Nougat 12

Are you the kind of person who looks all around for signs and omens? Nothing is wrong if you do, as there is a time and place for such as we anticipate Jesus’ return. Now I am Not speaking about ouija boards, tarot cards and Friday the 13th kind of signs, those are Not our kind of spirituality. And while God’s not averse to redeeming us from the pit (Psalm 103:4), we don’t have spend our every waking moment there. Jesus has offered several signs to watch for, and some, like today’s Holy Nougat invite us to think about signs of the times.

“So if they say to you, ‘Look, he’s in the desert,’ don’t go out. And if they say, ‘Look, he’s in the rooms deep inside the house,’ don’t believe it. Just as the lightning flashes from the east to the west, so it will be with the coming of the Human One. The vultures gather wherever there’s a dead body.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭CEB‬‬

In unpacking biblical texts, it helps to keep the context in mind. So we would normally read around the text under scrutiny, sometimes even chapters before and after, to see what light it sheds. We have done a similar thing with the nougat, as you will recall that yesterday we reflected a bit on the Jesus sightings.

Siblings, Jesus is NOT Elvis! Yes, He died and rose from death; but Jesus also returned to Heaven, so there’s no need for Jesus sightings. Furthermore, we are better off sighting Jesus in our hearts so that we are ready for His return, no matter where or when.

Jesus offers an unmistakable unmissable sign, the sign of lightning. It is hard to miss lightning when it flashes in the sky. Many of us have heard the roar of thunder and a crack, as lightning splits the heavenlies, so bright to be almost blinding. (I admit, I never really stopped to check the direction of the bolt; but when told so by the Creator that it is so – accept it as so).

If we are around on that horrible and great day, then we will have opportunity to see Our True Light appear. No one will be able to miss it. I don’t know whether the visually impaired will see it but, who knows? And, like the lightning strike, Jesus’ appearance will be both sudden and introduced. Introduced, as all the signs would have manifested (like that roll of thunder or the ‘crack’ before the illuminated flashes); and sudden because we still don’t know exactly when we will experience Jesus’ return.

Inasmuch as Jesus offers the sign of Lightning, He also offers the sign of the vultures, symbolic of pending death or doom. Vultures appear when a living creature is in the throes of death, or has begun to deteriorate. And in such contexts they are hardly ever alone. Whether in movies or in reality, while the process might begin with a lone vulture, before long, there’s a lot. Again, the group of vultures are unmistakable and unmissable.

Interestingly, the Forerunner Bible Commentary says a group of vultures is called a ‘wake’, which in my culture refers to a time of gathering after the death of an individual. What we see therefore, is the suggestion that Jesus Christ’s return will not be all sweetness and light for everyone. And with all the time afforded us to change our minds, with all the signs we have received to prepare; for those who felt the signs were unnecessary, for those who’ve sold out to the enemy of our souls, Jesus’ return will NOT be good news. Nope, not in the least.

And as an aside, we know that the enemy seeks to kill, steal, and destroy – isn’t that a bit like vultures? Could it be that Jesus is warning that those who are not ready for His return will be prey for/consumed by the enemy’s team?

Siblings, if I die before Christ’s return, I pray that there’s a wake (prayer meeting) on my behalf. However I tell you, I have ZERO PLANS to be the menu for the wake of vultures at the End! My prayer is that you and your family will also be spared.

Let’s stay woke, and avoid the wake …

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May all we seek be found in Christ