Jesus Loving You

God speaks to people in many ways.  This is not a new thing as he has been doing this from the beginning.  There are MANY today who do not and will not believe that statement.  According to MANY 'christians' God no longer speaks to mankind as of the completion of the book of Revelations.  This makes for a very convenient and ready made excuse.  Jesus said in St.John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I KNOW them, and they FOLLOW (obey) me."  To all the 'white rabbits' of today, I say, "if God no longer speaks to mankind today, then he must no longer have any sheep."  Unfortunately for the 'white rabbits' that's just not true. Jesus still speaks today but MANY of his sheep (so called at least) have grown hard of hearing.  The title for this article may seem a little strange to say the least, but bear with me please.  Yesterday, as I meditated on God's Word He brought to my mind the white rabbit from the Story of Alice In Wonderland.  Although I have not seen that movie or read that story in a great many years, I heard very plainly the white rabbit saying his most famous line.  As near as memory permits I quote,  " I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date, no time to say goodbye, hello, I'm  late, I'm late, I'm late."  My very next thought was the words spoken by Jesus almost two thousand years ago.  Luke 14: 16-24 "Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade (invited) many;  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready."  "And they ALL with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused."  "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused."  "And another said, I have taken me a wife, and therefore I cannot come."  "So that servant came, and shewed the lord these things."  "Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind."  "And the servant said , Lord, it is done as you commanded, and yet there is room."  "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."  verse 24, "For I say unto you, that NONE of those men which were invited shall taste of my supper."  Question! can you think of a short and simple way of explaining to someone (which would include yourself) why Jesus said what he did in verse 24?  Let me be of assistance.  The one thing in common that all the 'excuse makers' had, was that they ALL had 'good reasons' they deemed more important than making themselves ready to accept and attend this man's invitation.  Everyone must examine their own lives and answer honestly exactly how many things 'they esteem' more highly than an invitation from God.  You will find yourself amazed at the great variety of those excuses.  One, could be a person who someone places ahead of God, another, could be the pursuit of dollars, worldly fame or acclaim, or, even power and the praise and adulation of men.  These are the 'white rabbits' in The Body of Christ (or at least they  claim to be christians).  This entire earth is filled with MANY who claim to be christians, who are running around exactly like the white rabbit, at breakneck speed, always hurrying, scurrying, and worrying.  "I'm late, I'm late, I'm LATE, for a very important date."  No time to say goodbye, hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late."  Question -No time for what? No time for who?  How about no time for Jesus?  He took time for us before we even cared or knew about him.  The 'white rabbits' have moved Jesus far, Far, FAR, down on their list of things to do. That only makes them easier prey for the enemy of their souls. My, but how Satan loves  to manipulate those who call themselves christians.  He will simply keep everything they are trying to obtain, always just out of reach.  His plan is working well in 'THE CHURCH' today.  How well it is written that in the last days, "many shall run to and fro" Daniel 12: 4 (partial).  To those who started out loving Jesus, let me remind you of His (Jesus') words as found in Revelations 2: 4 "Because you have left your first love." (partial) In verse 5 Jesus goes on to say that those who have done this, must come to repentance and do over their 'first works' or he WILL COME quickly and 'remove thy candlestick." Can anyone reading these words recall when you first received Jesus?  He was all you talked about and all you thought about.  How much time do you have for him now? Are you beginning to understand that this is not something that happens overnight?  The cares of this world have the ability to slowly, ever so slowly, move Jesus down on one's list of priorities. It is   highly unlikely that Jesus had first place in your life one day and then you suddenly forgot Him the next.  It does NOT happen that way. This is a gradual and subtle thing. Any sudden and drastic change would be too likely recognized and questions asked.  When it comes to deceiving christians Satan is the most patient of devils.  There is only one defense against this 'migration in the wrong direction' away from God. God provided us with a most perfect defense against that happening and that defense is to spend time with Him, to make time for His Word.  Having His Word 'in you' is important because most often that's how he speaks to us today.  John 14: 26 "But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he SHALL teach you all things, and bring all things to YOUR REMEMBRANCE whatsoever I have said to you."  Question.  How can He (The Holy Spirit) bring things Jesus said to your remembrance if you don't remember what Jesus said?  The answer is very simple, He can't.  White rabbits become so busy chasing their own fluffy white tails, that they eventually end up having 'no time' left for Jesus.  The progression is simple.  First it's 'I'll do it tomorrow', and then one excuse on top of another until you finally reach the point of no longer even bothering to make excuses anymore.  "I must need to 'first' attend to my wife, my son, my daughter, my father, or my mother." It makes no difference what you choose to place ahead of spending time with 'the One who died for you', that thing or person has indeed become 'some other god'.  God did not permit that in the beginning, He does not change, He does not permit that today, He will not permit that in the future, NOT EVER.  God knows he has commanded us to work with our hands at that which is good, to provide for our families needs.  He's the one who told us that and said that it was good. God knows that we, as flesh and blood people need food, shelter, and clothing.  Remember also that Jesus said "Seek first, First, FIRST, the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."  White rabbits can only see the here and now.  How sad.  It is written "the just shall live by faith."  Does this mean not to work with our hands and minds?  Not hardly!  Does this mean that earning a living is to be placed ahead of God on our list of important things to do?  When someone puts the accumulation of things ahead of God, is that okay?    I do Not think so.  Even a white rabbit should know that.  If not, then he may be white, but not very bright.  In most cases, it's not so much that they don't know as it is that their love for the one who they call Lord, has waxed cold or perhaps never even existed at all.  It makes no difference.  This article concludes with these statements.  There will be no, No, NO, white rabbits who will be attending the marriage supper of the Lamb. That is not my opinion.  That is God's opinion.  My prayer for all white rabbits is that they WILL return to their first love and stop making excuses as to why Jesus has been moved so far down on their list of important things to do.  Amen - "Let him who hath an ear, HEAR, what the Spirit sayeth unto the churches."  The words the Spirit is saying are the very words of Jesus as we read in Luke 15: 24 . Those who were invited, but had no time for Jesus will NOT TASTE of that supper. That is serious, that is important, and that deserves to be our FIRST priority.  May God bless not the hearers of these words only, but the DOERS OF HIS WORD.  Again, not my words, but God's.  Amen.  Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!