Harvest Time is Here; Will you work the fields?

Well, Ive been away for some time now. Not for lack of wanting to write, but honestly for lack of Gods will in WHAT to write. From the beginning of this blog I wanted to only write what God placed on my heart to help others, and lately he's just had me busy in other ways. But, today I felt a strong urging to write on the recent events happening in the world and particularly our country today. It is August 23rd, 2011 and since yesterday there have been 11 earthquakes in Colorado, and just this morning, a big one in Virginia that was felt as far as New England.
Now, not surprising to those of us that know the bible and recognize that we are in the end times. But, you might be astonished as I am to know that most of the posts on my facebook page are people in shock of the recent events, like we havent been telling them its going to happen for decades now. That's the thing about us humans though, especially the ones that have not experienced Jesus' salvation firsthand, WE DONT BELIEVE IT TILL WE SEE IT! Most of us anyways.
I used to be one of those people, so I can relate. But honestly how can people brush things off so easily? Something like this happens and give it 2 or 3 days and its on to something else in the news and claiming the attention of everyone.
I just want to step back and examine just some things that have been foretold in the BIBLE and have happened JUST THIS YEAR, 2011. There are more then a few verses warning of the signs of the end times, but for the sake of time and not having you read a novel today, Im just going to focus on this one.

Luke 21:11 ESV
"There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."
So first things first, Earthquakes. Kindda like the earthquakes happening in all these random places? I said I would stick with this year only, so Im just going to mention that we had a very severe one just 3 years ago here in Indiana. INDIANA OF ALL PLACES! Anyways, back to this year. I found this great little chart on wikipedia that can better illustrate my point, which is that as the time draws closer for Jesus to return for his church, the earthquakes grow stronger and more frequent.

Number of Earthquakes Worldwide for 2000–2011

Magnitude Ranging Between	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
8 - 9.9	1	1	0	1	2	1	2	4	0	1	1	1
7 - 7.9	14	15	13	14	14	10	9	14	12	16	21	13
6 - 6.9	146	121	127	140	141	140	142	178	168	144	151	140
5 - 5.9	1344	1224	1201	1203	1515	1693	1712	2074	1768	1896	1963	1697
Total 5 - 9.9	1505	1361	1341	1358	1672	1844	1865	2270	1948	2057	2136	1849

Why are people surprised about this? Because they seem to want to forget that Jesus promised a return, that he even gave clues of when to expect him. Why? My only guess would be that it is easier to live a life of sin if you dont look at the world decaying around you. If you only live for yourself and earthly pleasures then its easy to miss the signs that the end is near.
What about the famines and plagues going on just right now? Cases of the bubonic plagues have already been reported this year in New Mexico and now the US. I know, I know, I thought it was an ancient plague too, but its coming back, just like Jesus is! All these epidemics of MRSA, ecoli, bird flu, H1N1, and Aids, arent these considered Plagues too? Or is it only the ones that get out of control and kill 2/3rds of the population like the bible says they will? There are is a great famine in Samalia where children are dying and in Africa where there just isnt any food. People in our own country are starving due to the economy and job cuts. But still, people lead their lives as if there is nothing happening around them.
Signs are falling from heaven daily! What about the big news at the beginning of the year with ringing in the new year with 5,000 blackbirds falling from the sky in Arkansas?! That was all anyone could talk about for a week, until even the shock of that became dull. They never found out what happened or "caused" that to happen to so many birds, but they did rule out every possible EARTHLY thing that could happen. If that isn't a sign from "heaven" then I dont know what is! 5,000 of them to be exact, right on the new year of 2011! It happened in Italy this year too, masses of doves falling from the sky for no known reason at all. But Gods people know what's going on, oh yes we do, and we aren't so quick to forget and move on like the rest of the world.
The burden is on US! The chosen generation, the royal priesthood, the chosen people of God to not let these signs go forgotten, but to use them to help reach the lost. Jesus hasn't stopped saving people because he's coming back. He hasn't stopped calling new people to serve him because the end is near, he is trying to use these signs to win more souls! This is the last days, last hours, and signs are literally falling from the sky warning of the end of time. Will you use them to reach out to more lost souls? Or will you be surprised that these things are happening and then grow numb to it after a few days have passed?
Be bold in what you know, Jesus has never let you down before has he? He never made a promise he didn't keep, and the bible has never been wrong to date. Know that he is coming, and is coming soon, and work even harder to win souls. Harvest time is here, the fields are ready, are you going to step up and toil for the Lord?!