Almost
exactly a year ago I wrote a devotional on the “End Times.”
Almost
exactly a year later…similar horrific news stories make the headlines of
senseless murders and pure evil roaming in our own neighborhoods and all around
the world.
I have
revisited this devotion and updated, as I see such senseless times around
us. I too am saddened, but also know
that God is in control, and even NOW has sovereignty over all mankind. No matter a mans belief, each will stand in
pure judgment before a righteous God and account for his life. There is some comfort knowing that all evil
will be judged accordingly someday…But that does not ease the pain of the loss
we feel now…today.
It
is only natural to question these dark times we seem to be in and ask why? Beyond the political discussions of why…the
bible is very clear about the END times and the state of mankind in the
foreshadowing of Jesus return to set things right…
“When sudden destruction comes
upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman…they shall not escape.” 1 Thes 5:3
Just
as the bible tells us of the “ending of days” in Noah’s time…So will be in the
“ending of days…”in the coming of our Lord Jesus…
Thousands of years later after Noah, we are the
same earth filled with corruption, violence, and the lacking of morality. We too have forgotten our first love... “However, I
have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first”. Revelation
2:4
We
live within a lost generation who has NOT shared our earliest heritage of the
GOOD News. The Good News that in Christ,
who saves us, we can have FULLNESS of life NOW here on earth, and into
eternity…Amen
Ignorance....it is the greatest LIE of all time. The deceiver wants you in a place of lost hope
in humanity. There is a false
encouragement to seek hope, fulfillment and contentment in ones self in
order to find “peace.”
Are we really "content" in these current times as a nation and a world??? Sadly
there is a warped and distorted generation that acts out in violence in the
name of peace, “religion”, spite, or just plain evil.
I have yet to meet ANYONE who is COMPLETELY
content.
Even
the believer in Christ is NOT content. And
yet at NO time does the world spin out of God’s control...Each day IS written… “Your eyes saw my unformed body…ALL
the days ordained for me were written
in your book before one of them came to be…” Psalm 139:16
Thankfully
in Heaven…there will be COMPLETE contentment for those who choose to follow the
Lord. God IS Good and Faithful and His
WILL BE DONE “Being confident of this
very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
The bible tells us the world will fall into deeper
darkness in the last days. And in the
end, each person will stand in judgment and account for his life “For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 “So then each of us will give an account of himself to
God.” Romans 14:12
But there is mercy and
LIFE after death! And Heaven awaits the
believer… Jesus said “truly, I say to
you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He
does NOT come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John
5:24
To ask why these evil
things are happening...and to be in an unsettled place has its purpose. These times encourage more to dig deeper for
purpose and answers of why there is a darkness
that looms around us. And in search…many
will find God…and the Good news of Jesus Christ. We were created by God…to be in relationship
WITH God. And until we have reconciled this TRUTH…mankind will continue
to be on the constant search for purpose, peace, and contentment. When not aligned with God, mankind will do
his OWN will, however that looks in the name of peace, justice, fairness, and
just plain selfishness...and there will be consequences.
What
will it take for this world to finally recognize its Maker?
Complete
destruction unfortunately “Immediately
after the distress of those days…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will
not give its light…the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies
will be shaken. At that time the sign of
the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and ALL the nations of the earth will
mourn. They will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the end
of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31
NO
MORE will there be injustice among mankind...NO more will there be pain,
misery, death, famine, drought, cancer, disease, horrific earthly weather
destruction, mental illness, sexual abuse, terrorism...and the growing list
of life's disappointments. ALL earthly
sadness will literally disintegrate "on that day" Philippians 1:6, 2 Peter 3:12, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Jude 6, 2
Thessalonians 1:10
That “DAY” will come…like “a thief
in the night…”
Revelation 16:15, 2 Peter 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
That DAY” will be like NO OTHER DAY in our human history…“The Lord himself will descend from heaven
with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of
the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are
alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore
encourage one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians
4:16-18
“When will all this happen? What sign
will signal the end of the world?”
Jesus
said “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I
am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the
end will not follow immediately. Nation
will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many
parts of the world. But all this is only
the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”
You will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because
you are my followers. And many will turn
away from me and betray and hate each other.
And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love
of many will grow cold. But the one who
endures to the end will be saved. And
the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so
that ALL nations will hear it…and then the END will come…” Matthew 24:3-14
It
is pretty clear, the earth as we know it…is NOW in this time of “labor
pains...”We may be disgusted,discouraged,disenchanted, and disengaged
from God, but ALL these things MUST happen to continue to reach out to those
who still do not yet know the Lord. “When you
hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened...These things must happen first,
but the end will NOT come right away." Luke 21:9
Even
though these times scream chaos, there is a perfect plan to save millions MORE
of souls for eternity…
Jesus
said “Be careful! Don’t let anyone fool
you. Many people will come and use my
name. They will say, ‘I am the
Messiah.’ And they will fool many people. You will hear about wars that are being
fought. And you will hear stories about
wars beginning. But do not be
afraid. These things must happen before
the end comes. Nations will fight
against nations. Kingdoms will fight
against other kingdoms. There will be
times when there is no food for people to eat.
And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are only the beginning of
troubles, like the first pains of a woman giving birth.” Matthew
24:8
IN HIS GRACE…there is still time.
We have this amazing gift IN Christ!
It is what Christmas is
really about! The BEST gift of ALL...The gift that keeps on giving. The gift that IS the most precious and most
valuable of ALL things in this world! Blessed
is HE who comes in the name of the Lord!!!
Jesus says… “For I tell
you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord.'" Matthew 23:39
As believers, we are called to recognize of these times and to tell
others of the FREE gift of Grace, IN CHRIST JESUS!
You may not call yourself a minister or even an evangelist, but if you
are IN Christ, you are called to share this good news with others. We are to reach AS
MANY souls for the kingdom of Christ as we can. We can ALL pray for
the saving of MORE souls “And this Gospel
of the Kingdom WILL be preached in the whole world…as a testimony to ALL
nations…and then the END will come.” Matthew 24:14
God does NOT take pleasure in those who are lost and who will be left
behind. And each of us can be used in
this kingdom plan for the saving of souls!
“The Lord is NOT slow in
keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with
you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2
Peter 3:9
In these recent days…it is ok to be alarmed, and
unsettled that this world is moving into a time of darkness…And this is where
your FAITH in GOD is imperative. We must
NOT be afraid as Jesus said…we must trust that each unsettled day is a day
closer to when Christ returns…and ALL these things must happen…Let us pray each
day to our God that is saving more souls for eternity…that SOON there will be no
more death…no more pain…no more suffering…no more loss…and an eternity in
Paradise with your creator…
Jesus said “Truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does NOT come into judgment,
but has passed from death to life.” John
5:24
“If you
openly declare that Jesus IS Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved…For it is by believing in your heart that you
are made right with God…and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are
saved.” Romans 10:9-10
