Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. 

—Jeremiah 33:3

Scripture:

Jeremiah 33:3 

The Bible tells an interesting story about a man named Gideon. God told him he was supposed to lead the Israelites into battle, but Gideon was a little on the timid side. And he wasn’t so sure that he was the person God wanted for the job.

So he said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised” (Judges 6:36–37 NLT).

To put it in modern terms, it would be like saying, “Lord, if this is really from You, I want to go out in the morning and find dew on my car but not on the ground or anything else.”

The next morning, the fleece was just as Gideon asked. Then he asked the Lord for one more test, saying, “This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew” (verse 39 NLT).

The next morning, Gideon woke up to discover that God had again confirmed His word to him.

We don’t need to ask God for dew on animal skins, but we can ask Him to confirm His word to us. This can come in a lot of ways. God can speak to us through circumstances as we sense that something is the will of God and doors are opening for us.

But we also must have God’s peace when we’re asking God to lead us. Perhaps there’s a stirring in your heart. You’re dissatisfied with where you are and sense that something new is about to happen.

And then, when you take that step of faith and find yourself in the will of God, He floods you with His peace. The peace of God confirms that you’re moving in the right direction.

Colossians 3:15 tells us, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (NLT).

God wants to reveal His will to us.

But just as important as the will of God is the timing of God. Sometimes we have the right idea, but we’re a little slow about getting to it. At other times, we have the right idea, but we’re a bit ahead of the Lord.

For example, God called Moses to deliver the Israelites, but Moses was about forty years off. He had the right idea but the wrong timing.

Maybe you’re in the process of discovering God’s will for you. Or maybe God has shown you His will, but you’re a little slow in getting to it. Or perhaps, like Moses, you’re a little ahead of His will. Know this: God has a plan and a purpose for your life.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. 

—Psalm 119:98

Scripture:

Psalm 119:98 

When we want to know the will of God, we need to look in the Word of God. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT).

God never will lead us contrary to what the Bible teaches. The Bible is the clear revelation by which we measure all other so-called revelation. It is the rock of stability by which we measure our fickle human emotions.

The way we know whether something is true or right is by comparing it to what Scripture teaches.

This is important, because sometimes even believers allow their emotions to get the best of them instead of basing their decisions on the clear teaching of the Bible.

God speaks to us through His Word. We find everything we need to know about Him in the pages of Scripture. Jesus said, “Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures” (Hebrews 10:7 NLT).

The apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).

The Bible straightens us out. It shows us what is wrong in our lives. That’s why we need to immerse ourselves in it. And as we read the Bible, often we’ll discover a certain verse that speaks directly to our situation. We’ll find the answer we were looking for.

Yet sadly, many of us won’t even open it.

Let’s say that you’re expecting an email from someone. You think, “I just wish he’d write me! Why don’t I hear from him?”

Then one day you open your email and see a message in your inbox from the person you’ve been waiting to hear from. But instead of reading it, you get upset and think, “Why doesn’t he ever talk to me?”

You need to open that email and read the message.

Some Christians never read the Bible, but then they say, “God never speaks to me. I never hear Him. Why doesn’t He say something to me?”

They just need to read the Bible. It’s our email from God, our message from Him. But the words don’t simply jump out. First we must open God’s Word. We have to read it.

But rather than reading God’s Word, a lot of believers go to church, listen to a sermon from the pastor, and think it will hold them over for a week or two.

Can you imagine surviving on one meal per week? That isn’t much. How about one meal per day? That is tough.

We need to feed ourselves spiritually more often. We need more of the Word of God in our lives. But we can’t wait for other people to prepare it and serve it to us. We must learn to dig in for ourselves and read the Bible.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 

—Acts 20:24

Scripture:

Acts 20:24 

Corrie ten Boom said, “The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.”

It’s important to think about what kind of donation our lives are making. In Acts 20, the apostle Paul identified what the measure of a person ought to be and the qualities we should see in the life of a leader.

In a way, every Christian is a leader. We may be leading our children. Or, we may be examples to younger believers. But we need to take to heart what Paul says.

This was an emotional moment for the apostle. He was giving his final words to the leaders of the church of Ephesus. Paul had spent time ministering to them, helping them, praying for them, and caring for them. But he was going away.

In effect Paul was saying, “This is what I want you to remember. These are things that should describe your walk with God.”

He told them, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (verse 24 NLT).

