Give me a word, Lord: JESUS IS COMING SOON

2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.

Yesterday, we had a phenomenal morning worship service at church. Oh, we always have great worship, but we did things a little differently yesterday. We had a praise and prayer service. Our praise team lead us with praise and worship songs, and several of our members lead us in guided prayer using the acronym PRAYER for Praise, Repentance, Ask, Yield, Encourage, and Remember. First, we praised God in song. Then we were reminded of our need for repentance with scripture from Psalm 66:17-19 and I John 1. Then it got even better. Under the ask portion, different leaders lead us through guided prayer for God to move in our families, in our churches, in our community and state, and in our nation. We prayed corporately for the things that have been troubling so many of our hearts. As we reached the yield portion, tears were shed as one of my beloved sisters in Christ shared how she was yielding to God’s will during her husband’s terminal illness. We were encouraged with more scripture from Joshua 1:9 and James 5:16, and a congregational prayer was help. The service was completed with remembrance and thanksgiving. the scripture reading was from John 14:1-3, and we closed with the song “Jesus is Coming Soon.” What a powerful service! (You can watch the service on Facebook at Oak Hill Baptist Chruch, Poplarville.)

We left the service singing “Jesus is Coming Soon,” and I told m husband that this song has to be the song for 2020. He said, “I feel a devotional coming.” LOL. I said, “maybe so.” Well, my friends, that song has been stuck in my head since. It’s an old southern gospel song that was written in 1942 by R.E. Winsett, but it was made famous by the Oak Ridge Boys around 1969. In case you’ve never heard the song, let me share the lyrics here:

“Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear. Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake. Humbling your hearts to God saves from the chastening rod. Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake. Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon. Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies going where no one dies, heavenward bound. Troubles will soon be o’er, happy forevermore
when we meet on that shore, free from all care. Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye, homeward we then shall fly, glory to share. Oh, Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon. Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies going where no one dies, heavenward bound.”

Reflect on those words for just a moment. The first line is what catches my attention: “troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear. Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake.” The song was written in 1942, and if you remember history correctly, World War II was ongoing. Oh yea, that would be a troublesome time. Here we sit, many years later, and the words still apply. We are not at war, but boy oh boy, are troublesome times here. I speak to a lot of people on a daily basis, and I can tell you, people’s hearts are full of fear. We don’t know what lies on the other side of all of this trouble, but that is okay. God does. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we definitely know who holds tomorrow. We need not fear the unknown because although we don’t know what is coming, God does!

In the USA, we have a very important election upcoming in just a little over a week. It is scary. The two candidates are sitting on extreme polar opposite sides in their platforms, beliefs, and plans for this nation. It’s easy to become fearful of the unknown. It’s easy to be fearful if the man we are supporting who shares our belief system doesn’t get elected. But we shouldn’t fear. We should get out and vote based on our beliefs and the candidate that most closely stands for the things that we stand for, and we should pray. We need to pray for this election like never before.

2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” If we will humble ourselves, and pray, and seek the face of the Lord, and turn away from the wickedness, God will hear us. He will forgive us. He will restore us. We need to pray, yes, pray earnestely and fervently.

But no matter the outcome, God is still in control. Our pastor reminded us of scripture from Proverbs chapter 21, verse 1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.” We aren’t electing a king, but we are electing a president, and God’s word tells us that his heart is like a stream of water directed by God. GOD can guide that stream wherever HE pleases! Just study God’s Word, y’all. There are so many examples of God changing the hearts of kings and leaders. If we continue to be fervent in prayer, God will hear us. He will heal our land. But regardless of all of that, we can rest assured that Jesus is coming soon! There is no reason for the saved in Christ to fear. I’m ready, are you? If you aren’t sure, how about making today the day that you choose to follow Christ? Today is the perfect day for salvation!