(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
I don’t imagine that the Book of Haggai is read as much as other Books of God’s Word. It was written in 520 B.C. to the Jewish people regarding their neglect of completing the rebuilding of God’s house (the Temple) while they had completed and were living in their own homes.
Having said that, let’s examine this book to see what message of instruction is contained in it for us here in 2022. This is not intended to be a detailed study of Haggai but instead to see what it tells us about God in this present time of turmoil, evil, confusion and godlessness.
More importantly, what does it tell us about this present world system and mankind’s clear rebellion in His eyes.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). Emphasis added by me.
First, let’s review these few verses of God’s Word that serve to remind us that our God has, throughout all history, cautioned and warned all people by His Sovereignty and by bringing about supernatural events that only He can perform in order to get the attention of people when they wander from Him.
More to the point, when they openly defy and rebel against His perfect Truth.
Romans Chapter 1, verse 20 is an example of how The Lord views this fact: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they [mankind] are without excuse.”
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).
A further review reminds us that God does NOT CHANGE. Here are just three of many.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
“But You remain the same, and Your years will never end” (Psalm 102:27).
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).
It is important to understand that the world is not, in fact, self-sustaining, and it DOES NOT exist as a result of random chance or “evolution.” That case can simply not be legitimately made.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3).
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
God points out what some of the consequences are when He is ignored and rejected by His creation.
“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:5-6).
“from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty. ‘I smote you and every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord” (Haggai 2:16-17).
Even a cursory examination of today’s current events quickly reveals that the above verses clearly indicate that God is following His age-old pattern of attempting to get the attention of people by altering the created order of what has been relatively normal for generation upon generation.
- Droughts next door to floods.
- Extreme temperature fluctuations from one day to the next.
- Linked chains of extremely violent weather.
- Earthquakes in increasing magnitude over diverse areas.
- Multiple awakening of volcanic activity over diverse areas.
- Crop failures all over the world.
- Wars and rumors of wars in increasing intensity, even to the threat of going nuclear.
- Strange signs in the heavens.
- Blights of insect infestations.
- The resurgence of previously eradicated diseases.
The list is much more extensive than what is noted above.
Now to the crux of this article.
This mostly ignored book from 2500+ years ago, to the observant reader, serves to confirm that God is the Sovereign and only God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
It also confirms that He is a God of Mercy and Grace, BUT, He must also execute judgment against wanton sin and rebellion if His warnings continue to be ignored.
How serious does the Lord view sin?
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).
“but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).
He proclaimed the penalty, then He paid it Himself, and during this age of Grace, He offers the salvation purchased by Jesus to everyone who will “open the door.”
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Please read the special message at the end of this article in order to understand what is meant by “open the door.”
What more could our Lord have done than what He already has done?
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
As the end of the age rapidly approaches, it is worth noting that so many of the articles that appear, not only on Rapture Ready but on so very many other Christian websites as well as numerous “secular” (non-Christian) websites, reveal that the conditions warned of by Jesus Christ Himself in the Book of Matthew (24:4-8), (Mark 13:5-8), (Luke 21:10-11) among other Scriptural warnings, are becoming obvious and are the subject of many articles, commentaries and editorials.
Even some in the “mainstream” media speculate on these events in complete ignorance of the Biblical realities of the “signs of the times.” They need our prayers that they will come to a knowledge of the Truth.
It is like they are driving down a road toward a washed-out bridge, and there is a Christian standing in the road waving their arms, trying to warn them. Instead of stopping, they swerve around him/her and say to themselves, “I wonder what that person is standing in the road flapping their arms for?”
I suspect they will soon find out.
There is an old, non-Biblical saying that applies here, I think: “If it looks like a duck…”
Now, about “opening the door.”
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
John 5:24: “Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life.”
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com