The New King James Version puts it this way: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Paul compared himself to a runner in a race. Using the same analogy in 1 Corinthians, he said, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (9:24 NLT). We can get off track in the race of life. That’s why it’s important to focus on our own race and not on the race others are running.

It’s also important for us to understand that our times are in God’s hands. Our lives are a gift to us from God. God decides when they begin. And God decides when they end.

Paul wasn’t saying that life wasn’t important, because he wrote to the believers in Philippi, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better” (Philippians 1:21 NLT). Paul was simply saying that he knew his life was a gift from God.

In his book Nearing Home, Billy Graham wrote, “I often wonder if God, in His sovereignty, allows the eyesight of the aged to cast a dim view of the here and now so that we may focus our spiritual eyes on the ever after.”[1]

As we see the frailty of life, especially when we’ve lost a loved one, eternity becomes more tangible and important to us.

The length of our lives is determined by God, not by us. So, we want to make sure that we’re moving in the right direction now. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it. The end is determined by the beginning.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 

—1 Thessalonians 5:5–6

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 

God can see the future with complete certainty. He knows it as well as we might know our past. God looks at the future, the past, and the present as one. He can see them all.

Therefore, it is no reach for God to say that something will happen exactly as He predicted it would, because He lives in the supernatural realm.

In my understanding of Bible prophecy, Jesus could come back at any time. I do not see any piece in the prophetic puzzle that needs to be put in place before He could come for His church.

This means that Christ could come for us today. Hebrews 9:28 tells us, “He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him” (NLT). The question is, will we be ready?

The Rapture will be an instantaneous event. That is why, in speaking of Christ’s return, the Bible tells us to be ready. It tells us to be alert. Be watching. Pay attention. We must be ready now.

Writing about the return of Christ, Paul warned, “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 NLT).

The Bible tells Christians to wake up. Don’t be asleep in the light. That’s because a lot of us can simply lie around enjoying a prolonged nap while the rest of the world faces an imminent judgment. Yet God is saying, “You need to wake up. Be alert and live in the light. Put on the armor of faith and love.”

We are living in the last days, and it will get tough at times. We had better have our spiritual weapons ready and close by. We had better realize the devil will try to trip us up and bring us down.

Tragically, one of the signs of the last days is that some will fall away from the faith (see 1 Timothy 4:1). Don’t let that cause you to worry, because God will keep you if you want to be kept. He will protect you. But you have to take practical steps to be protected.

So, stay close to Him. Avoid the pitfalls and the things that can drag you down, and be alert. Be awake. Be on guard. And be available to serve the Lord and share the life-changing message of the gospel with others.

Jesus said, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4–5 NLT).

Wake up from spiritual lethargy, laziness, and apathy. Wake up to the urgency of the hour. We must seize the opportunities God gives us, because they won’t be around forever.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 

—1 Thessalonians 5:3

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:3 

Everyone wants peace today, and in some cases, they want peace more than they want justice. They want peace more than they want what is right. They just want peace and safety.

It’s the great cry of humanity that we hear so much about today. There is talk about the global family and how the world is one, big village. The assertion is that we all just need to learn to get along and set aside our differences.

It seems as though the only thing lacking now is a charismatic leader to tell us what to do next. With the incredible advances in technology and the ability to communicate globally in an instant, the world is just waiting for that leader. And that leader is coming.

Some will think he is the Messiah, but he won’t be. He will be the Antichrist.

The prefix anti- not only means “against”; it also means “instead of.” And when this world leader emerges on the scene, he will be a false messiah, the devil’s version of the real thing.

Many people will follow him because he will temporarily usher in a three-and-a-half-year reign of global peace, something no one else has been able to do. He will bring about an end, temporarily, to the conflict in Israel as he helps them build their temple in Jerusalem.

Yet those who believe we can get along as one global family and live together in peace are those who believe humanity is essentially good. And they are not dealing with reality.

That is why the Bible tells us to be sober. In 1 Peter 5:8 we read, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (NLT).

And writing to the believers in Ephesus, the apostle Paul said, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15–16 NLT).

Nonbelievers claim that Christians are not realists, that we’re living in an altered state of reality. But we are realists, more than anyone else today. A Christian is someone who simply believes what the Bible is saying. And the Bible tells us that humanity is not basically good; it’s wicked.

That explains a lot of the horrid, perverse, and unthinkable things that people do today. When the Bible says that at the core, our hearts are “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), everything makes sense.

