Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mt 25:13
I am sorry but I cannot let this go by. I heard a noted religious figure say on TV the other night that since all of these bad things are happening to America, the end is near. We are living in the last generation.
So, let me get this right- America has debt problems, we have financial problems, unemployment problems, hungry people problems, and fearful for the future problems, so those are signs of the end of time.
Really? Is America the only country that God cares about? Why were not the financial problems in Greece a sign of the end? Why were not hundreds of thousands murdered in the Sudan a sign of the end. Why wasn't the fall of Rome a sign of the end [I am sure that someone in Rome was saying so at the time.] Hungry people in Ethiopia for years, but that was not a sign of the end. But bring a little heart ache to the streets of America and it must be a sign of the end. [it's all about me.]
Jesus will come back some day, but his signs are not centered on America. He has the Whole World in his hands. America has problems, but our problems are not a sign of the second coming. Our problems are a sign of selfishness, consumerism, and bad management by politicians on both sides of the isle.
Faithful and mature Christians do not run here and there with every wind of doctrine, trying to figure out when Jesus is coming back. Love God and love every one you come into contact with. If you do this, you will be ready, whenever Jesus returns.
As far as America's problems go, I hope that we can bite the bullet and get them fixed. But either way, good times or difficult, we Christ followers are called to love God and love one another. It's not necessarily the end of time, anymore than it was before. Nothing has changed. Keep trusting Christ.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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3 comments:
Reminds me of 2nd timothy 1-5
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
We have been in the last days since Christ died, it is clear that there are many things going on in the world today to indicate that we are closer to the end time, but what does that mean?
'But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 peter 3:8)
Your first quote is right on... watch and more importantly be ready (Mat 24:44, 2 tim 4:2)
I am increasingly convinced that God does not plan a single end time, but that Christ returns to each of us at the moment of our death. I don't know what happens, but I do think there is an accounting, a reckoning, an encounter where sheep and goats, wheat and tares may be separated. Yet I also am challenged by Grace, remember Jesus forgiveness even of those who had nailed him to the cross - and so I am left not with certainty, and not with fear, but with trust and challenge to live out that kind of love and grace in my own life, confident that I will meet my maker and praying that I may be found to have reflected the mind of Christ, the image of God, the connecting power of the Holy Spirit in my own life's journey. Blessings.
I love this post. More voices like yours need to be heard in the world. To go one step further, and you've pointed this out before, even if this person was not using America's situation, there are others who want to point to the weather, to disasters, and the list goes on. The bottom line is this. Every nanno second anyone spends on thinking they have the corner on predicting when Jesus will return, is taking time away from using that time to help someone and to make a difference in the world we live in. Like you've said about other issues, why do people want to guess the decisions God will make, when they are and always will be only His to make? Go figure!!
You are good, and I'm so glad you share these kinds of thoughts, Jeff.
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