The unchangeable centrality of Jesus
The unchangeable centrality of Jesus needs to consume us. At this point in time, it’s all about the Bride remaining alert. We occupy until He comes to pull us out of here.
There needs to be a fundamental change in our preaching, teaching, and focus. A day is coming soon when the age of the church and its denominations with their doctrinal squabbling will be gone. It all comes down to one basic statement.
Do each of us, as an individual, know Jesus well enough to hear Him when He calls us up to be with Him?
The verses from John 12: 27-30 keep running through my mind. Jesus is speaking about the fact that His hour had come. He said, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered, “This voice came not for My sake, but for your sakes.”
God spoke audibly and the crowd heard thunder, a few thought an angel had said something to Jesus. Only the people who knew Jesus, heard what the voice said. It lines up with what I have always thought is an important verse describing the Rapture.
The righteous man perishes, and no man lays it to heart;
and merciful men are taken away while no one understands,
for the righteous man is taken away from the evil to come. Isaiah 57:1 MEV
I’m convinced by scripture that only born-again servants of Jesus who know Him personally will even hear the upward call.
The unchangeable centrality of Jesus is that each of us must know Him personally
That’s the core of that dreadful verse of Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.” We are engaged to a groom who requires intimacy and a personal relationship. He deserves that. We read that the foolish virgins heard the same thing in the parable of the ten virgins.
Nothing else will get us to the marriage supper of the Lamb. John was told, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
This is what we must be telling people. This is a time-limited invitation. Once we’re called up to be with Him forever, no one else becomes part of the Bride. She is complete, filled with the Holy Spirit, and ready to go when Her Groom calls.
Maranatha!