On the other hand, if someone believes that we are all essentially good, that is hard to explain.

Not only are Christians realistic about our problems, but we’re also realistic about the solution. We know that government will not solve our problems and there is no system on earth that can solve the social ills of today.

We know the only real hope is a change in the human heart. And the only One who can change a human heart is God.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 

—Luke 10:1

Scripture:

Luke 10:1 

It was a critical time in the ministry of Jesus. His ministry in Galilee was over, and His journey to Jerusalem had begun.

So Jesus selected seventy-two disciples in addition to the Twelve who already were following Him. He gave these new disciples a special commission to work like an advance team going into various communities and cities.

He also gave them these instructions: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:2–3).

Clearly Jesus cared about people. In Matthew’s treatment of the same story, we read, “When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NLT).

Jesus felt compassion for these people. He loved and cared about them. Everywhere Jesus went, people mobbed Him. And not only did He take time for the people who wanted a touch here or a word there, but He also sought out hurting and empty people.

For instance, there was the woman at the well in Samaria. Because of the tension between the Jews and Samaritans, it was highly unusual for Jesus to go to a city in Samaria. Not only that, but He sought out an immoral woman who had been married and divorced five times. Then He engaged her in conversation. He went out of His way to meet with her.

He also went to Jericho and met the tax collector Zacchaeus. He called Zacchaeus to come down from the tree where he was sitting and said, “I must be a guest in your home today” (Luke 19:5 NLT).

People criticized Jesus for talking to someone who made his living off the misery of others. But Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (verses 9–10 NLT).

In the original language, the word Jesus used for “lost” speaks of something with value that is broken. And people are broken because of sin.

Yet Jesus sees behind the facade. He sees behind the defense mechanisms and hears the real cry of their hearts. We need to see people the same way. They are people for whom Christ died.

These are critical times for getting the gospel out. There are open doors today that may not remain open forever. Jesus, speaking to the last days church, said, “I have opened a door for you that no one can close” (Revelation 3:8 NLT).

We need to recognize how valuable souls are to God. Jesus said there is rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents (see Luke 15:7 NLT). God cares about souls. And we need to care about them as well.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 

—Colossians 3:5

Scripture:

Colossians 3:5 

People get excited about a lot of things. They may not call them their gods, but in effect they are. What is the focus of your life? That, for all practical purposes, is your god.

And when you come up with your own version of God, then you essentially have another god before Him.

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5–6 NLT).

Interestingly, Paul talked about sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. We have a sex-obsessed culture. And for some people, everything is a double entendre. Their minds are always in the gutter.

Paul also warned about greed. Some people always want what others have. We might think that only those who are wealthy have a problem with idolatry. Maybe they do. And maybe they don’t. We can’t see their hearts.

But we can have very little in terms of material possessions and still make an idol out of things. We don’t have to be wealthy. Sometimes we’re simply obsessed with money.

The Bible says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10 NLT).

Notice this doesn’t say that money is the root of all kinds evil. Rather, it says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The problem is always wanting what others have. We can make idols out of possessions. And they can become more important to us than God Himself.

The Bible says, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10 NLT). He will never disappoint you. He will never let you down. But every person will in some way.

Sometimes people keep us from God. A relationship pulls us away from Him, and we realize that if we really follow the Lord, we could lose our relationship that individual. Yes, we could. And it might be a choice that some of us have to make.

Is someone dragging you down spiritually? Jesus said, “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine” (Matthew 10:37 NLT).

The gods we create in our minds really are not gods at all. They’re just false images that can’t do anything for us. Will those gods save you in that final day? Will those gods give you the strength you need in your moment of crisis? And will those gods forgive you of your sins?

If not, they’re false gods. Turn to the true and living God.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 

—Matthew 22:37–38

Scripture:

Matthew 22:37-38 

Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. And more specifically, many of our founding fathers professed belief in Jesus Christ. Though revisionists try to change that narrative, a careful study of history will show that it’s true.

It’s our departure from this truth that has brought us to where we are today. With abortion on demand on an epidemic scale, marriages falling apart at record rates, and rampant violence in our streets, this should not surprise us.

The Bible says, “They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7 NLT). How true. Our departure from God’s principles has brought us to the moral illiteracy that we have today.

In his book Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong, William Kilpatrick wrote about how, as a college professor, he started noticing what he called signs of moral illiteracy among his students. For instance, in a discussion about the Ten Commandments, no one could list them, either individually or as a class.[1]

Kilpatrick was right in noting a connection between morality and the Ten Commandments. That’s because in the Ten Commandments, we find absolute truth written by the finger of God on tablets of stone. It’s truth we can depend on, truth we can believe in.

