Getting Closer to the Last Days

Getting Closer to the Last Days

Acts 2:14-21

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷    And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

       that  I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

       and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

¹⁸    even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

¹⁹    And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

²⁰    the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

²¹    And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Comment:  Many of those who had gathered to hear and see this phenomenal sight of the disciples (Galileans who were unlearned) speaking in different languages were convinced that the disciples were drunk.  Yet Peter stand up among the people and address them saying that it is basically too early to be drunk but that actually there was something greater going on!  He quotes the prophet Joel from the Old Testament sharing that a new day, a new era was being ushered in that was a partial fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy which will be like that of the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on people.  Peter was telling his people that it was time to wake up, that the Day of the Lord is coming, and as he finishes in verse 21, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

Application:  God is working out His sovereign plan for this world.  He sent Christ who is now alive and risen, awaiting the go-ahead from God to come back and gather the elect (those who believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord).  It is a reminder to me that God is preparing His final judgment for all of humankind.  We must be busy doing the work that God has called us to, to reach out and share Christ, or as Christ says, “make disciples of all nations.”  I am reminded that I go in God’s power, through the Holy Spirit and not on my own strength because it is actually God who saves people and not me!  He is our salvation from beginning to end.  Otherwise, we could boast in our own salvation. 

Thank you God for your grace and salvation.  For finding me and saving my life from sin, giving me purpose and hope that far exceeds anything that this world can offer!