We live in an age where information spreads within split seconds across many devices. Now, people have access to these information, whether they are genuine or they are just some bogus claims. And we also know that lies spreads faster than truth, and we should never be ignorant of the fact that the devil is the father of lies. The unfortunate thing is that many people feed and make these lies there reality at the detriment of their own safety and wellbeing. And so, I want to share with us very briefly: How To Live Ready For Christ Second Coming: Paying Attention To The Things We Hear!

 

Listen to Podcast: PAYING ATTENTION TO THE THINGS WE HEAR!

 

"For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. ² For if the message given through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, ³ how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], ⁴ [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."

Hebrews 2:1-4 (AMP)

 

As children of God, it is of utmost importance that we pay attention to the things we have heard, and hearing, if we are not going to lose focus. In a world where there is so much information, both genuine and fake ones, we are been admonished by the writer of Hebrews to give heed (NKJV translation) to the things we have heard. That tells us something that as believers, irrespective of the news around the world, there is something that we have heard and believe, and which we know to be true and authentic, and which forms the basis or the foundation of our faith. This we are admonished to pay closer attention to. Now, one of the things we are advised to pay attention to is our salvation.

 

Now, the salvation message is the doorway or the entrance into Christ in the first place. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ASV) tells us that "for by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." That tells us something that we do not have the power or the capacity to save ourselves in the first place if Christ had not stepped in. We all became eligible for salvation because we simply reposed our faith in the finished works of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary and we became saved. That is why verse 9 further tells us: "not of works, that no man should glory." You becoming saved and escaping the corruption that is in this world is not of yourself, it is the workings of God.

 

So the writer ask in verse 3: how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? That tells us something fundamental that salvation qualifies us to escape whatever it is that is happening in the world right now. It means the way out of Covid-19 and all other atrocities that we befall the world that we do not even know of, is salvation. As many people that are not saved are doomed to perish with the happenings in the world and will also not reign with Christ at His second coming. God began this salvation work with those who heard Him, and these people in turn brought this salvation message to us, haven proved that it was God that was involved in it. And these things we have been admonished to give heed to or pay attention to as the case may be.

 

Why Must We Pay Attention To The Things We Have Heard?

1. The number one reason is because not everything you will be hearing now will be of much relevance to you. Many of the things we are hearing now will end up as some form of distraction or some misinformation that has little or nothing to do with Christ's second coming. See what Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:23-28 (ASV) concerning misinformation and fake news about His second coming.

 

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not. ²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Behold, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶ If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe it not. ²⁷ For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. ²⁸ Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."

 

This is why in times like this, the things we have heard from the mouth of Christ Himself are the things that should guide our lives and not some conspiracy theories that some people want you to believe to further create confusion in the world among men. Jesus Himself said it that there will be many misinformation that will be around before His coming. And if anyone gets carried away by those misinformation, they will drift away from the truth. This is not the period to join the rest of the world in the argument whether 5G is linked to Covid-19, this is the time we pay more close attention to the things we have heard.

 

2. The Things we have heard is the basis and foundation of our faith in Christ's second coming! Whatever we choose to hear right now will either destroy that foundation or builds it and make it more stronger. Don't forget that the word of God says in Romans 10:17 (AMPC) that ^"So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself)." Isaiah 28:16 (AMPC) tell us something very remarkably about this point as well. It says:

 

"Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]."

 

The things we have heard is the basis of our faith in Christ's second coming and not some conspiracy theories. Those things should be the basis of our faith that Christ would return and the power of hell cannot stop Him. And if you believe in this, the latter part of that Scripture says: "you will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]."

 

What Should We Do With The Things We Hear Now?

1. Filter What You hear Through The Eyes of The Holy Spirit. It is not everything that you hear now that you should take hook, line and sinker. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you understand the things you hear and discard anything that is not relevant to your spiritual growth. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 (AMPC) shows us something that is very instructive in this regard. It says:

 

"But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. ²² Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be. ²³ And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."

 

It is our responsibility as children of God to allow the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth. When we do this, we will not be carried away by every wind of doctrine and misinformation that is happening in the world right now.

 

 

2. Always go for the truth and not fables. Fables are stories or statements that are not true. That tells you, they are not founded on the truth or the word of God. Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Peter 1:16 that "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

 

I believe you have been blessed!

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!