With the Ten Commandments God is saying, “Here is what I have done for you: I have forgiven you of your sin, redeemed you, and bought you. Now here is what you can do for Me: you can keep My commandments.”

The Bible says, “We love each other because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19 NLT).

In Matthew’s Gospel we read about an expert in religious law who tried to trap Jesus. He said, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (Matthew 22:36 NLT).

Jesus answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (verses 37–40 NLT).

Now, Jesus wasn’t doing away with the Ten Commandments. Rather, He was summing them up perfectly.

If we love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, then we won’t have any other gods before Him. We won’t worship idols or take God’s name in vain.

And if we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we won’t steal from them, lie to them, or covet something that belongs to them. Essentially Jesus was saying, “Get this down, and the commandments will come together for you.”

It all starts with God’s place in our lives. We will serve what or whom we worship. Jesus said, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10 NLT).

If God is number one in our lives, then everything else will find its proper balance. But if He is not, then everything else will fall into chaos.

[1] William Kilpatrick, Why Johnny Can’t Can’t Tell Right from Wrong: And What We Can Do About It (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993).

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 

—2 Timothy 3:1

Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:1 

C.S. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”[1]

A Christian worldview will affect the way that we see everything. And why is this important? Because we are living in the last days. Jesus Christ is coming back again. And if ever there was a time when we need to know our Bibles and have a close walk with Christ, the time is now.

Describing the end times, the apostle Paul said, “In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control” (2 Timothy 3:1–3 NLT).

Paul went on to say, “They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (verses 3–5 NLT).

Is that not an accurate assessment of the times in which we are living? The United States has never been more spiritual yet more immoral. We throw the word spiritual around a lot. But do we know what it means?

We live in an age when we can write our own apps and customize our home screens. We can keep the stuff we like and throw out the things we don’t. And we carry that thinking into other aspects of our lives. The result is something called moral relativism.

Moral relativism is the belief that there are no absolutes. There is no right or wrong. Moral relativism teaches that we are all products of the evolutionary process and not made by a Creator God. There is no devil. There is no good or evil. And there is no plan or purpose for our lives.

Moral relativism also teaches that we are all basically good, and if we happen to go bad, then it’s because we’re simply products of our environment. It teaches that we make our own truth.

For instance, if you believe in a God of love, forgiveness, and mercy, you can keep that. But if you’re offended by the biblical teaching of a God of holiness, righteousness, and judgment, you can delete that. It works out perfectly. Or so it seems.

Moral relativism may sound fine in theory. But what if we were to put it into practice? Will a god of our own making be able to save us in the final day? Of course not.

A biblical worldview says there is a God as revealed in the Bible, and the Bible alone is the authority and source of that belief. It is not what we feel or what is popular, acceptable, or perceived as cool. It is what the Bible says.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

—Romans 3:23

Scripture:

Romans 3:23 

How we can find eternal life? Where do we look? And who has it?

We find the answer in the Gospel of Luke, in a conversation that Jesus had with a man whom Luke simply identified as “a religious leader” (18:18 NLT).

And the answer Jesus gave to this man’s question is relevant to each of us today.

He approached Jesus and said, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” (verse 18 NLT).

Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? . . . Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother’ ” (verses 19–20 NLT).

Jesus took him back to the law. That’s because God did not give us the commandments to make us righteous. Rather, He gave us the commandments to function like a moral mirror in our lives and show us what we’re really like. When we look at God’s law, we realize that we fall short.

Amazingly, this man said that he had obeyed all those commandments since he was young.

So, Jesus told him, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 22 NLT).

This leader had so much going for him. He was moral, religious, and powerful. He was sincere and could have easily qualified for membership in most of our churches today. Yet something was still lacking in his life.

He may have been the only person who ever came to Jesus and then left in worse condition than before. It wasn’t because of what Jesus said. It was because of his own reaction. He didn’t like what Jesus said to him, so he walked away, filled with sorrow.

Even though he came to Jesus with the right question and received the right answer, he made the wrong decision. Why? Because he was not honest with God or himself.

As George Bernard Shaw pointed out, “There are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want. The other is getting it.”

So many people believe that one of these days if they win the lottery, if they strike it big, then they will be happy. And if they do actually realize their dreams, they often discover that it didn’t bring them happiness.

