You know how our earth has been being devastated by all these natural disasters… earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods… I’ve been around for 21 years now, and as I’ve grown so has the evil and devastation in the world around me. I think for sure Jesus must be coming back soon because how could the world get any worse????
But then I consider the fact that my parents have been thinking that throughout their forty some years, and their parents before them thought the same thing. Ever since Jesus left this earth each generation has probably been thinking they are the last before He returns.
Every time a major earthquake rocks our planet, or a tsunami washes over our shores, Christians pull out “Matthew 24:7-8, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
The message of the troubled day is that Jesus is on his way.
Jesus WILL BE coming back, no doubt about it! And his return is sooner today then it was yesterday. But is Matthew 24 and other similar passages saying that volcanoes erupting, earthquakes, famines, and flooding are the sign of his return?
These horrible tragedies have been happening for hundreds and thousands of years, and Christians have been claiming them as the fulfillment of the prophecy and the sign of Christ's return for as long as they've been taking place. We (Christians) might find that our message is scoffed at by the world, because our claims might just sound like the boy who cried wolf.
Each time I hear of another monstrocious disaster I am sobered and reminded that our time here on this earth is indeed short and uncertain. My Dad gave a message a few weeks back that really challenged and I believe corrected my thinking, on Matthew chapter 24.
Absolutely we need to tell the world that its Maker is coming back some day soon, and that they need trust in Christ before its to late. No one is guaranteed their next breath, let alone their next year. But to predict the return of Christ based on natural disasters is, I believe, a deviation from the point Jesus was making.
In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus was warning his disciples to NOT be deceived by false prophets claiming to be the Christ. He was telling them not to be troubled by wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Check it out, in Matthew 24:6 Jesus says “see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Natural disasters are a sure sign that this sinful, corrupted world does NEED its Savior to come back, and quick, to set all things right. We should be proclaiming that truth to those wondering why all this devastation is taking place! But natural disasters are not THE sign that Jesus is coming back NOW. They are only the beginning of sorrows, and as history will show, disasters have been taking place for a LONG time. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/graphs.php
I’m no end times specialist, and I honestly and quickly admit that most of it confuses me to no end. But if you keep reading on in Matthew 24 you will find a number of other prophecies and signs that do give a timeline to the end of the world, when compared with Daniel and other books of the Bible.
But what I really wanted talk about is our watching and being ready for Christ’s return. Starting with the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32 to the end of that chapter Jesus is describing the rapture of his Church. And NO ONE knows the day or hour when He shall snatch us away. But we are commanded/encouraged over and over again to be watching and readily waiting!
“Mark 13:32-37 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
So according to this verse we (Christians) are servants left on this earth to do the Lords work, while our master (Jesus) has gone away to prepare a place for us. We are to be busy, active, and prosperous, not lazy and halfheartedly wasting our days away. There is SOO much application packed in these verses! We have a great mission to be about!
“Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Consider the facts: We KNOW Jesus IS coming back, and SOME people will be taken, and some WILL be left, so WHAT are we doing with the time we do HAVE left?
“Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with indulgences, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
As we went over these and many more verses on Sunday, Steve (who was preaching) asked some thought provoking questions:
Are you looking and watching for Jesus to come back?
Are you excited for His return?
DO you understand the seriousness of it all?
I ask myself “What cares of this life (good and bad) are distracting me from the great mission I have been given? What do I NOT want Jesus to come back and find me doing? What can I do to be advancing the Kingdom of God more?
And am I REALLY excited for Jesus to return?
I’m a big romantic, so relating things to love and weddings always helps me. When I am walking down the isle on my wedding day what will I be thinking? Will I be wishing I was still sleeping, or chilling out watching a show on TV? Will I be thinking about other friends and wishing I could be hanging out with them? Will I be dreaming about a big bowl full of brownies and ice cream? Will I be thinking about or wishing I was anywhere, doing anything or with anyone other then walking straight towards the man I am in love with? I can assure you that unless something is dreadfully wrong, there will be only one thing on my mind – HIM! I will be jumping out of my socks longing to be in his arms, and be his forever. I will have tried my hardest to look beautiful for him, and make this day stay in his memory forever. He, the man of my dreams, will be on my mind and NOTHING else will be overtaking my thoughts.
Now, what about the way I anticipate the return of my Jesus, my savior? I’m living and longing to be beautiful in his eyes?
I hope these thoughts touch your heart as they did mine.
So, is the end near, or is it here? As long as you are still here then the end must only be near! You are here, and there still is time, so our work must not be finished! Lets do it my freinds!!
“Jude 25:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
