Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Nearing the End?

What a roller coaster ride we are on right now. A new president, the financial crisis, rumors of wars in the middle east, Israel surrounded by enemies and wondering if America is still her friend and more. I read someone today on the internet who said that we could still be a thousand years or more until Christ returns. That is the response of many today, many who profess a love of Jesus and want to spend their eternity in heaven. Yet they don't believe that He is really coming soon. Or maybe they don't really believe He is coming at all. After all it has been 2000 years since He was killed. That's a long time in anyone's calendar.

The length of time is causing many to wonder "is He really coming"? That is when atheists chime in and say, yeah, Christians have been saying that for 2000 years and He's not here yet. Like Jesus is on their time frame or something. Remember for God, time has no meaning. Time does not exist except for us here on earth and only until He returns.

The church is being dulled into sleep by the length of time yet with everything happening around us we should be shouting in the streets, Repent, be saved and get ready for the Kingdom is near. Christ is coming - SOON! I don't hear many Christians saying that though. Most are embroiled in wondering how they are going to cope without a job, without their retirement savings, without their nest eggs. We are focused on the things of this world, exactly where satan wants us to have our thoughts. The church has become apathetic towards the return of Jesus Christ. It is more interested in enough money to build that new wing on the church.

It kind of gets me back to one of my first postings. Does the church really believe the bible? Is it true? When Jesus said He is coming back did He really mean it or was He just pulling our strings? Belief is an action and there isn't much action for the Kingdom in the church today.

You know what I find interesting? That God in His infinite wisdom told us down to the very day when to expect His Son the first time. He told us over 100 prophecies concerning His son so that people would know what to look for and what to expect. Some people were looking for Him and those that were looking found Him. There were many, many more however who were not looking and they did not see Him and in fact even took part in fulfilling the prophecies about His death. They were so wrapped up in their doctrines and their lives that they completely missed the first coming of Jesus Christ.

I find it ironic that today we are in the same position. Aren't we supposed to be so much smarter than they were back then? There are those who are looking, watching for the return of Christ. They know they are very close and the time is here that God wrote about in His Word. They are waiting with expectant hearts and wide open arms. But most aren't. Most are apathetic at best. Most don't even want to talk about it. They aren't interested. Most say, well even Jesus doesn't know the hour or the day line of scripture. Or He will come as a thief in the night. Problem is they are taking verses out of context and time.

Jesus did not know when He left this earth but as soon as He ascended He knew. He knows exactly when He's coming back. And He told us in His Revelation to the apostle John when to expect Him to come back. The thief in the night is for those of the world who do not know Christ and are not looking for Him at all. For those of us watching we do know.

I spoke with an 81 year old bible prophecy teacher the other day. He has been studying Daniel and Revelation for almost 30 years. He said that he fully expects to be alive when Jesus returns; that we are so very close to that time. We are at door step of eternity right now.

Acts 1:9-11
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.

Revelation 19:11-13
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God.

Jesus Christ, the King of all, is coming - SOON! Please get your priorities in order and get ready to receive your King. Money, stuff, job doesn't matter. Relationship with Him does. Pray for your loved ones to accept Christ as their Savior and put away the world. Be a light to those around you who don't know Him yet. The time is almost done for them to repent and accept Him. Soon it will be too late. This is not the time to be complacent and spend our time worrying about what is going on around us. This is the time to be in our Lord Jesus Christ because He truly is our only hope.