The same Jesus who offered eternal life to that religious leader so long ago is also offering it to us. First, we must realize that we’ve sinned. We all have broken God’s commandments time and time again.

Second, we must recognize that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for us. He shed His blood for every sin we have ever committed.

And third, we must be willing to repent of our sins.

That is what we need to do to inherit eternal life. That is God’s trade-in deal.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 

—1 Thessalonians 4:17

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 

It’s a question that often arises: Are we the generation that will experience the Rapture?

We could be. But no one can say with complete certainty whether the Lord will return in our lifetime.

Of course, some people like to point out that the word rapture isn’t in the Bible. That all depends. If you have a Latin translation, then it is. The term “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the Latin word rapturus, from which the English word rapture originates.

You can call it something else if you’re uncomfortable with the term. But it speaks of the event when believers, who are alive, suddenly will enter the presence of God Almighty.

The apostle Paul described it for us: “We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–16 NLT).

Paul continued, “Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (verse 17 NLT).

The Greek word Paul used for “meet” carries the idea of meeting royalty or someone of great importance. And when Christ calls us to Himself, we will meet the ultimate royal: the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Do we find a mention of the Rapture any other place in Scripture? Yes. Jesus spoke of it in Matthew 24, where He said, “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (verses 40–42 NLT).

Practically speaking, the Rapture means no death. However, it doesn’t mean that some won’t die. But it does mean there is a generation that will not die, a generation that will experience the Rapture.

But if the Lord doesn’t return in our lifetime, we shouldn’t be disappointed. That’s because our hope is not in the coming of the Lord. Rather, our hope is in the Lord who is coming.

What should be exciting to us as believers is not how we get there as much as where we are going. We have that hope.

The Bible says of Jesus’ return, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

We need to be ready to meet the Lord, because we don’t know what will happen next. But one way or another, we will stand before God one day.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 

—James 5:7

Scripture:

James 5:7 

James is an extremely practical book. It takes the great truths of the Christian faith and then attaches a “so what?” afterward. We discover what these truths mean to us and how they affect our lives.

And in chapter 5, James shares important principles regarding what we should be doing as believers who are waiting for the Lord’s return.

He writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near” (verses 7–8 NLT).

James tells us that the farmers wait for the early and latter rains. They also look eagerly, or expectantly, for the harvest to ripen.

Farmers today use sophisticated technology. Not only do they have advanced irrigation systems, but they can take satellite photos of their property so they know which parts of their fields need more water and which parts have enough or maybe too much. They can harness this technology to harvest their crops.

However, ancient farmers didn’t have modern irrigation systems. They depended completely on the rain to sustain their crops.

They had to wait for the rain, and the early rains in Israel usually arrived in late October or early November. They softened the hard, baked soil for plowing. Then the latter rains came in late April and May. These were essential for the crops to mature.

But if a farmer grew impatient and tried to harvest the seed before it was ready, he could uproot the entire process. He had to wait.

No crop appears overnight, except a crop of weeds, of course. Isn’t it amazing how quickly weeds can grow? We will carefully nurture a little plant that we’re growing, and it might gain an inch or two over time. Meanwhile, the weeds have grown three feet high. They need no help whatsoever.

If we want a good spiritual harvest in our lives, it takes time. We must be patient. And if we’re waiting for the return of Christ, we must be patient as well. Yet that is difficult to do in our on-demand culture of today.

We don’t have to wait and save money to purchase something we want. We want it now. We feel that we deserve it, so we just charge it.

But as we wait for the Lord’s return, we need to remember that God is not bound by our schedules. He has His own. The Bible tells us, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT).

Jesus will come at the appointed time. And just as He came the first time at the appointed hour, He will come the second time in the same way.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 

—1 John 2:17

Scripture:

1 John 2:17 

A pastor who was speaking at a funeral service was trying to explain what happens after we die. Then he suddenly thought of an illustration. Motioning toward the casket, he said, “Here in this casket lies just a shell. The nut is gone.”

It didn’t go the way he expected it to.

When we die, our bodies will go into the ground, but our souls will enter the afterlife. Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will immediately go into the presence of God.

Years ago, one of my granddaughters looked at me with a sad expression and said, “Papa, why do we have to die? Why can’t we just float up to Heaven?”

That’s a great question. The answer is that in the Garden of Eden, it never was God’s intention for people to die. There was no death, no pain, and no tears. But because our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned, sin then entered the human race.

