The Quickening
Quickening (def) – Make or become faster. No matter who you talk to, young or old, everyone seems to notice that the days seem shorter and that time is increasing in speed and to what end? To the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. As you can see in the above scripture where Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, he tells of some changes that will take place and that we should be ready. Of course, I have been hearing about the coming of the Lord since I accepted Christ at age 11. And the urgency we are compelled to have in our lives should be in accordance to the truth that the end is near, but not the end, just a new beginning. In verse 2 Paul shares some words that Christians have really come to know and understand. He says, 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. Before He comes our time table will be speeding up quite rapidly and the day of the coming of the Lord will be an unexpected event to a lost and dying world. But as Paul says in verse 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; Those who live in the light and who shine the light of Jesus wherever they go are the ones who begin to feel an urgency to proclaim the gospel even more fervently. So Paul urges us to live as those in the light and be alert and sober. It is time for a Quickening in the hearts of believers everywhere and that quickening should drive a desire to share more gospel with more people everywhere. Jesus spoke to this in a parable in Luke 14:23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. The commission has long since been made and we have heard it. Now, what will we do with that call? I say, hurry up and share with more people!!! When this quickening takes residence in the heart of God’s people the urgency to share the gospel will supersede anything else we might be doing.
Right now the opposite is being seen as houses of worship are more empty than full and you can tell the quickening is not there yet. So, now is the time for it to begin. Our efforts need to speed up and do more with pure hearts that are focused on the Lord. Those efforts are just as big a part of the end times as anything else. The hearts of God’s people on fire and burning bright with the gospel message will have a great effect if we respond to the Lord’s call. Look at what Jesus said about it in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Our light shining must begin now and go in the Holy Spirit of God’s power and our quickening will prompt a huge revival that will accomplish exactly what we were put on this earth to do. Share the message of Christ!!
Time to get cracking!!! No sluggish moves will do. It is time to set a course and get with it!! Full speed ahead!! You may think “Won’t I burn out?” Look at what Isaiah said in Chapter 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Waiting doesn’t mean we are standing around. Waiting means we believe it is going to happen and we must be at the plow and serving.
Time for God to quicken your heart and mind and get on with your purpose in life. Jesus is coming and it will be soon!!
The Pilgrimage continues..
David Warren