Are We Living in
the Last Days?
April 15, 2002
One day when I was eight years old I smarted off
to my mother. Fuming, she said, "I'm going to give you a
spanking you'll never forget!"
I laughed and said with a smirk, "Go ahead. You
can't hurt me."
No sooner had those words left my mouth than I
heard a noise that caused my heart to skip a beat and my breath
to catch in my throat.
"So you want a spanking," my dad said from behind
me.
To put it mildly-I hadn't counted on my dad
returning at that precise moment.
Of course we've all been surprised by a pop test,
an unannounced visit by our boss, or a speed trap. In the
balance of our lives few of those experiences made a lasting
difference.
But events in the Middle East have raised the
possibility of an unexpected encounter for which we all need to
be prepared. I hadn't given it much thought until I saw Pat
Robertson, of Christian Broadcasting fame, being interviewed
last week on Fox News. Alan Colmes wanted to know if the events
in the Middle East indicated we are living in the last days.
Robertson said the Bible makes it clear in the last days Israel
would be surrounded by her enemies. He indicated we should pay
attention because the bloodshed in the Middle East could be the
precursor to final days of the planet earth and the Second
Coming of Christ.
One thing is certain, if Jesus came back in the
next few days a lot of people would be surprised-and less
prepared than they ever have been for a pop test. So what do you
think? Are we living in the last days? Could the Middle East
crisis lead to the rapture of the Church and the Battle of
Armageddon?
I'm prepared to answer that question with absolute
confidence. In fact I've never been more certain of an answer to
any question in my life. I don't know! However, I do know that
Jesus said he would come back. He also said that while the event
is certain the date is not (Mat. 24:36). He then repeatedly
urged his followers not to kick back and become spiritually
indifferent. Time and again he exhorted them to "be alert" (Read
Matthew 23-24).
As Mighty Men of God we've devoted ourselves to
live for God one day at a time. If by God's grace we do that,
when Jesus comes back he'll catch us thinking and doing the
sorts of things that will win his applause.
Our problem is we live in a culture that focuses
on the here and now...the concrete . . . the predictable. But
Jesus spoke of a spiritual reality in which he is Lord and will
one day return to establish his rule on earth. In the meantime,
he wants to rule over our lives each day. Ask yourself this
question: If I knew Jesus would return in a week, how would I
live the next seven days? Once you've answered that
question-you've determined how you can prepare for his
return-which may not occur in a week. It could occur today.
(Matthew 24:44).
|
