THAT SHOE

How Soon Will It Fall?

My evening walk felt like an out of body experience. I'm not sure if it was the ambient sounds of several hundred air conditioning units, the hum of the overhead lighting, or the highway noise. There was also a heaviness in the air and a strange hue to the surroundings. The grass was an odd shade of blue green and orange from the sunset reflecting off the clouds. There had been rain earlier, and while it wasn't particularly hot the humidity was stifling. Wagsley and I walked around the park together. This in itself was not usual. He seemed uninterested in his evening ritual of sniffing every blade of grass and barking at the squirrels. I wondered if he sensed it, too.

It could just be that it has been a while since I took a walk without a million things running through my head. I get in these times where there is so much occupying my mind that I can't focus on anything in particular. Something just seemed off, and I had this feeling of impending doom.

I wasn't frightened by it, just wondering how long before we finally see the end of the madness that seems to be growing every day. The world is like an old car in desperate need of repair, but we are too busy careening toward the cliff to be concerned with the squeaky breaks, knocking engine and billowing smoke coming out the tailpipe!

I remember as a child riding in the car with my parents and 5 siblings. Something about the way dad drove frightened my mother. She always seemed to be screaming. My dad who thought it funny to make her scream, proceeded to drive even worse. There was one particular incident if memory serves where we were driving up a mountain road. Dad was driving close to the edge. Mom was screaming. I was in the rear seat between my sister just older and my sister just younger. I'm not certain if it was the winding mountain road or the screaming that did it, but all three of us ended up covered in vomit. Not the greatest memory, but one that has lasted these 50 plus years.

When I think about where we are headed as a nation, it makes me a little queasy. I'm not scared about the destination because I know God is in control. He always has been. What I feel is a sense of loss for the nation I love. You see, of all the holidays Independence Day, not Christmas, is my favorite. There is something deep inside of me that stirs emotion when the national anthem is played and fireworks explode. I feel a deep connection to the history of this country. I am a native American. I was born here. I am native to this land. My grandparents immigrated here. My grandfather was born on the 4th of July. He loved America. I love the history, the republic that was established making the individual sovereign of his own life. We are a unique nation in this world.

People were created to be free. Free to make our own choices good or bad. Free to live, work, love and enjoy this earth that was given to us by God as our home. He gave us our liberties. The rights we have were given to us by the Creator, not by any government. We are unique in that respect. Our founding documents declare it, and guarantee our individual sovereignty over our lives. Seems we've forgotten who we are, and what makes America so special.

There is an awakening taking place. This broken down car is filled with people. Some are fast asleep and completely oblivious, while others are screaming, and then there are those who can't wait to get to the precipice hoping that the sleeping will be forced awake by the inevitable drop.

The oddest thing for me is the peace I have about it. It is like I'm standing in the eye of a hurricane where there is turmoil of the storm all around. I Imagine Jesus there with me. He is really calm. He is even smiling. He knows that he could make it stop in a second. I Imagine Jesus looking down at me with a grin. He says, "Are you ready? You've never seen anything quite like this. But you are safe with me. Watch what happens next."

So much has gone through my mind lately as history repeats itself. The evil we are witnessing is the same as it has been for centuries. There is nothing new under the sun. This spiritual war rages in the unseen world and when it gets really nasty, spills over to us where we can see it. I believe this happens when God is about to show us His power. He calls on his warrior children to step up and shine a light in all those dark places, HIS Light.

I received a text message to pray for Christians in Afghanistan as they are being put to death tomorrow. The recent fall of that country's government and the inept way our current president has mis-handled the situation, has put these people's lives in the balance. There is a call to pray for all Christians in that country and throughout the world who are suffering for their faith. I can't help but wonder as I look at where America is headed, if we won't soon face that same evil here.

Imagine Jesus with those brave Christians revealing himself to them as they stand firm and do not renounce their faith to spare their own lives. We know that eternity is theirs and there is no greater victory than resurrection. It takes away any true power the enemy would have. Because of their faith in the savior they will most certainly live long after Satan himself has been destroyed. No matter how horrible it is, the victory is sure. Through their faith in this time God will save others. It is how He works.

I don't know if we are in the last days. It sure seems that everything is lining up pretty accurately. On nights like tonight when I get that strange feeling, I wonder just how long before we will no longer have to Imagine Jesus, but we will see him coming in the clouds to transform us from this life to a new perfect life without pain and sorrow. Are you ready for what comes next? That's a question we all have the freedom to pursue. I'm excited, saddened by the pain and suffering, but I hope I will be found worthy in this fight. We are here for such a time as this.

Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Esther 4:14b "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Luke 8:25 “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Acts 7:55 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

1Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”