despite feeling defeated and torn down. But that is how Yahweh works at times, and we cannot fear the results. We cannot take a single step backward when He is doing so much to keep the momentum in forward motion.

We were left with foresight

Brethren: Do not look at your circumstances; only look upon The One who can work all things out, who has the best laid plans, and whose thoughts and ways are higher than we can fathom. 
We are told not to guess for the day or hour upon which the Messiah would return; this is foolish. Thankfully, Yeshua left us with this: (Matt 24) 

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age’. And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Why did Yeshua provide such vivid detail? To prepare us, regardless of how near or far His return is, we must be prepared to fight the good fight and endure to the end. Walking in that call upon your life is imperative; it is life or death for both those who are faithful servants now, or those who will be led to receive Him as their savior and God through your witness. (Those asking, are we staring at the gates of hell or the gates of eternity? Through my lens, and God’s, eternity!)

An important verse regarding the tribulation, also in Matthew 24:

29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

[Learn who Paul was speaking to, keeping in mind his ministry in Ephesus was to Jewish and non-Jewish keepers of The Way.]