M
Summary: Christ is in charge! Don't let fear be the hallmark of your life.
The view from the back pew (where I am perennially perched) isn't always crystal clear. Most recently, I've been puzzled by a lot of my fellow Christians. We believe in Christ, we believe in heaven, and we believe those that have seen the error of their ways and repented of their sins will be favorably received by Christ at the point of our death into heaven. We believe that the revelation of John is real, and that the things described in it are going to happen at some point. If you collected us all together and quizzed us, there would be nothing but hearty AMENs at each of those statements.
Yet there seems to be a lot of discouragement - to be plain - a lot of frowny faces on many God-believing Christians. I understand that - really, I do. The world seems to be going to heck in a handbasket. Specifics? Ok - just for a quick moment:
JUST MY OPINION - I believe we could well be in the last days. The world, definitely including the US, seems to be on a track that will lead to widespread Christian isolation and persecution. Secular Americans have completely lost any pretension of respect for those that believe differently from them, all the while screaming that they are the voices of tolerance. Our politicians seem to be totally corrupt. It doesn't look good, by any means.
The Christians I associate with at church and other places would also heartily agree with those statements as well. However, we have a lot to be thankful for in that the world is heading in the direction specifically described in the Bible. If anyone has reason to fear and fret, it is the non-saved among us because they have their fate outlined in crystal clear speech in Revelations.
Well then, Why, why, why do Christians seem to be depressed? Why all of the agonizing concern I see on the faces for the government and the future of the world? Especially when we know that Christ is coming for us to save his people from the horrors of the Tribulation? Let's focus on this question first before I address what our response should be.
Are we frightened by the Rapture? I know that as a child, in a Pentecostal church, we were taught that Christ could come at any moment and not just taught, but had it hammered into our heads every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night. And we had to be in a perfect sinless state when he arrived. I have no shame in telling you that, when I was a child and teenager, the thought of instant judgment used to scare me to death! I remember several times I would come from my room or some other isolated place and look for my parents or sisters. If I could not find them immediately, I would get the thought in my head that "OMIGOSH JESUS HAS COME BACK" and I would go tearing through the house looking for someone - anyone - and if I found someone, I would then use my own flawed judgment regarding their salvation to determine whether I had been left behind along with that person. Thank goodness I would always quickly find what I considered to be a saved person. As a young person, I rarely - rarely - viewed myself as worthy to go to heaven, and even when I did, I know now I was wrong. It wasn't till I was an adult before I received correct teaching - that being that I would never ever be worthy to go to heaven, and it would only be by God's grace that I would/will ever make it! Am I the only one with this experience?
I believe that some of this fear, to a certain extent, could be in the hearts of some of our people. Some of us have built such a comfortable life here on earth that leaving it may bring thoughts of anxiousness, even though we know where we're heading - that being to a place of eternal rejoicing with Christ. We have idols that we don't want to leave, good times that we still want to have. A lot of people here are building up lives as though this is not a temporary way-station in life. I don't understand that.
Ok - I may be slightly off on this fear of the Rapture notion, although I think I'm on to something with the idea of people not wanting to leave a very cozy lifestyle.
How about this? People may fear that God's will may involve some unpleasantness for us. We watch the news breathlessly to see how our freedoms are being impacted by the godless. Is the thought in our minds that we may have to hide our Bibles, experience the shutting down of our churches, go through the horrors of another world war before Jesus returns? We do seem to be barrelling towards a future described in the Bible down to the letter. We have to come to grips with the notion that the situation for Christians, short of devine intervention in the hearts of men, is not going to improve and must reach the boiling point that God has already directed for the world; ultimately requiring the collection of his bride. We may have to suffer a bit. For example, even Christians fear death, natural or otherwise, because of the suffering that we may have to endure.
However, we need to remember that our Lord will return in his time, not ours. He will return at the perfect moment, and even though it may not be soon enough, or late enough to suit us, it will be alright. Yes it will!
Again, I think I'm onto something with the over focusing on the news of the day. We fret so much about what is going on, we forget to live our lives in the relatively peaceful country in which we abide at this moment.
I may have hit on one or two things already that may cause consternation among the flock, but I think the real reason eclipses by far anything written thus far. The end days brings disheartenment to the saints because the work is not complete, particularly among our families. I am so with you on this. It worries me to death to think of the state of my loved ones five minutes after Christ has come for his own. Can you imagine the fear that is going to grip their hearts, especially among the churched unsaved? It's agonizing to think of. I can not stand the thought of my friends and loved ones going through the tribulation, with all of the associated horrors. However, each and every person must decide for themselves whether they will accept or reject Jesus. We cannot make the decision for them. Yes, they are our sons and daughters and wives and husbands, but each are a separate soul and being created by God; each must choose one way or the other.
I thinked I've hit on several points that explain why even Christians are worried about the times we live in. But what to do, what to do???
Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say rejoice! Rejoice is the verb form of the word joy - in other words, no rejoicing = no joy.
