People who are rich, who have worked hard for their money, who live life depending on their money will probably take the mark of the beast mentioned in the Bible’s book of Revelation. They will simply not be able to deal with parting with their money.
I believe God allows something in each of our lives that has the potential of fixing our focus on Him, on His love, and His ways that can make us free indeed. That’s Who He is as our loving Heavenly Father.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:7-9
True story – As I may have mentioned in the past, some years ago, Ann and I heard about a man who had a few billion dollars. Somehow, he’d lost a lot of it but still had a billion left. For whatever reasons, in his lifetime, he’d made money his peace, his security. He became so distraught about the possibility of losing more of his money (that which had kept his life) that he took his life.
“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.”
Psalm 52:7
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
Proverbs 11:28
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 19:24
You will seek Me (God) and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Because of my struggle with lifelong health, family issues, and complex PTSD, I’m really beginning to understand the deep, secure and delivering peace God’s giving me as I seek Him more and more. And I know His peace is worth more than anything because everything else can be taken from me – like all the money we had at one time that seemed to only make us more and more tense.
While many today would like to think it otherwise, Christianity is a participation life. We must become doers of the Word and apply it to our lives in order for the truths found in the Bible to bring God’s great salvation into every area of our lives every day. This is how God keeps us.
I realize that for many what I’m about to share is a very sobering topic. I’ve hesitated about sending you what the Lord told me regarding money for a couple of years now. I’m honestly not trying to be dramatic. I’m just trying to get us to take making Jesus our peace seriously so He can keep us in the days ahead. Honestly, it will mean the difference between life and death, and that’s an understatement. I’m doing so to help us prepare for what is soon coming…
I was talking with one of my Christian cousins (haven’t talked with him in nearly 40 years) a few weeks ago. He called me totally out of the blue. I’m not basing this email on that talk alone. It’s just that, over the years, I’ve observed so many who are not making Jesus their peace.
In our conversation, my cousin told me about all the money he and his wife lost in the 2008 crash. I could tell it really upset them. I could also tell they had not made Jesus their peace even though they’ve been very active in the church for decades. So many today have no idea how to make Jesus their peace. So many choose not to do so. That’s their choice.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Jesus). 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand (anything but Jesus). 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
We’re coming into a time when people are not going to be able to rely on anything but Jesus. It’s true. We’re quickly coming to the time when a thousand are going to fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand (see Psalm 91:7) – Those people who are not ready for the cataclysmic events contained in the Bible’s tribulation period will fall. They’re going to totally freak out to the point that they will even cry out for the rocks to fall on them (Revelation 6:16). We don’t like to believe that, but our unbelief will not stop it from happening.
It reminds me of when the Bible (Hebrews 12 – Great chapter) talks about those things which can be shaken (Including everything that keeps us from trusting in God) will be shaken so that only that which remains cannot be shaken (God’s Kingdom).
So many today try to find security, comfort, and stability in everything but Jesus. They’re trusting in that which cannot keep them, in that which can be shaken (sand). They anesthetize themselves with information, education, entertainment, sports, hobbies, drugs, alcohol, vacations, financial savings, worldly philosophies, self-help topics and gurus – whatever – and they’ve come to rely on them as an escape, as a distraction from everyday life, as a way to deal with their lives, to make them think they have some semblance of control.
We really need for Jesus, alone, to be our peace. This cannot be emphasized enough. It’s been true all throughout time. It’s even more important in these last days of the end times laid out in the pages of the Bible.
We’re in a time when we’re not going to be able to rely on worldly thinking and strategies. Those ways of dealing with life are going to come to an end and will no longer work.
33 These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
A few years ago, I was talking with the Lord about money. I was asking Him why I could not make a consistent living. His answer was, “I know you. I know you and Ann have hearts after me. Where the world is heading, you will not be able to rely on money. You must learn to rely on Me, alone. This is the lesson I’m teaching you so that in Me, alone, you can have My supernatural peace that passes all of your understanding.”
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath. But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:4
How can we make Jesus our peace? Well, I’ve been writing about this for years. It’s why I’ve really emphasized the three keys to the Kingdom. I’ve listed them again below.
Believing so that we can truly know that God really is working all things together for my good.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Praising and thanking God in all things
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20 (and many other scriptures)
Taking all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (not money, alcohol, entertainment, vacations, drugs, etc.), but mighty through God (truly knowing Him so you can always trust in Him) to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
These are three vital Christian living keys Ann and I put into practice daily in order to let God’s peace reign in our hearts every day. This is the type of “doing” the Word that will sustain us in the days leading up to the rapture and end times. Please, I urge you to build your house on the rock, on Christ – Alone. Make Him your peace.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
We must all choose who or what we will serve, and in doing so, the consequences of those choices…
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding (all our striving and fearful tendencies), shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
God bless,
Mark – ChoosingJesusEveryDay.com
Please read Psalm 91. If you’d like to know more about end times events, read Chapters 37-39 in the Bible’s Old Testament book called Ezekiel. There are so many other passages regarding end times prophecies as well. You might also want to read “The End” book by Mark Hitchcock.