Old Testament: Nahum 1-3
Poetry: Psalm 138
New Testament: Matthew 24
Wars, diseases, crime, hate, famines, earthquakes, hurricanes, and a bunch of other bad stuff can really stress you out these days. It really seems to have gotten worse lately. I am 58 and a half years old, so I was growing up in the 70’s when nuclear weapons became a big topic of the day. Many Christians I knew were saying that we were in the end times then. In fact, I remember one person predicted that Christ may be returning in 1982. Clearly, that wasn’t a very good prediction and it taught me not to make predictions about such things, but I do think events are a lot more aligned now with scripture and the end times could be starting now or soon. Matthew 24 talks about the end times when things are going to get bad, really bad, but it also gives those who can persevere a lot of hope.
I am not going to review all the signs of the end times mentioned in Matthew 24 here; you can read those yourself. However, my quick summary that I already mentioned is that it will be bad, really bad. Jesus warned us in verse 6 that we will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but he also said that we should not be alarmed because these things need to happen before the end comes. He went on to describe a lot of other disturbing events that will take place. He was warning us of what is going to happen so we can stay chill during that time. Unfortunately, he also told us that many would turn away from the faith at that time. If we didn’t have this warning, I do think it would be difficult to keep our faith when we see the whole world crumbling before our eyes. But c’mon, if you say you have faith now when you know these bad times are coming, it is not much faith if you abandon it when you see exactly what you already knew was going to happen. It should increase your faith when you start to see events that were written about 2,000 years ago actually occurring. That’s impressive. Moreover, we already know how this story ends, and it is amazingly positive for those who keep their faith to the end.
It is true that some will lose their faith because they just can’t handle all the bad things that are going to happen, but Jesus has another warning for a different group of people. He talks about a group of people that aren’t ready for his return. They are people that even believe in Jesus, but they start thinking that he has been gone a long time, so they have more time before they need to get their lives in order. They think they can live for themselves a bit longer before they need to repent and start living for God. There are two major problems with that thinking. First, your life could end today, and you will have missed your chance to be saved. Second, only God knows when Christ is going to return, and it is going to surprise many people. Jesus told a story about a master of a servant who will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. There will be people that put off the decision to live for God because they think they have more time, but instead will find themselves in the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It will be too late the same way it was too late for all the people in Noah’s time who didn’t believe Noah until it started raining.
This has all been explained to us in scripture so you really shouldn’t be surprised when it happens. It was explained to us beforehand so we can stay calm and know that once this happens, we will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Reflection Questions:
Does this world stress you out or do you realize that God is in control, and everything is going to turn out great in the end for His people?
Are you glad Jesus warned us of the bad things that are going to happen or would you rather have not known and be surprised when it happens? Do you think it would be easier to keep your faith in the end if you knew what was going to happen or if you were in the dark?
-Rick McClain
Seek Grow Love 