By now, we've all probably heard the man who is assuring the world that tomorrow is the end of days. He even has it narrowed down to the very hour that Christ will return.
I've heard many things about this man, and his followers. They've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to tell the world that "Judgement Day is coming". No doubt do we as Christians believe that Christ is coming again. Just as it was prophesied that he would be born, and was, he will return just as he has promised us.
Now, here is something to consider. Pay attention to the tone of the guys telling us about their "mathematical analysis" of the Bible. They are out with signs saying "Judgement Day is coming". Think about that. If someone came to Christ out of fear, out of a "Oh, crap, Saturday's a comin'... better do something now"... do they actually understand God's love for them through Christ? Not to say that one couldn't, it just seems hard. Additionally, I have a tough time thinking that God would be glorified with people who are scared to go to Hell, so they "believe" in him for a few days to "ensure" they are good to go.
This focus on the end of the world doesn't have to be like this. What if it opened a door to actually sharing the Gospel, sharing the whole Gospel, with those asking questions? What if, when someone asked whether we believed that Christ would return, we ACTUALLY shared why we believe he will return at ANY time. What we can't proclaim at all, much less "beyond the shadow of a doubt", is when Christ will return. Christ himself doesn't know.
To end, we should be less occupied with the time and day that Christ will return and live every day like it's the last day of our lives. We should show God's love, glorify Him alone, submit to him as Lord of our entire being, and celebrate that his promises are true and that he'll return one day. It'll be a glorious day for believers.
The end may come tomorrow. It may come today. It may come in the year 2100, 3000 or beyond. That's not what we're to be preoccupied with. Our focus should be his grace on our lives each day, that he even allows us to breathe, to have a home, to enjoy family, to exist at all. Our focus is to be to praise his name for what he's done for us through the cross, so that we could be with God. Some of us have seen our last Christmas. Some of us may see 50 more. All that matters is "living he loved me, dying he saved me, buried he carried my sins far away, rising he justified, freely forever, one day he's coming... Oh GLORIOUS day."
So, to end, I'll probably see my friends on Sunday. Or I will be with the saints glorifying the King of ALL. Either way, Christ is King and God is to be glorified. Years ago, I felt God telling me that I was going to have a child of my own. We began that journey, thinking it wouldn't take too long. Then, it took 13 months. Glad I didn't think I knew God's timing better than Him... or I could've been one frustrated man. He knows when he's coming back. Let's praise him all the more.
For now, I'll prepare for the birth of our son. I'll continue to pray for his salvation in the years to come. I'll continue to pray that God reveals more of himself each day to my wife and I. He loves us. He sent him who knew no sin to be sin so that we could become the righteousness of God through him. That's what my family will cling to.