They rebelled against God because they had a will of their own, and that rebellion is called sin. And because of that sin, we now have death. If Adam and Eve had not sinned, we never would die, get sick, or even age.

But they did sin. And sin, like a disease, entered the human race. We were all born with it. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. It comes naturally to us. The Bible says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT).

If we want to go to Heaven, then we must be forgiven of our sins. We can’t come up with our own idea of how to get to Heaven. In fact, we wouldn’t know anything about Heaven if we didn’t read about it in the Bible.

There is only one way to get to Heaven, and that is through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us.

For Christians, death is not the end. The Bible says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (1 John 2:17 NLT).

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die” (John 11:25–26 NLT).

Awhile back we were walking on the beach, and my wife, Cathe, said, “Be careful, there are bees on the beach.” Just then, I stepped on one. The stinger went into my foot, which swelled a little.

Jesus took the sting of death when He died on the cross. That is why Bible tells us, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55 NLT).

Death died when Christ rose. And as Christians, we will live forever. That is the hope the Bible gives us.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 

—Romans 8:16

Scripture:

Romans 8:16 

C.S. Lewis said in The Problem of Pain, “There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven; but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else. . . . It is the secret signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable want.”[1]

Deep down inside, we all feel the tug of Heaven. We know there is more to life than what we’re experiencing right now.

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1–2 NLT).

Heaven is a real place for real people to do real things. It is not a watered-down, diluted version of earth. Many of us have a strange concept of Heaven that movies and songs have reinforced. We assume that we’ll sit around in Heaven on big, fluffy clouds and take long naps.

But that is not the real Heaven. That is not the biblical Heaven. The real Heaven is a place.

When Jesus hung on the cross, two criminals hung on each side of Him. One of these men realized that he was in trouble as he faced eternity. So he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NLT).

Jesus told him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (verse 43 NLT). Heaven is a paradise.

On one occasion an angry mob stoned the apostle Paul and left him for dead. Scholars believe this was the moment Paul died, went to Heaven, and came back again.

Paul later described it this way: “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4 NLT).

Think of the most beautiful place you have seen. Heaven is far greater than that. It is Paradise.

Yes, Heaven is real, and we can know with certainty that we’ll go to Heaven when we die. The Bible tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16 NLT).

We call this hope, and we need hope today. In fact, experts have described Generation Z as the hopeless generation.

If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you can have hope. Don’t put your hope in technology or in material things. Don’t put your hope in politicians. And don’t even put your hope in religion. Hope has a name, and it’s Jesus Christ. He is ready to change the course of your life.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. 

—Luke 12:37

Scripture:

Luke 12:37 

All around us we can see fulfilled Bible prophecies, signs indicating that the return of Jesus Christ is drawing near.

As followers of Christ, we should be watching for Him. We need to be ready to go.

Jesus, speaking about His return, said, “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. . . . The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded” (Luke 12:35–37 NLT).

Are you ready for His return? To be ready means to be engaged in activities that you wouldn’t be ashamed to be doing if Jesus were to return. It’s a good idea to periodically ask ourselves this question: This place that I am about to go, this thing that I am about to do, would I be embarrassed if I were doing it when Jesus came back?”

Think about your plans. Is there anything you will be doing today, tonight, or tomorrow that you would be ashamed to do if Christ were to return? If so, then change your plans. You want to be ready for His return.

Not only should we be ready, but we should anxiously await the return of Christ.

We used to have a German Shepherd who slept outside the bedroom, leaning against our door. We didn’t let him sleep in our room because he often had nightmares and would wake us up. Every morning when we opened the door, he rolled into the room. Then he’d jump up and start running in circles. He was genuinely happy to see us.

That is how we should be waiting for Christ’s return. And anything that might prevent us from saying “Come quickly, Lord Jesus” is out of place in our lives.

In addition to waiting, we should be working. Every now and then, someone predicts that Jesus will return on a specific date. People believe these predictions and start quitting their jobs or divorcing their spouses.

But that is not what we should be doing as we wait for the return of Christ. Instead, we should be working for Him.

The Bible says, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 NLT).

If watching is the evidence of faith, then working is the evidence of faith in action. Watching for the Lord’s return will help us prepare our own lives. But working will ensure that we bring others with us to Heaven.

