It seems to be the rallying cry, if you will, of a certain part of the Christian community today, “Lord, come back quick,” and while I whole heartedly agree, for that day will be a day like no other, the path that the Lord has placed you on must not be forfeited for the sake of this desire. “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.” (Amos 5:18)
Our adversary is subtle, his lies have been perfected, he cares absolutely nothing about the lost, his desire is and always has been to dishonor the name of God in whatever way that is open to him, and this is another perfect opportunity. Just as wars and conflicts can cause men to doubt, these days of apparent insanity are far from what the mature Christian knows to be the truth. Yes, I do personally believe that our salvation is closer than when we first believed, (Romans 13:11) but that does not mean that our Lord has changed any of His plans, everything is right on schedule, always has been.
Instead of continuously seeking for the next new sign, I might make a humble suggestion. Since the end of the age of grace signs are indeed prevalent, and one of Satan’s greatest ploys is to divert attention away from the truth, do this same thing to those that you are currently witnessing to, divert their attention away from the diversion.
On every news channel, in nearly every home that celebrates this season, almost all topics of conversation will revolve around the flu that is going around, it will focus on all the possible negative things associated with it. Do the opposite, begin to compile the facts that prove the positive side of this virus, relative to the negative, if you will, those that state undeniably from reliable places that the survival rate is well over ninety-seven percent, that nearly every single person that contracts this flu recovers from it without any long-term effects.
Tell them, prove to them that the death rate is less than one percent of the population of the planet from just this flu, and that the 3 to 4 percent that die from it had other life ending illnesses that would have caused their demise very soon even without this upper respiratory infection. Show them the proof that the average age of people that are dying from this is over 75 years of age, the age that has been the average age of death for humans for quite some time now.
If these facts will not persuade them, that is of little consequence to you, you have done your duty, you have brought the truth to the table, what they decide to do with that truth is completely up to them. By the time next year rolls around, if they are as most of the lost are, their attention will have been diverted long before next Christmas rolls around to the next item that they have been instructed to believe is so vitally important, and you will probably be invited back.
This is called love, speaking the truth in love, we were never told that doing so would make us popular, in fact, we have been forewarned it will more than likely lead to something else. “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16) They really cannot complain about your continuous “Jesus talk,” for all you have done is show them the truth of the world, the deception of Satan, in a sense, has been shown to be just that.
Just in case they decide to play the “Don’t you feel sad for those who have lost loved ones” card, remind them of this. Those who have indeed lost those they love to this flu do not grieve as the lost do, (1 Thess. 4:13) their sorrow is only for a short time, for the promises of our Lord are true, He is faithful. If these individuals were not saved, then we will grieve with them, (Romans 12:15) and at the very first opportunity that seems appropriate we will tell them of the One who has promised to wipe away all tears.
The lost are in a lose/lose situation, because they refuse to repent and be born-again, (Acts 3:19) they will die twice, they are being blinded, and cannot see the subtle deceptions of our adversary, and if they continue on this path, they will continue to be led by the blind, straight to an eternity of hopelessness. (Matt. 15:14)
Whether or not they listen, at least end the evening in love, for the glory of God, and make sure to tell them Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays, but that subject is for a whole different letter. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
