Have we been caught off guard? Are we aware of the fact that in less than three weeks, baptized members of the Church of God will be partaking once again in the Passover service and immediately following, the Days of Unleavened Bread? It is amazing how time flies by, especially when so much around us can interfere with the very things we would really like to focus on. Life gets in the way. Unexpected situations can occur at any time, and we try to find ways to adjust.
Distractions can get the better of us if we’re not careful. They come in many forms and they may hinder us from focusing on what we really need to be focusing on, and if we are not careful, it could become a problem. There are many things in the world that could divert our thinking by giving into things that the world has to offer, especially everything that goes against God’s teaching, and also being caught up and sidetracked with speculation and assumption. We need to be aware of what is going on, what the Bible is prophesying, and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be deceived by all the propaganda, politics and conspiracies floating around the internet and media sources. That is a distraction and it can consume our thinking, and if we are not careful, it can lead us down the wrong path.
This is exactly what Satan wants, who is the author of confusion, the deceiver, the ruler of this world. He is also specifically targeting God’s people, doing what he can to make us fail, but we need to be stronger than that. Satan knows where we are vulnerable which is why we need to remain vigilant at all times, and God knows that we can succeed IF we obey Him. We need to understand what our commission is, what our purpose is. We see how quickly things can change, how the world is caught in disarray. The immediate future is fragile, and we need to be conscious of this. Matthew 24:42 commands us to watch, and that is exactly what we should be doing – watching and also warning of what is to come.
These diversions can have a bearing on our decision-making and our actions which could affect us personally. Trials are abundant as we all go through them individually, trying to cope, trying to overcome. And we tell ourselves the same thing right around this time when faced with various challenges that “Passover must be right around the corner.”
Well, it is! And this is also the time when we really need to examine ourselves to see where we stand and how serious we are in our spiritual calling. How is our relationship with God? How is our relationship with our like-minded brethren? Are we prepared and ready to partake of the Passover in a worthy manner?
Indeed, there are many things that we may get sidetracked on which could affect our focus. God wants us to be ready at all times. He wants us to be prepared, and He wants us to conquer our weaknesses and overcome the distractions that Satan throws at us. We know that Satan will tempt us in every way possible but we also know that we can overcome every obstacle that we are faced with, as there is nothing too difficult for us to handle. We should take God’s Word very personally. God has called us for a reason. He has a purpose for us NOW. And as we say time and time again, we need to understand that we could possibly delay the return of Christ if we are not faithful in doing the Work, if we are not faithful within ourselves by doing what we need to be doing (2 Peter 3:4-9, 14-18).
We have less than three weeks to get our spiritual minds in check. “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for NOW our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).
