When we look around and see the moral depravity that is increasing at a pace unseen in the past, and how things are moving globally, does it not make us increasingly feel that we “are not of the world” (Jn. 15:19)? These events are also an important reminder that the time is short before we hear the blessed assembling shout and find ourselves forever with the Lord Jesus! It is not that we look for signs, but we simply cannot close our eyes to what is going on. But in the meanwhile, how should a child of God walk in this Christ-rejecting world?

In this regard, it is very solemn to read how the Spirit of God summarizes all of King Saul’s life: “Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord.” This is the reason why he lost the kingdom, why the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and why the Lord did not answer his inquiry. Left to himself, he went into a wrong path, seeking a medium in order to get the answers he wanted. All this happened to Saul because he did not keep the Lord’s word. And what a sad end he had! If we abandon God’s Word, we will stumble along in the wrong paths. It is impossible to find direction for our lives if we do not keep the Word of God.

Keeping the Word of God is what pleases the Lord and has His full approval: you “have kept My word” (Rev. 3:8). He said to His disciples, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (Jn. 14:23). Do we really love the Lord Jesus? Let us faithfully keep His word as we await His coming, and do so for His glorious name! God’s Word stands firm, even if many do not walk according to it and try to cancel it. May Jeremiah’s heart impulse be ours too: “Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name” (Jer. 15:16)!