Well are we in the End Times?
I don't know.
We might be.
But there have been other generations before us that have maybe felt the same at different times. And maybe there will be more generations in the future who will feel the same way.
Whether we are or not, we are meant to be living every day like Jesus is coming back today!
As Christians, Jesus said in Matthew 24:6 that we should not be alarmed even if there are wars and rumours of wars as part of the 'end times'. However, I am so saddened that many of these links I have been sent seem to be written and compliled in such a way as to stir a sense of alarm. The music chosen as background to some videos has even been to build tension.
Yet, what is the purpose meant to be of Christians being alert to the end times?
Is it so that Christians spend their focus 'warning' other Christians that 'the end times are here', which often seem to only engender further fear and anxiety? Does Scripture give us the book of Revelation, and passages like those in 2 Thessalonians, so that our fear will increase and we become almost addicted to such messages of impending doom so that we get almost get an adrenaline rush from end times focused social media posts? NO. The truth of Scripture is not there to increase the Christian's fear of end times, but fuel their hope.
But I have read or received very many links (almost none!) that have been designed to fuel my hope in God and passion for sharing his gospel.
Here is where I think we are missing the point on 2 counts.
1. Knowledge of the end times is supposed to be fearful for only one group of people - the unsaved. And that should spur us to be even more active and passionate about sharing the gospel.
Any signal of the end times should prompt and propel our gospel sharing, but sadly the messages I'm receiving are not about spurring people on to the urgency of sharing Christ.
So I don't think we are getting the 1st foundational point of knowing about the end times - increased intentional gospel proclamation and disciple making.
2. Then secondly for the Christian, what is the purpose of knowing about the end times?…..Building hope. We are meant to encourage each other and spur each other on in the knowledge that this world is not our home, we do not live for the temporary earthly successes but for eternal and spiritual glories.
We are reminded that we can endure whatever is coming because we are not alone, we are indwelt by the Comforter, never forsaken, strengthened by his might, calmed by his peace…and thus face the future not with fear but with confidence and calm. But I'm not seeing this. I am not being sent messages of confidence, calm and encouragement.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, what are we doing?
COVID-19, African locust plagues, and years of drought may or may not be telling us the end times are immanent. But even if Jesus is coming soon, we are not meant to fear, but eagerly cry 'come Lord Jesus'. We shouldn't be engulfed with fear or stirring fellow Christians to fear. Instead we should be beacons of hope.
And as we shine as beacons of hope, maybe others will ask us why we have so much peace, calm and confidence in the face of so much uncertainty. Maybe instead of worrying more we should be witnessing more!
In fact 2 Chronicles doesn't tell us that drought, locust plagues and pestilence (disease) are signs of the end times, but are signs God's people need to repent!
Fellow Christians, what do we need to repent of ? What do you need to repent of?
Have we failed to hear the message of Scripture for the purpose God gave it? Have we forgotten that any 'signs of the times' are there to prompt us to give more glory to God, to be reminded that we are in safe hands since he already knew about this before we even began to think about it? Have we been messengers of alarm to fellow believers and quiet to non-believers, instead of messengers of warning to non-believers and comfort and encouragement to believers?
Yes there are conspiracy theories, there are wicked realities in our world, there are sinful and selfish hearts, and there is a Father of Lies whose aim is simply to steal, kill and destroy everything that is good and glorifies God. Satan is out to mess up the world and let sin have its full destructive force. He is the angel of light and great deceiver and will trick many into following what look like his 'good ideas' but are concealing destructive goals. His end-times schemes are destructive, are anti-God and are deceitful.
But Scripture doesn't tell us to spend all our efforts in telling and retelling and retelling fellow believers that the end times might be coming. We already know they are coming…we have been pre-warned, not to be filled with fear, but to be equipped and forearmed with hope which gives us greater urgency to live and share the gospel.
We are not taken unawares, so we should not be shocked or worried. We are children of the winning King. We already know the end of the story. God has the last say. God gets the glory and we get to live with him forever.
We are not victims of what world leaders might be up to, even though we might feel the impact of their decisions. Rather we are victors with the One who has already won the Victory over sin. Whatever man's and Satan's schemes, God has the greater plan. God is still working his plans. It is a deception and lie of the Devil for us as believers to be weighed down, discouraged, worried or consumed in our focus or time with all that might or might not happen or when. Yes, let's be aware that the world is not just going to plod on forever, there will be end times. Yes, let's be strong clear voices of truth and light and the salt in the earth. But let's also keep it in perspective, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not the storm….or else like Peter, we will sink and not walk where Jesus wants us to.
So in this year of 2020 - what is your focus? Where are your energies? Has Satan got you diverted?
Or are you propelled by the world's news into sharing the good news about Jesus more urgently than ever before?
Are you busy helping and encouraging others in their efforts to share the good news?
Are you busy encouraging and building hope in the hearts of your fellow believers?
Oh how I would long to receive more messages or watch more videos that observe the sad and sorry state of our world and are thus filled with gospel urgency and passionate hope!
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father,
who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts
and establish them in every good work and word.
and the very next verse in 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (which encapsulates the goal of our ministry) should be the focus for our prayers and our work as we await the second coming of our King….
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,
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