The great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon said, “It is a very blessed thing to be on the watch for Christ. . . . You can be poor without murmuring; you can be rich without worldliness; you can be sick without sorrowing; you can be healthy without presumption. If you are always waiting for Christ’s Coming, untold blessings are wrapped up in that glorious hope.”

When you live in the anticipation of Christ’s return, it’s a happy way to live.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 

—2 Peter 3:14

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:14 

I became a Christian in 1970. There was a lot of excitement back then, because a revival called the Jesus Movement had broken out. Historians agree that it was a genuine spiritual awakening.

There also was a lot of teaching about the last days. We thought Jesus was coming back at any moment. Back then, I was a graphic artist, so I designed a “Jesus is coming!” bumper sticker. But now some Christians are wondering why He hasn’t come back yet. Did He forget His promise to us?

The Bible tells us why Jesus hasn’t returned: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

The Lord is waiting for the last person to believe. And when that day comes, when that person believes, we will meet Him in the air in the Rapture.

The passage continues, “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. . . . And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (verses 11–12, 14 NLT).

How are we to live as we await the return of Christ? We should live holy and godly lives, making every effort to be spotless and blameless and at peace with Him. That is what we should be doing. And if we don’t understand this, then we’re missing the point.

People have an endless appetite for last days events. They want to hear about the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, Armageddon, and all the rest. That is great. But as we study all these things, what we learn should have an impact on the way we live.

As we look forward to the return of Christ, we should be shining lights in a dark place. Jesus said, “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35 NLT). In this statement, Jesus was referring to a first-century Jewish wedding.

These weddings were unique in that no one knew when the bridegroom would arrive. It might be at 3:00 in the morning or at 3:00 in the afternoon. But suddenly the announcement would go out that the bridegroom was on his way. Everyone would quickly take their places, and then the wedding would begin.

Jesus was saying this is what it will be like as we wait for His return. So, let’s be ready to go. Let’s be shining our light. As our culture gets darker, we need to shine brighter as Christians.

Let’s be known for what we are for rather than what we are against. Let’s look for opportunities to show the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way, earning the right to share the gospel.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, “Invest this for me while I am gone.” 

—Luke 19:13

Scripture:

Luke 19:13 

What are we supposed to do as Christians until Jesus returns? How are we to live our lives? The Bible tells us there are specific things that we should be doing.

One thing that God has given to every follower of Jesus, without exception, is the message of the gospel. While not everyone is called to be an evangelist, everyone is called to evangelize.

The apostle Paul mentioned in his letter to Timothy how God entrusted “the glorious Good News” to him (1 Timothy 1:11). And God has entrusted the glorious Good News to us as well.

Jesus told a parable about a man of great wealth who was preparing to leave on a long trip. He called his servants together and gave each of them a sum of money. Everyone received the same amount. Then he told them, “Invest this for me while I am gone” (Luke 19:13 NLT).

In the same way, Jesus is saying to us, “I’m coming back soon, so take this message that I’ve entrusted to you and share it with others. Do God’s business until I return.”

There is nothing wrong with having a career or getting married and having a family. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the things God has given to us.

But here’s the question we must ask ourselves: “What am I personally doing to get the gospel out?”

Maybe you believe that is the job of pastors and evangelists. Yes, it is. But it is also the job of every Christian. It is more than giving money for the work of evangelism, although that is a very good thing to do. It is also looking for opportunities that God puts in our paths.

Jesus made this clear in another parable He told about someone who had mismanaged his employer’s finances. Knowing he was about to be fired, the manager reached out to several of the people who owed money to his employer.

For example, one man owed 800 gallons of oil, so the employee had him settle the debt for 400 gallons. The manager did the same thing with a number of people who were in debt to his employer. And ultimately, instead of reproving this manager, the employer commended him for his shrewdness.

Jesus concluded by saying, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” (Luke 16:9 NLT).

In the same way, we need to take our resources and use them for the work of the gospel. God has given each of us three things to use for His glory: time, talent, and treasure. We all have these in varying degrees.

God doesn’t hold us responsible for success; He holds us responsible for faithfulness. In that final day, Jesus isn’t going to say, “Well done, good and successful servant.” Instead, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Take what God has given you and do the best that you can do.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. 

—Revelation 1:18

Scripture:

Revelation 1:18 

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the angels appeared to some shepherds nearby and said, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT). Jesus came to bring peace on earth.

The Antichrist, however, will come to take peace from the earth. And here’s what we need to know: Satan is behind all the wars and struggles on this planet.

