He's always got time for His friends

by Helen Gardiner

SO, here we are in the new millennium. As I write this, the early days of January have passed. Jesus has not returned; the world has not imploded and I am still enjoying the comforts of modern civilisation.

Now that the excessive hoopla of an exceptionally silly season (both in the world and in the Church) has past, it is great just to sit in the settled dust and hear the still small voice of the Lord speaking a word of direction for the coming year.

I do feel that His main thrust in the coming year will be evangelism. I believe that even those who have never felt any call to evangelise will find themselves reaching out to others they encounter on a daily basis. This they will do, simply because they have become far more full of His love, especially for the lost and hurting.

I believe the Lord wants to empower His people to be far less selfish and far more sacrificial in giving of themselves and their goods to others. Even those who have been camping in the high place of throne-room worship and revelation are going to have to come down the mountain and go forth into the world, just as Jesus did in His earthly ministry. It is the time to emulate Christ's earthly walk, and I believe there is an emphasis on the word <I>walk<I> (as opposed to sit or stand or talk).

I do believe Jesus is coming "soon," possibly in my lifetime; but I really do feel the need to put any such preoccupation aside. There are so many eschatological writings around at this time; and it can be so confusing to a theological fool like myself.

Some years ago, when I cried out to the Lord concerning my lack of eschatological doctrine, He took me to the simple words of the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

I haven't yet evidenced the falling away, the revelation of the man of sin and him sitting in the temple and yes, I believe that Scripture is meant to be taken literally, first and foremost, and then, also, maybe sometimes, as the Lord leads, figuratively.

While I am not expecting His return and the rapture today or tomorrow, or until I have seen the fulfilment of the above, I nevertheless realise that I personally may be called upon to face Him any time because physical death can occur any time at any stage or age, so I do need to live constantly in a state of being ready for rapture in a sense.

By His grace, may I live so.

And we really do need to realise that we live in Him by His grace.

The in-gathering of His harvest is and will be by His grace, first and foremost. We need never to let go of that.

The temptation to yield to and embrace the striving of religious spirits has never been greater than it is right now.

Don Francisco, a Christian singer, songwriter and musician, who has been around for many years, but who has been relatively quiet in recent years has brought out a new album called Grace On Grace. It's brilliant. It's "now." It's Jesus. What more can I say?

On it there is a song called Time For My Friends. As Don might say, "It's for me. It's for you. It's for all of us." It's for right now.

"Now as the world is unwinding

And the time of My coming draws near

Let this be a gentle reminding

For those who can listen and hear

My life is new life never-ending

But the Old and the New cannot blend

I will not prop up a religion

I've only got time for my friends

And I've always got time for My friends

Yes, I've always got time for My friends

And you know that it's true by My Spirit in you

I've always got time for My friends

But sinners are always My friends

Today there's religion abounding

Old casks of watered-down wine

The wolves wear such dapper disguises

Only I know the hearts that are mine

But I still heal the sick and the broken

And I stand with those no one defends

I still want no part of religion

But sinners are always My friends

And I've always got time for My friends

D' you think we're made blind by tradition?

The problem is you think you can see

"We know the Bible in eleven renditions!"

But why won't you just come to Me?

Yes. I've always got time for My friends

I've always got time for My friends

And yes you know that it's true by My Spirit in you

Yes, I've always got time for My friends

I've always got time for My friends

Yes, I've always got time for My friends."