The End Is Here

I don't know how many times I've heard this in my life, but I've heard it a lot. There's been so many predictions about the end of the world in the past, that people barely pay attention to it now. They scoff whenever they hear someone say: "The end is near." Or "The world is going go end." And rightfully so. People should not set a date on when the world is going to end. I mean, how would they know? But the truth of the matter is, that the world will some day end. 

But before I get into that, there is the reality of our lives coming to an end when we die. It could end today or tomorrow, or a month from now. And we don't seem to really think about dying unless confronted with it, right? Either by a relative or friend passing away, or maybe even being on our own deathbed. So when we do think of dying, we ask ourselves some questions like, "What happens when I die?" or "Does heaven and hell exist?" or "Is there really life after death?" Those are some very good questions. And most people can agree that they believe our souls continue on after we die. Whether they believe in Jesus and heaven or not, it's hard to imagine yourself just not existing after death. We can sense that our souls are eternal. 

In my opinion, I think dying is something that we should really take seriously, because it is inevitable. How can we not think about it? Let's say the 80+ years that we live is a small dot on a very long line that represents eternity. How is it that we are more focused on the small dot? What about eternity? I mean it's a pretty serious thing to think about. So I choose to think about what will happen to my soul when I die and I believe that heaven and hell exist. And the Bible describes both Heaven and Hell the following way: Heaven is a place where there is no sorrow or pain. A place of peace and joy. And beauty unlike we've ever seen. Heaven is also where Jesus is. Hell is a place of eternal fire and judgment; God's judgment. 

Now besides dying, the Bible talks about a time, in the end, when there will be difficult times like never before. And according to some calculations and the way the world is right now (signs), it seems that time is around the corner. It is a time of difficulty, where there will be war, and famine, and plagues. But it'll be way worse than we can imagine. The Bible gives details in the book of Revelation about exactly what will happen. It's also known as 'the end times'. 

Even if you believe this world we live in won't end Apocalypse style, your world (life) will end at some point. And it could be any minute of any day. If you get scared when you think of dying, that means you don't know where you're going. It's something you should start to consider. 

The Bible says, the only way to get to Heaven is through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. I bet you're wondering, "Why do we need a saviour?" Well, you see, sin entered this world when Adam and Eve were deceived by the Devil in the garden of Eden. When sin entered the world, the results were disease, destruction, deception and death to name a few. And because of sin, mankind fell and became separated with its Creator/God. Each human was born with a sinful nature since Adam, and because God is holy, we could no longer be with Him. But God had a plan, He sent His Son, Jesus, to bring us back together to Him. His Son had to pay a price for the Sin that entered the world, and when He paid the price with His own life, we were washed clean from sin. 

So you have to admit that you're a sinner and that is why you need a Saviour. You have to believe in Jesus and the price He paid on the cross for you. Then accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Live a life of repentance. Know that you are dependent on God's grace and mercy every day. But most importantly, know that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting/eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17

If you truly, honestly believe that you are a miserable, wretched person and nothing in this world satisfies you or makes you happy, then you can be saved. God can't save someone who thinks that they are good or righteous, or someone who is satisfied with what this world has to offer. If you understand sin and the impact it has on your soul, you can pray to God to save you through His Son, Jesus. Ask Him to open your eyes and to get to know Him more. Get a Bible and start reading. It is never too late, because Jesus can forgive you.

There is no other way to Heaven but through Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And once you realise and truly understand what He did on the cross for you, you will come to love Him. And we love, because He first loved us. 

My Faith Renewed

This is a personal short story about my renewed faith. I wanted to write this to encourage anyone who feels anxious or like nothing makes sense. Or maybe you're looking for more in life. I hope and pray that this helps. I'm not a qualified theologian, this is just what I've learned...

As a child I went to Sunday School every now and then, depending on when my parents or my older siblings took me. I had a red children's Bible that I loved, that had stories of Jonah, Noah, Jesus, etc. But my family didn't live like Christians. Then when I was 9, we moved to Cape Town, and I think one of my mom's friends invited us to church. That's when my life changed. I really got to know Jesus, I gave Him my heart and got baptized. I had some of the best days of my life in that church, such good memories.

