Since the conception of the Christian church on the day of Pentecost the soon coming return of Jesus has been preached. Many of us have heard our entire lives that the Lord could return at any minute. That His return has never felt closer. I cannot nor would I try to say that we are currently in the end times. Because no man will know the day or the hour. But I do believe that if we are living in the last days the church must start to work like never before.
Mathew 24:36 (ESV)
But concerning the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
However, it is easy to see why so many do believe we are entering the last days. As our world is looking more and more like the Bible’s descriptions of the last days every day. Truth is no longer truth. The masses truly do only listen to those who say what they want to hear. While the USA is not a mirror of the rest of the world never has our country been so divided right down the middle. Not even during the civil war was our country spilt so evenly between two sides with unwavering belief systems. All of which makes it seem more and more like Jesus’ return may not be too far beyond the horizon.
Luke 21:25–28 (ESV)
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
In light of the end times, our work must start at home. Ensuring that we are in fact ready for Jesus’s return. Checking our hearts and removing anything that could keep us from ascending with Him that day. Jesus taught that we should work to always be prepared for His return. Making it clear that those who are not prepared will be left behind.
Matthew 24:42–44 (ESV)
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 25:8–13 (ESV)
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Luke 12:35–40 (ESV)
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
When Jesus comes for the church there will be no time to make things right. Scripture is clear that it will all happen in an instant. Relating it to the twinkling of an eye. Two people will be working side by side and before they know what happened the other will be gone. Time to repent won’t be given. Chances are it won’t take place after a powerful Sunday church service. In which you poured out your heart to God. The state in which you are found when He comes will be the state in which you are taken or left behind. In righteousness and repentance or in wickedness and sin.
1 Corinthians 15:52 (ESV)
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Matthew 24:40–44 (ESV)
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Ezekiel 33:18–19 (ESV)
18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
If we are really living in the end times it is so important that we work on our own lives daily. All to ensure we are ready to meet Jesus at any moment. Doing our best to keep from sin. Because we know that those who live a lifestyle of sin won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Scripture even says those people don’t even know Him. Repenting quickly when we do fall and not falsely believing that we have time to get right later. Following the advice, Paul gave Timothy to keep a close watch on himself. Stating that by doing so he would be able to save himself and others.
1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV)
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
While we work to ensure we are always ready for the Lord’s coming we cannot neglect the world. Jesus spoke of the harvest being plentiful but the labors being few. Then encouraged His followers to pray that God would send laborers into the harvest. A truth that still stands true today. In fact, it could hold more truth today. As there are more people in our world today that need Jesus than ever before.
Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV)
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
We live in a hungry world they are searching for something to fill the void in their life. Longing for peace, joy, love, happiness, and freedom. That’s why so many things are being seen at an all-time high. Such as drug use, drinking, gambling, divorce, pornography, and so many other things that will never accomplish what they hope they will.
What they really need in their lives is what we have in ours, Jesus. He is the only thing that can fill the void we all have. Bridging the gap between us and our Heavenly Father who was separated from us because of sin. Only God can provide the peace, joy, and overall happiness all people are seeking.
2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (ESV)
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The only way they will ever see their need for Jesus is if we tell them about Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So every member of the church must work to bring God’s word to the people. Taking the Gospel to the world is what Jesus called us all to do.
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Sharing the Gospel is scary and not always easy. I completely get that and often find myself getting a little nervous when it comes to face-to-face evangelism. We worry about upsetting people, ruining friendships, causing people to walk farther away from God, not being able to answer questions, and even just misrepresenting the Lord. But you know what’s much scarier than any of that? Allowing them to continue down the path they are on towards destruction. Because that is just what happens when we choose not to tell others about Jesus. We allow them to blindly walk into hell when we had the information that could have saved their soul.
This is not meant to scare anyone into evangelism but too often we forget what the real outcome of not sharing our faith can be. If the end is coming soon then we must work hard to save all those we can. Otherwise, we won’t have another chance to lead them to salvation and they will be left behind.
Truthfully if you don’t want to reach out to the world you may want to ask yourself if you believe what God’s word says about hell. Because the idea of not trying to save anyone for that future is wicked and not of God. As well as if the love of Christ is in you because love will do all it can to save anyone even if it’s uncomfortable. Jesus laid down His life to save us while we were yet sinners. The least we can do is put aside our comfort to point others to Him.
Revelation 21:8 (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Matthew 13:50 (ESV)
50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:16 (ESV)
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
It’s time for every Christian to get to work by sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen. Don’t worry about what to say or not knowing the right things. Because you have been saved you have the ability to point others to salvation. You know your story about why you placed your faith in God, how you received salvation, and how you still choose to follow Him today.
Tell of what God did in your life because testimonies are extremely powerful. Then just share what Jesus did for all people and what it takes to be saved. The very same things you did to receive salvation. It’s that easy to share your faith with someone else and it is what you should be doing every chance you get in light of the days we are living in. There is no telling how much longer you have to reach out to others. So work hard to and fulfill the call God placed on your life to reach others with His truth.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Matthew 16:16 (ESV)
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Acts 2:37–38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As you are reading this there could be years, months, days, hours, or just seconds until the Lord returns. No matter how much time is left it is time to get to work. Because one thing is for certain Jesus is coming soon and once He comes the time to work will be passed. So work on your faith and always be ready for His return. Allow God to send you out into the world as a worker and start preparing others who are so hungry for Him. If the last days are upon us it’s not the time for the church to sit idly by or simply talk about the awful state of the world. It is time to get to work and make a true difference in this world before we leave it!
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