We’re understandably perplexed when we hear about barbaric acts of war and terrorism. The network pundits try to explain it. But the reason people do these horrible things is because there is a devil. And the devil loves violence and war. He loves carnage and death.

We’ve had some massive wars in our world’s history. There was World War I, which was called the war to end all wars. But it took only twenty years for another conflict to develop, and World War II was far worse, with even more casualties. And the worst wars are yet to come.

Concerning the end of the age, Jesus said, “And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come” (Matthew 24:6–8 NLT).

Here’s the bottom line: God always has the last word. Sometimes things look bleak, and we have setback after setback. We say, “I thought God’s Word would prevail.” It will in time. God will have the last word.

God is faithful and true. He will keep every promise He has made to you. Sometimes we’re in despair. Sometimes we’re frightened. And maybe you’re afraid right now.

Here are the words of Jesus to you: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). He also said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT).

Maybe you’re afraid of death. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:17–18 NLT).

He was saying, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve been there. I have come back. It is covered.”

Jesus said to the disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1–3 NLT).

Our God is faithful.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 

—1 Thessalonians 2:19

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:19 

According to Scripture, rewards will be given out in Heaven for our faithfulness.

What kind of rewards will they be? The Bible specifically mentions crowns. For example, there is a crown of rejoicing, which we could also call the soul winner’s crown. The apostle Paul wrote, “After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!” (1 Thessalonians 2:19 NLT).

Paul was effectively saying that the people he reached with the gospel will be his crown of rejoicing. This seems to indicate that if we have led others to Christ, then we will receive a special crown.

The Bible also mentions a crown of life. James 1:12 tells us, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (NLT). This crown is for those who have resisted temptation and persevered under trial.

Some people have tougher lives than others. Certain people seem to skate through life relatively unscathed. On the other hand, maybe you’ve had a difficult life, but you’ve been faithful during those times of testing. Despite setbacks, hardships, disabilities, or illnesses, you have honored the Lord. As a result, you will receive the crown of life.

Then there is the crown of righteousness. Paul mentioned this crown in 2 Timothy: “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing” (4:8 NLT).

This is a crown for faithful living. It’s a crown for those who long for the return of Christ, for those who live in the light of Heaven.

Here’s what we need to remember: It isn’t about how famous you are. Rather, it’s about being faithful with what God has called you to do. It is not about what God has called your friend or your pastor or someone else to do. It’s all about what God has given you to do. Have you been faithful?

As you think about your life, you might say, “I don’t know that I’ve reached thousands or hundreds or even tens.” But if you follow Jesus Christ and have told others about Him, then you’ve sown seeds of the gospel.

That seed might not break ground until later. Maybe one person you’ve led to the Lord will lead twenty people to the Lord twenty years from now. Or maybe the person you impacted with the gospel will have children who raise their children in the way of the Lord. And maybe one of their children will become the next Billy Graham.

All the spiritual fruit that goes from generation to generation will come back to you. You will share in it. And you will be rewarded for your faithfulness to God.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

—2 Corinthians 5:8

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:8 

What happens when Christians die?

The simple answer is that if you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ, you immediately will go to Heaven. There are no stopovers or suspended states of animation. There is no purgatory or soul sleep. When Christians die, they go directly into God’s presence.

The Bible says, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT).

As Christians, we will go to Heaven one day, and we’ll get there in one of two ways: death or the Rapture. There is a generation that will not see death but will instead go to Heaven in the Rapture. We don’t know whether we will be that generation. But we could be.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers, “We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–16 NLT).

He continued, “Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (verse 17 NLT).

That means we could be going about our business one day, and without warning—in a nanosecond, in a flash—we will meet Jesus Christ in the air. Not only that, but we will immediately reunite with our Christian loved ones and friends who have gone to Heaven before us.

The Bible calls this the first resurrection. Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power” (NLT). The second death is the final Great White Throne Judgment, while the first resurrection is the Rapture.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul referred to the Rapture, saying, “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever” (verses 51–52 NLT).

This means that Christians do not have to fear death.

Yes, Christians will die physically. But our mortal bodies will put on immortality. The soul lives on. That will never die. It is why Paul said, “Living means living for Christ, and dying is even better” (Philippians 1:21 NLT).

Of course, Christians grieve like everyone else when we lose loved ones. But the Bible says that we don’t grieve as those who do not have hope (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13). For the Christian, death is not the end. It’s a transition from earth to Heaven.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie