Lord Lift Me Up
By Dennis Huebshman
If someone were to ask you right now if you’re prepared to be “lifted up”, would you say you’re ready? Going just a bit further, do you believe that we are in the end-time period spoken of by Jesus, Paul and others, when this age will come to its conclusion? Final question for now, do you even believe in Jesus and the holy word of the Bible? (emphasis mine)
For the last question above, the atmosphere in the majority of the world today is that Jesus either doesn’t exist, or that He was only a prophet, and not God Himself. In order to have a qualified answer, a person would have to believe and have faith that the bible is the True Word of our Creator; the Lord God Jehovah; and that it is a true and accurate guide for us to be able to be with Him forever. When I say “true”, this means any translation that strictly follows the writings that were Holy Spirit inspired, and handed down to us through the ages.
Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Going to 2 Peter 1:20-21, “…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. (21) For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Finally, there are true believers, and we are ready for our journey Home, and are praying that it’s soon to come. One would think that with all the signs that are present, the majority of the world would be waiting with great anticipation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Another question, why is the broad gate that leads to destruction so easy? Satan is the greatest “con-man” and deceiver that ever lived. He understands human nature and panders to all our desires. Problem with that is, our “desires” are usually not in the will of the Father. In fact, satan wants to pull as many away from the Father as possible, and all too many humans are eager to follow him. He has known what his final outcome will be from the time that’s mentioned in Isaiah 14:13-14, where satan believes he should be at least equal with God, if not even greater. He’s just bull-headed enough to think he can delay his final outcome.
Like us, satan is a created being, and so are all the fallen angels – demons who follow him. Unlike us, he and the demons have no pathway to forgiveness. They have had the privilege of being in the presence of the Father, and were able to witness His full splendor and glory. By turning against God, they made a firm reservation in a special hell – the Lake of Fire – that was made especially for them. (Matthew 25:41)
God gave satan and all the angels a free-will to accept or reject Him as they wished. The majority accepted Him, and are serving the Lord today. He also gave humans a free-will to accept or reject Him, and this will last until the final judgment takes place at the end of the Millennial reign of Jesus, our Savior. All who have died since the creation that were in God’s will, and all who have died “In Christ” since Calvary, will have a reservation in Heaven.
Humans are able to ensure their own eternal destiny in one of two ways. First, accept Jesus as our Savior; confess that we are weak and we all sin (Romans 3:23), and ask His forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10); ask that we be given the gift that Jesus paid for us at Calvary so He could be our Savior (Romans 10:9-13); and He will prepare a home for us to be with Him forever (John 14:1-3) The hard part is putting our faith and trust that God’s word is just and true, and not believing satan’s lies.
The second way is the easy way. Just follow the enticements of satan, and seek all the “pleasures” this world offers. You will be rejecting the free offer of eternal salvation that is being offered by Jesus, and satan will make you think that’s all just a myth anyway. Besides, he wants you to think there’s many ways to heaven besides accepting Jesus, and our Savior isn’t really necessary for us. Also, he wants us to think we have all the time in the world to make our decision.
Satan knows the bible and has many false prophets out there that are twisting God’s word to fit his deceitful teachings. There even some “bibles” that are not true to God’s Holy Word, which is why everyone needs to make sure they have a True Translation, as mentioned earlier. Any bible that does not say Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and that Jesus is indeed God (John 10:30) is a faux book.
This second choice gives people the only other eternal outcome available; a “home” in the Lake of Fire with satan and all his followers. Sorry, no other options are available.
We who are waiting for our Jesus to call us “up to meet Him in the air”, are as Paul said in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
There’s a song that was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1898; music by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel; that covers the way true believers everywhere are looking forward to the call, and of being “lifted up” (Raptured). It’s called, “Higher Ground – Lord Lift Me Up”.
(V.1) I’m pressing on, the upward way. New Heights I’m gaining every day. Still praying as I’m onward bound. Lord plant my feet on higher ground.
(chorus) Lord lift me up; and let me stand. By Faith on Heavens table land. A higher plane that I have found. Lord plant my feet on higher ground.
(V.2) My heart has no desire to stay; where doubts arise and fears dismay. Though some may dwell, where these abound; My Prayer, My Aim is higher ground.
(chorus – V.3) I want to live, above the world; though satan’s darts at me are hurled. For Faith has caught, the joyful sound; the song of saints on higher ground.
(chorus – V.4) I want to scale, the utmost height; and catch a gleam, of Glory Bright. But still I’ll pray, till Heaven I’ve found. Lord plant my feet on higher ground.
The mega sign that really put us “in the generation” that Jesus said would be near His return, took place on May 14, 1948. Israel once again became a sovereign nation. Everything since then slowly started moving forward with more and more signs given by Jesus, Paul and others being fulfilled. Over the past couple years, the crescendo has sped up to a pace where we see changes taking place daily. One prophecy expert even said they’re happening hourly. Just know the prophecies in the Bible up to now that have been fulfilled, were done with total accuracy, and the next sign will be the Rapture followed by the 7-year Tribulation. The Rapture will signal the end of this age, and the next one to come – the Wrath of God – will be worse than anything this earth has ever experienced.
We don’t know the day or hour that all believers will be removed, but it could be at just about any time now, including today. It would not be too early to call on Jesus and make your “reservation” with Him this very moment He will turn no one away, but will not force anyone either.
It’s very possible we could be with Him tomorrow, or even tonight. It will be sudden, “in the twinkling of an eye” as given in 1 Corinthians 15:52. That has been calculated to be less than one second, and yes, God can accomplish this. He’s patiently waiting for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), but will not wait much longer. Just the condition of the world tells us we are about through here.
Don’t be left behind with a reservation with satan; call on Jesus because “forever” is a very long time.
Shalom!