People laugh at the predictions of believers who give the date when Jesus will return. The Bible says that Jesus wasn't given this information when He walked on the earth. It seems to be a very closely guarded secret that no one walking on the earth should know. However the clear teaching of the New Testament is that Jesus is coming back.
Most Christians may politely tip their hats at this prediction but live as if it isn't true. They are very casual in their serving, giving, attending, devotions and acting differently than non-believers. They are like children who believe the teacher will not return. They are rowdy and unconcerned with what they are doing. They do so because they do not believe the teacher will arrive at any second.
The church is spiritually anemic without a healthy expectation of the immanent return of Christ. There is no anticipation, nor holiness sought so as to be ready. There is no urgency to tell loved ones the gospel because there is always plenty of time. Prayer is avoided because there is no urgency to see the Lord work. Mere mortals can do a whole lot if given enough time.
The time of Christ's return will be sudden. There will not be time to get ready once He comes. The closeness of the people working will not help. It will not be that a person can do what another person is doing and be taken with Christ. It will be the heart that will reveal who will go.
My fear is that the coming of Christ will not hinder the activity of many churches. There will be so few taken that the church can still function with committees, worship and preaching. The church members will wonder what happened to others. Few of them will suggest that Christ has come.
I want to be personally ready every day for the coming of Christ. It may not happen in my earthly lifetime but it will happen.
Jesus said he was coming back. He said it Himself.
Matthew 24:40-42 (ESV)
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
2 comments:
So many distractions and so much idolatry in the world today. Teens especially are looking for new idols to follow. They don't even care where to. They just want a here and now that they like. Nice to read a different perspective.
With the recent talk of the rapture, I was reminded that even if we didn't know when the end of the world would come and if we would be around for it, our world will come to an end when we die whether it is part of the rapture or not. So I agree we should be ready because we never know when the master will return or call us to him.
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