Then
if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah,' or 'There he is,' don't
believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform
great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.
See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. "So if someone tells you,
'Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,' don't bother to go and look. Or,
'Look, he is hiding here,' don't believe it! For as the lightning flashes in
the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Just
as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs
indicate that the end is near. Matthew 24:23-28
 |
| Rookery at Magnolia Gardens near Charleston SC Nesting heron and vultures. |
Vultures. We
saw plenty of those huge birds in South Carolina. Usually there were just one
or two soaring high through the air. Sometimes there would be a group of them
circling high in the air. Then you knew they’d found some dead animal to feast
upon. This same illustration of a great bird—hawk or vulture—finding an easy
meal is in the book of Job.
Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and
spread its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest? It lives on the cliffs, making its home on a
distant, rocky crag. From there it hunts its prey, keeping watch with piercing
eyes. Its young gulp down blood. Where there's a carcass, there you'll find
it." Job 39:26-30
Like those
vultures the false prophets are looking for some easy prey—some gullible
individual that they can pull away from God’s path.
Jesus was
giving this warning to His disciples…listen
up, guys—don’t be deceived. Don’t believe everything you hear. Be careful.
There are liars and impersonators out there who would love to lead you astray. I
think He was also telling His disciples…and us… that He will not be hiding somewhere. Just like we can see
lightning, we’ll be able to see Him when Jesus returns.
Prayer
~ Lord God, I rejoice in hearing Your warning. Help me to be discerning, not
gullible and deceived by false prophets. Guide my heart, mind and actions that
I would be more loving and to teach others Your words.
Daily
Bible Reading: March 21 – Deuteronomy 30-31
© 2018 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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