How caught up are you in what is occurring across the planet relative to what the Word of God says concerning these days we find ourselves in, and how much are you simply enamored by the Word of God?
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
That Word we are rightly dividing seems to be focused, for the most part and by many, on the sections of the Scriptures that speak of the last days of the Gentiles, the Rapture, and the coming Tribulation. I cannot say for sure, but I would suppose that many churches have a passion today for the Books of Daniel, Zechariah, Revelations and certain parts of Matthew and Luke. Amos and other places could of course be counted in here, but each of them have something to do with what is generally considered the end of days.
And my friends those type of sermons and Bible studies will generally draw a large crowd, but not for the hope they offer. People are fascinated by watching the roller coaster or Ferris wheel fall over, as long as they are not on it. We have a propensity to be drawn to disasters, as long as they do not approach our doorstep, and this fascination is leading many I fear astray.
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matt. 24:11)
If you spend any amount of time online you will find numerous videos and comment sections that will speak of nothing but these days that we are in, and the coming Tribulation period, what I have noticed though is that few of them offer the message of salvation, of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means to escape the days that are approaching. How many people that are preparing for a hurricanes approach or just went through an earthquake or other catastrophic event are taking the time to search for the “next sign” of the coming apocalypse? If you are sitting by the hospital bed of a loved one who is suffering, you are probably not regaling them with accounts of death and destruction, but with hope and love.
This is what is being lost in translation, the coming days are not seen as hopeful, but dreadful to the hearer, and many have forgotten 1 Thessalonians 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
No, it’s more exciting, more compelling to watch the carnage occur than it is to speak of a love that is enduring, one that will last throughout eternity, it is easier to compel the masses with fear than it is with hope.
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36) And so the Word is hid in their heart, they try to make themselves “better Christians,” while doing no more than becoming doom and gloom prophets.
I have noticed that most of these people live in places where although there may be some form of personal discomfort, there is little more than that, the pain and suffering is witnessed on their computer monitors and televisions, while they sit on their comfortable sofa with a pantry full of food. Are there what I will loosely call “signs of the times” happening? Of course, but if you are not in the middle of one of them, why are you enamored by them? Has your calling shifted, are you not to be giving the message of salvation, are you not to be glorifying God in all that you do, lifting up the name of Jesus Christ as every possible opportunity?
Or are you to be spreading the message of fear, of the possibility of a horrible future that is approaching? That is Satan’s responsibility, not yours.
There is nothing wrong with verbalizing about the days we find ourselves in, in fact we should do so if we can verify what we are saying with the Scriptures, but unless you tell them of the means of salvation, of escape, then you are doing no more than assisting our adversary by spreading fear.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Not to spread fear, but love, the love of the Father towards all that will believe the Word of God concerning His Son. Consider this, if the times were not so bad, would you still offer the message of hope to all who would listen? Are you just as convicted for the Lord on a sunny day as you are when the storm is approaching?
