Too much preparation for something can at times make the anticipated event seem less desirable, and at the same time make the present moment seem dreadful.
On many of the YouTube channels I visit occasionally, there seems to be quite a few people who are not just anticipating the return of the Lord, of the Rapture, but who at the same time seem to have forgotten just what it is they are to be doing while they wait, the moment waited for is causing them to lose these moments today.
I wonder at times while I scroll through these types of comments, where were all these people four or five years ago, why was there not a clamor on all these social media sites for the Lord’s return then? Were the supposed signs not sure enough? Were they too busy watching cat videos? “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:13)
How many Christians in the days of Mao, Stalin or Hitler thought without a doubt, “These must be the end of days approaching?” One can quite easily expect these individuals to appear quite regularly by just watching for a few moments of what the main media sites are talking about, the worse the weather, the more they speak out. Now, please do not get me wrong, I firmly believe in the rapture of the church, there are far too many verses, all in context, to validate this truth in the Scriptures, but it is not the center, focal point of my life, nor should it be yours. “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matt. 24:46)
Working is not staring up at the sky, nor is it a complete and concentrated effort of the mind to one singular point of view. It is encouraging the brethren, reproving and correcting them in love when it is necessary, reaching out to a lost world with the good news of Jesus Christ, it is a life devoted, a life crucified for the glory of God.
I feel sorry especially for those who attempt to place some form of date on the Lord’s return, some celestial event, on a specified festival time in the land of Israel. Sorry for them, but that does not stop me from letting them know that if they are wrong, they will be labeled a false prophet, and all their credibility they may have at the moment will be lost.
I believe, as I have stated many times before, that most of those who in one way or another speak the words, “Jesus, come back soon” have no reason to, save for the fact that they are watching their internet screens far too much, I doubt that many of them are experiencing any adverse personal events whatsoever.
This may sound oxymoronic, but if you will contemplate it in the context of this short letter, it makes perfect sense, the mind that does not trust the Lord is in a hurry to be with the Lord. To want to get out of here, to be raptured, does not show very much confidence in the path that the Lord has set before you, instead it speaks of the one who is fearful of being in the fellowship of His suffering, of one who fears the battle and the possible injuries to themselves, it does not speak of one who has been crucified with Christ, of one who in all humility and humble service has said to the Lord, “Here I am, use me!”
Many who call themselves after the name of Jesus Christ would just as soon stay in the sheepfold, they have no desire whatsoever to be sent out among the wolves. Many become fearful just watching their televisions. The Lord will return for His own, I just hope you can recall what He said about those who were not found working when He does.
