The End is not Yet
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Matthew 24:3-8
3. As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" 4. And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. 5. For many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8. all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
Psalm 57:1,2 NKJV
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.
Is it just me, or when you listen to the news do you sometimes wonder if “this is it”? How many disasters can take place; how many people can die of starvation; how many years can a country survive with no rainfall? Who is the latest “candidate” for the role of Anti-Christ? My questions can continue, on and on. Is this the end of the age? Are we entering into the “end times”?
We may tend to think that way. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who wonders about this! Jesus tells us that we should not be “distracted” by all that is going on. We must do the work of disciples! He doesn’t want us to stop our work to worry and fret and spread alarm about all these things! We are to do something about them! Vote! Join a mission team! Pray! Do whatever you can! But don’t let your alarm, and especially your belief in the “end-times prophets” of today make you feel helpless and hopeless! Even if it’s true—that Christ will come again soon—we can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen! We had better be busy doing the Lord’s work at that last moment of life on this earth as we know it!
Not that we are to be complacent, and believe that we still have plenty of time. I really relate to Scarlett O’Hara, the main character in
Gone With the Wind. Her famous line is “I’ll worry about that tomorrow.” I’m “famous” for saying, “After _______, I’ll do what I need to do.” Or, “As soon as _____ happens, I’ll be able to do what I should.” I realize that is a risky attitude! Because, while I’m convinced the world isn’t going to end in my lifetime – it could end today! I will so regret having the last words out of my mouth before the rapture be “after” or “as soon as.”
Thousands of years ago, when the Psalms were recorded, man’s deep desire for refuge in a loving and faithful God is apparent. I believe we need that refuge and comfort even more today. Most of us aren’t even aware of the famines and wars, impending wars, greed, corruption, ethnic cleansing and HIV/AIDS epidemics. We aren’t informed about sexual predators and we don’t understand teachers having sex with students, or the million other evils in this world. We truly do need something to believe in—to cling to. And God is available now, just as He was in David’s time. David called out to God even before he had been given Jesus!
We have been given a Savior who transcends any evil of which man can conceive. God demonstrated the depth and breadth and height of His love for us when He took human form and allowed himself to be nailed to the Cross. We have no need to be afraid for our souls. He promised us on that day over 2000 years ago that we are His and that He loves us beyond explanation. I, for one, hope I am busy doing what He has tasked me to do when that final trumpet sounds!
My prayer today is that you lift a prayer of hope and healing for a hurting and desperate world. And that you find comfort in the shadow of the wings of your mighty and loving God.
Mary
