The Midnight Cry

THE MIDNIGHT CRY

The recent events, taking place in the news, continue to challenge my heart with the fact that Jesus is coming soon. Although I am troubled with the terror that has gripped our nation, I am not discouraged or surprised with what the Lord has planned for this world.

As believers we have comfort in knowing that our hope is in Christ and eternity with Him.

I know that we have studied a great deal of information from the Bible as these events have occurred, but it is not about information. We have come into the house of the Lord seeking His revelation of what tomorrow holds for us.

Text: Matthew 25:1 thru 13

Prayer:

In 1666 a rumor had spread throughout the world that the end of world was fast approaching. Many people were troubled with this rumor. As that year played out, there was a growing fear among many people. Few people in the world knew much of anything about what the Bible has to say about the coming of the Lord.

The rich and the poor both fell prey to this word of impending doom of the last days.

The fear of the end of the world caused a lot of confusion and chaos in nations thruoughout the world.

That year there was an unusual storm that covered much of western Europe and the British Isles. There was one man that was strong in his faith. His name was Judge Hale. Judge Hale was well studied in the Word of God, and confident of what to expect in the last days.

As the story is told, Judge Hale was presiding over a case in his court room in the summer of that year. One of the lawyers in the courtroom (that day) recorded the following statement in his dairy this strange event.

(And I quote.)

"All of the courtroom suddenly grew completely black, although it was still mid day. The entire building seemed to shake as thunder shook the walls and bright flashes of lightning momentarily illuminated the room. The people in the court room were overcome with fear. And as if by common consent, each person fell to their knees and prayed for mercy believing that the terrible day of the Lord had finally arrived."

But the lawyer noticed that the judge was unmoved with all of this activity. He continued to take notes of the trial as if nothing else was happening.

The attorney made this final remark,

"Judge Hale’s heart was so stayed on God that no surprise (no matter how sudden) could discompose him."

Let me ask you a question. When you consider the coming of Jesus Christ, what do you see taking place in your life?

The prophecies regarding the coming of Christ found in the word of God was never meant to bring you thoughts of panic, doom or discouragement.

Do we understand that the Word of God is our Good News for these last days? The Word of God is our Word of Hope.

I tell you this because there are many people today who are not Christians. Without Christ, many are frightened about the threat of terrorism and the war we will be fighting. In fact, they should be worried about these things.

They need to rely on Jesus Christ for the safety of their soul.

As well, we Christians should not panic when we talk about the coming of Christ.

The coming of Christ should bring joy to our hearts.

Listen to these words of caution that Jesus spoke about the last days. Luke 21:25-26

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;...

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,...

This morning there is a growing distress among the nations of this world. The most recent and most serious threat to our way of life is not terrorism. It is fear.

We must not be frightened with what we see and hear going on in the world. For we have Christ as our way of salvation from what we see and hear.

The Apostle John confirmed what Jesus had said and why "mens hearts (should) fail them..."

They are frightened of what the Bible calls -

The Great Tribulation.

Rev 6:12-17

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.