Then I turned 23 and wanted to go my own way. I told everyone around me that I wasn't growing in that church, and that I wanted to look for another church. I wanted to choose my own church to go to. I took a few Sundays off from going to church, telling myself that I went for SO many years, that I deserved a break. I ended up never going to church again. 

I still believed in Jesus, but I wanted to live my life how I wanted. I got a job overseas where I met my husband, and lived my life how I wanted to. But I slowly started dying spiritually, and I grieved the Holy Spirit. I still prayed to the Lord, but I lived a sinful life. Even though I was happy on the outside, I was miserable on the inside. Nothing satisfied me anymore, nothing I did brought me happiness. And I tried to turn my life back, but it was very hard for me because something was blocking me. 

My husband and I worked overseas for six years, and decided that we're not going back this year. And this is how I know that the Lord is faithful; I know that through the 8 years since I left the church, that He kept His hand over me. I saw it all the time. We drove thousands of miles overseas, and had a few close accidents, but the Lord always protected us. He guided me, I made wrong decisions, but all the big ones I know He made for me. And this was one of them. Something inside me just said that we weren't going overseas this year. It wasn't an easy decision, because the money was overseas, but I never let money rule my life. 

I had so much free time since we got back from overseas, but I never spent any of it reading the Bible or praying. I tried praying and making time for the Lord, but I couldn't get myself to do it. As if something was holding me back. I prayed for things, but it was always brief, and only for things that I wanted or needed; it was very self-centered.

Then this year started out very rough. We got a new puppy that got very sick, and I spent sleepless nights over him. I prayed for him for healing, and I believe the Lord healed him because he fully recovered from a rare virus he had. Even the vet said he was baffled by it. In between that, I was looking for a job, but I knew that my puppy was too young to be left with my parents, so I wasn't in a hurry to find a job yet, until he was a bit more mature and easy to handle.

Then came the virus in 2020. Along with everyone else, fear gripped me. I was so anxious about getting sick, and my parents getting sick, but I knew not to fear because the Bible tells us so. So I tried not to panic. I read the book of Revelations though, because something was telling me that I might find the answer for what is happening in there. I have a Bible that explains the verses, but I still didn't understand what I read. 

Then on the night of the 23rd of March, I watched a video of a guy talking about everything going on, and that it was all planned. Whether that's true or not, I went to bed questioning everything that was happening around me. 

The next morning I woke up nauseous with a tummy ache. I've never had a feeling like it in my life. I rushed over to my mom where I burst out crying because the things that are happening, are not a coincidence. I realised that it could very well be the end of life as we knew it, and if it was the end - I wasn't ready. I realised that I wasted so many years of my life trying to live my way, instead of the right way - the way that my Creator wanted me to live. That's when that thing that blocked me just lifted, and I could see very clearly everything around me. I knew I had to repent, and turn back to Jesus before it was too late. Since I did that, I've felt satisfied and happy again - complete. In the midst of all the chaos, I have perfect peace because of Jesus Christ.

I know that things won't ever be the same again, and that we are living in the last days. There's so much evidence, and everyone who believes, know that the Rapture is imminent. For anyone who doesn't believe in the Rapture - it means that there will be a moment in time in the near future, where a whole bunch of people are going to disappear. The world will make up some or other reason for it, but I'm telling you the reason now - the Rapture is the day Jesus comes to fetch His bride (the church). It's not too late for you to join the bride.

But for those who aren't taken up with the Rapture, just know that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you will be saved. It's never too late. After the 7 year tribulation (this is going to be a very hard time), Jesus is coming back, this time every eye will see Him on the clouds. He is coming back to make everything right again. There will be no more sorrow, no more hunger, no more pain, no crime, just peace. He will make right what the devil did in the Garden of Eden, when he misled Eve and caused her to sin.

Believe me, I know that it sounds crazy, but all Jesus asks of us is to believe in Him. Believe that He died on the cross for your sin, and that He rose again. Repent and Believe in Him, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He loves us so much, and He wants all of us to have eternal life. Since that moment of awakening, I've also started to really study the book of Revelation with the help of https://www.discoverrevelation.com/ website. If Revelation is too much at first, maybe read the New Testament in the Bible first to understand what it means to be a Christian.

Love & Blessings