Has anyone ever heard of “the patience of Job?” It has eluded me for years, although I’m much closer than I was in my youth. I guess we mellow out as we get older. Ya think?

We live in a world where nearly everything is almost instant or at least much reduced in time. Food preparation is a prime example. Travel is another. What about gathering information? Yep. The Internet comes to mind.

We’ve been waiting for almost 2,000 years for Jesus to return, and we’re still waiting. It doesn’t matter how much we long for it, or fuss about it, or debate it, He will come back when He is ready. He is coming back though, and I don’t think it will be another 2,000 years.

The Apostle Peter told us; “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Isn’t it amazing that this is exactly what many folks are saying today? Now how about that! How did ole Peter know that? Someone must have told him.

I do believe we are in the last days of the Church age. I believe the Church will soon be called out of this world by Jesus Christ and taken to Heaven. Jesus said,

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:3-4)

Why is it taking so long we ask? Peter’s response to that question should really make us think and be a little bit more patient.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Based on Biblical prophesies and so many things in this world lining up perfectly with those prophecies, Jesus’ return may be closer than we think. I say ‘may’ because even though the signs are all around us, we are still not privy to the ‘when.’

Anyone who has seriously studied the prophetic verses of God’s Word knows that there are no signs for the Rapture. It will happen suddenly and without warning. However, there are many signs for the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture, and they are rapidly falling into place. There are also many Tribulation signs that will not appear until the Tribulation actually starts.

So we sit around day after day waiting for that blessed event of being called upward to be with our Savior and Lord, but wait, should we just sit around?  I keep thinking about one particular thing that Peter said in his response; “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” That puts a whole new slant to our impatience.

Have we ever given a thought to those who will miss the Rapture and instead face seven years of utter abject terror? Our world is currently in a mess that is getting worse by the day, but the Tribulation period will make our current situation seem like Mayberry on Main Street.

I think about family members, friends, others I know and those I don’t know having to face hell unleashed on earth, and I say to myself, “Lord I am anxiously awaiting your return, but if you delay so more can be saved, I’m all for it, and I’m ashamed of myself for not taking that into consideration. I need to get busy. What would you have me do?”

Have you ever been impatient with the slow driver in front of you, then realized that if you had been at a certain spot just a few minutes earlier, you would be in the wreck? Patience does have its virtues.

While we wait for our Lord’s return, there are many we could warn of what is up ahead and their need for Christ. Will they listen? Some will listen, and more than likely, most will not. Our part is to warn them and give them the Good News. The Holy Spirit will take over from there.

Our patience could also be served well by being patient with those we encounter. They are blind to the Truth and their eyes need to be opened.

Yes, Jesus will return, but think about this, while we move upward with Him to Heaven, many will be left behind to suffer. God’s wrath will be poured out upon this world while we, who are saved, will be enjoying His love and grace.

Grant Phillips

When the news crowd gets on one of their pet peeves they just won’t let it go. Everywhere I look there are news stories and accompanying pictures of Harambe the gorilla who was killed to save a four year old child that fell into its enclosure.

If that weren’t enough the outcry from the public is enough to make one’s head spin. It is now being said that the gorilla was ‘murdered.’

The definition of the word ‘murder’ according to Merriam-Webster is: “the crime of unlawfully killing a person (emphasis mine) especially with malice aforethought.”

A gorilla is not a person. It is an animal. If an animal is killed, it is ‘killed,’ not murdered.

Even the parents of this very fortunate four-year old child are being harassed and having their lives threatened by those who obviously value the life of an animal more importantly than the life of a child.

This country is going to hell in a handbasket, and we need to get our priorities straight. We ‘murder’ unborn babies (real persons), legalize homosexual marriage, mandate from the oval office that ‘transsexuals’ can use the same restroom as our girls and women, and now we’re calling the justified killing of an animal to save a four-year old child, ‘murder.’

Look folks, I love animals. I would never do anything intentionally to harm an animal, and I would not tolerate anyone else doing so either. Furthermore, I don’t like seeing any animal caged up and out of its natural environment. It just isn’t natural and it just isn’t fair to the animal. How would we like it if we were caged up, so animals could walk by every day and gawk at us? I even think animals are more honest than most humans. But … wait for it … they’re still animals!

Where do you think your steak really comes from, Kroger’s? Come on people!

Even Jack Hannah stated that the killing was justified.

I feel sorry for the animal, the gorilla. I really do. It couldn’t help it if the child managed to fall into its enclosure. It couldn’t help it if it could unintentionally break the child in half like a toothpick. And it can’t help it if it is much stronger than 10-15 big strong men. But think what could have happened … even accidentally, within the blink of an eye.

Who was at fault? Could the parents have done more to watch their child? Maybe. Could the zoo have done more in preventing this? Maybe. Could the noise from the crowd have agitated the gorilla? Maybe. Could the child be blamed for falling in the enclosure? I’m not even going to answer that one. He’s four years old for Pete’s sake. Most importantly, the child is safe and unharmed!

Ya know what? Those things just sometimes happen, and sometimes the results are sad. Just think how sad it would have been though, if that little boy was killed by the gorilla (No, an animal cannot murder. It kills).

However, three thousand three hundred twenty two (3,322) babies are murdered every day in this country by what is labeled as ‘abortion’ (political correctness at its best). Where is the outcry for those 3,000+ innocent babies? There isn’t any, except from a very few God-fearing people. What has happened to us in this 21st century? Have we gone stark raving mad? Maybe the following Scripture verse will enlighten us.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

Maybe it is justified to be angry toward the parents “IF” they were careless in this situation, but to threaten their lives! That’s ridiculous!

Again, it is sad that this innocent animal had to be ‘killed’ (not murdered) because of this incident. Would those who are screaming “murder” have been happier if the child had been killed instead? I wonder.

Our value system in this country has been turned up on its head over the last several years, and we aren’t getting any better. It all goes back to the Scripture previously quoted from Isaiah 5:20. Apparently we do not have our priorities in order, and they are just going to worsen until our priorities are God-based. Is that going to happen? I doubt it.

Grant Phillips