2 Kings 20:1 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." King James Version

Is your house in order? I’ve been watching Libya, and Egypt and Japan. I know the rapture is near and I believe I will be amongst the living when Christ raptures all the believers up to Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 "15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." KJV

So we need to be ready for Christ’s return.

In 2 Kings 20:1 above, which house do you think God was talking about; your home, body, or soul?

Have you ever realized that no matter where you go, you can't get away from yourself? It sounds redundant; but think about it. We can't get away from our thoughts. Some people call them voices in their head, but they are thoughts, and we can control them by replacement. Instead of fighting a thought, replace it. But the successful way is to replace them with God’s Word, so we have to read our bible, and speak God’s Word. By focusing on Jesus Christ, and what lies ahead, the promise of eternal life in heaven, it helps keep our minds off the earthly realm.

Our house, I believe, is our bodies, which houses our mind, soul and spirit.

So, do you have your house in order? Not just your belongings, but, your soul; your thoughts in your mind and your will; is it submissive to God's leading or are you still stubborn? Do your emotions run rampant, or do you have some control over them? Are you able to hold back your anger, anxiety, fear or nervousness? Or do you fly off the handle and later regret what you said.

Well, I don't have control of my emotions yet either, but neither did Paul! Read Romans chapter 7. I believe Jesus is telling us to get our soul and spirit in order.

From a distance I watched a lady trying to get her house in order. She began by selling her house, downsized to an apartment by selling furniture, gave away things, and moved into an assisted living establishment. Then a family member invited her into their home, and she again down sized a little more, to fit into a bedroom. When she was in her new bedroom, I watched her continue to 'get her house in order' as she emptied boxes, and gave away more items. She most likely has every personal item listed in her will, as to whom she would like her special pieces of jewelry to go to, which were the last, most precious items she had left in her possession in her little bedroom.

The motivation to get her house in order never ended. That might be because our mind, will and emotions, otherwise known as our soul, are constantly striving against God. Paul describes it thus: "21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." Romans 7:21-25

Do you have your house in order? Do you know God?

Those of us who know Him, and have submitted our lives unto Christ Jesus, are following His footsteps. We believe we’re being directed by His Spirit, protected by His angels, and healed by God almighty, as He promised.

Have you met His sweet, merciful Son, Jesus Christ?

Have you felt the touch of His love in your heart when you read God's Word?

Have you experienced the peace of God during trials and tribulations, knowing full well in your heart that you are being held in the palm of God's mighty hand, and that no matter what happens, you are safe in God and He’s in control?

All I can say is tomorrow is not yet given to us. Get ready.

Peter said "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10 KJV

If the Lord is willing, I’ll resume Hebrews 5 next week.