There’s nothing like a message on the end of the world to jolt you out of your present preoccupations and make you think about living the bigger picture.
I have been so caught up in a microscopic understanding of the world, that I have forgotten to consider the many events taking place in the Middle East that are happening in accordance with bible prophecy. Which brings me to my point. I have badly needed this disruption.
We are entering into the days described in Matthew 24 and Ezekiel 38. Amir Tsarfati, who travels the world speaking about the Middle East and Bible prophecy gave a powerful message this morning in worship. He connected all the dots between Russia, Turkey, Iran, Europe, US, Egypt, and Syria’s current events and presented them in relation to Israel. Wow. I have been clueless and now I am clued in.
I went through the end times series of Joel Rosenberg but Amir’s talk simplified everything and his main purpose was to say, Jesus is coming soon! Are you ready? What are you doing to prepare yourself and others for God’s coming kingdom?
He said something like this, “I believe that everyone chooses eternal life. But it’s about location, location, location! Will it be eternity with the Lord or eternity separated from him and in Hell?
Biblical prophecy is one way to know that God is the sovereign, almighty, all-present God he claims to be in Scripture. History is a continual validation that He exists and is at work to the end that He has purposed.
“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’ (Ezekiel 38:23 NASB)
This morning’s message reminded me to consider all my daily concerns, activities, projects, busy-ness, worries, thoughts, and desires based on the inescapable reality that Jesus is coming soon.
So do I forget about teaching my kids mathematics, science, language etc? I mean, what for? Maybe we should camp out on the streets and hold up signs that say, “Repent, the end of the world is near,” and be like those crazy people we see in movies.
But thankfully, Jesus told us what to do.
Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. (Matthew 24:42-46 NASB)
Be on the alert. Be ready. Be aware of the deceptions and lures that are a counter force to desiring God.
Be faithful. Faithfully love God, faithfully love our spouses, our children and one another, faithfully share the gospel, faithfully use our gifts and abilities for his glory, faithfully persevere to the end. And for me…faithfully homeschool my children!
My dad used to tell me, “plan for eternity, live like it’s your last day.” Is there anything I am doing that I would be ashamed of if it was the last thing I did on this earth? Am I living short-sightedly and holding the things of this world too tightly? Are my energies, strengths, and doings channeled with laser-focus towards God’s will? If not, then what is distracting me? Am I really doing my part to tell others about Jesus? Am I ministering to the spiritual needs of my children and discipling them versus just passing on knowledge?
These are some of the questions that this morning’s disruption compelled me to think about. Life on earth is a temporary assignment. It is not yet home.
“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7 NASB)
