Since I can remember I have heard about, read about, and talked about the end times. The study of the end times is known as eschatology. It is an interesting subject and for many it is not really something that they think about or even consider. They may acknowledge that there is an end time coming, but it does not have any bearing on their life.
That really should not surprise any of us as I know it doesn't surprise me. When you read and study Scripture there are some pretty simple truths that you find out about man. We keep making the same mistakes over and over again. It's like we're believing there will be a different outcome. Wait, I think that is the actual definition of insanity. Well, that answers my question, man is insane.
Reading Scripture is the history of mankind. Different people, rulers, situations that occurred in the past. There is an old saying that history repeats itself. Mark Twain said 'history doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes’.
There is a reason history is repetitive and that is because when we look back historically we can see what worked and what didn't. Ecclesiastes 1:9 Amplified Bible says-
That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun.
We can each look back on our own lives and see what did and didn't work. That mistake we made earlier in life is certainly not one we would want to repeat. Now let's admit we certainly want to repeat that time when we did exactly the right thing at the right time. It felt good then and we want it to feel good again.
Now looking back is important but looking forward is much more practical. Why, because we live in the future not in the past. What is that future going to be like? In the big scheme of things, it is leading to the end of the world as we know it. I'm not talking about losing electricity for an hour or so, we had that happen to us a couple of times this past week. No lights, fans, tv, computer, Wi-Fi, nothing. We laid down and quietly took a nap. Now of course when the power came back on I had to reset all the clocks and timers. Well, there was the stove top I forgot after the microwave but you get the idea.
As I have read and studied God's Word about the subject of eschatology, I know this for certain, this world is coming to an end. I don't know when, no one does. As a matter of fact ,Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 that-
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Now the signs are all around us and have been throughout the history of man. Since the fall in the garden ,man is destined to either an eternity with God in His heaven or one of eternal torment with the devil and his demons in hell.
You need to go and read Matthew 24:3-31, Mark 13:3-31 and Luke 21:7-36 for yourselves. Jesus is telling you what is going to happen from that time forward. Let's be understanding of Scripture. We have been in the end times. We are in the end times and will be in the end times going forward until Jesus comes back or we die.
There is more to come as major events must occur and will occur. They could happen even today. As I have said before, the next major event in the end times is Christ return for the church. When will that occur? When God tells His Son Jesus to go get His bride as I mentioned earlier.
I said in a message this last week that "I don't fear death". I don't because I know where I am going. It is something I've never experienced before. So I have some questions about how some things will work but I am not fearful. That is a peace that God gives me through faith in His Son Jesus and the comfort of His Holy Spirit He gave me when I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord.
Here is a question for today. Have you come to the place in your life where you know for certain that when you die you are going to heaven? If so, praise the Lord but if not know this from John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Do it today because tomorrow may never come.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
コメント