Christ will win. We've all seen the back of the book and we know the ending. Be glad! We are saved, not lost in the stormy seas of life. Rejoice!
People are still going about their lives. Young people are getting married, children are being born everyday, we still have the freedom to worship and pray. Activities are being planned and attended. We are using technology to spread the good news of Christ's greatness and mercy. God is giving mankind the ability to overcome disease and pain. Knowledge is increasing. Missionaries are still heading out to the field. And occassionally a decent TV show makes it to the airwaves! Think of the times in 1939-1945. The world surely must have seemed as though it were ending. Yet it didn't. The key is to keep living your life until Jesus says it's time to stop, not some 'prophet' with their own calculations.
What am I doing? I'm living my life. I schedule fun things to do. I enjoy my family. I'm recently retired, so now I get to do all the things I've always wanted to, without having to worry about a timetable. I will die someday, but until that time or until Jesus comes, I'm not going to spend the mental health I have worrying about the current political climate. I'm not going to spend my remaining days in fear. I will however continue to witness and pray continuously for the souls of those around me, family, friends and neighbors.
I highly recommend the same for you, that we can learn to relax in Jesus. Christ is king and Lord of all - thank goodness. He's in charge, in spite of how much mankind thinks they are. Give yourself over to him and let him guide you through the storms of life - you can't make it well without him. Please, if you've tried to be saved before (and some of you know where I'm coming from on this statement), don't try to meet his standards. Let him save you. He will perfect you in time if you give your heart to him. Please.
The view from the back pew (where I am perennially perched) isn't always crystal clear. Most recently, I've been puzzled by a lot of my fellow Christians. We believe in Christ, we believe in heaven, and we believe those that have seen the error of their ways and repented of their sins will be favorably received by Christ at the point of our death into heaven. We believe that the revelation of John is real, and that the things described in it are going to happen at some point. If you collected us all together and quizzed us, there would be nothing but hearty AMENs at each of those statements.
Yet there seems to be a lot of discouragement - to be plain - a lot of frowny faces on many God-believing Christians. I understand that - really, I do. The world seems to be going to heck in a handbasket. Specifics? Ok - just for a quick moment:
JUST MY OPINION - I believe we could well be in the last days. The world, definitely including the US, seems to be on a track that will lead to widespread Christian isolation and persecution. Secular Americans have completely lost any pretension of respect for those that believe differently from them, all the while screaming that they are the voices of tolerance. Our politicians seem to be totally corrupt. It doesn't look good, by any means.
The Christians I associate with at church and other places would also heartily agree with those statements as well. However, we have a lot to be thankful for in that the world is heading in the direction specifically described in the Bible. If anyone has reason to fear and fret, it is the non-saved among us because they have their fate outlined in crystal clear speech in Revelations.
Well then, Why, why, why do Christians seem to be depressed? Why all of the agonizing concern I see on the faces for the government and the future of the world? Especially when we know that Christ is coming for us to save his people from the horrors of the Tribulation? Let's focus on this question first before I address what our response should be.
Are we frightened by the Rapture? I know that as a child, in a Pentecostal church, we were taught that Christ could come at any moment and not just taught, but had it hammered into our heads every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night. And we had to be in a perfect sinless state when he arrived. I have no shame in telling you that, when I was a child and teenager, the thought of instant judgment used to scare me to death! I remember several times I would come from my room or some other isolated place and look for my parents or sisters. If I could not find them immediately, I would get the thought in my head that "OMIGOSH JESUS HAS COME BACK" and I would go tearing through the house looking for someone - anyone - and if I found someone, I would then use my own flawed judgment regarding their salvation to determine whether I had been left behind along with that person. Thank goodness I would always quickly find what I considered to be a saved person. As a young person, I rarely - rarely - viewed myself as worthy to go to heaven, and even when I did, I know now I was wrong. It wasn't till I was an adult before I received correct teaching - that being that I would never ever be worthy to go to heaven, and it would only be by God's grace that I would/will ever make it! Am I the only one with this experience?
I believe that some of this fear, to a certain extent, could be in the hearts of some of our people. Some of us have built such a comfortable life here on earth that leaving it may bring thoughts of anxiousness, even though we know where we're heading - that being to a place of eternal rejoicing with Christ. We have idols that we don't want to leave, good times that we still want to have. A lot of people here are building up lives as though this is not a temporary way-station in life. I don't understand that.
Ok - I may be slightly off on this fear of the Rapture notion, although I think I'm on to something with the idea of people not wanting to leave a very cozy lifestyle.
How about this? People may fear that God's will may involve some unpleasantness for us. We watch the news breathlessly to see how our freedoms are being impacted by the godless. Is the thought in our minds that we may have to hide our Bibles, experience the shutting down of our churches, go through the horrors of another world war before Jesus returns? We do seem to be barrelling towards a future described in the Bible down to the letter. We have to come to grips with the notion that the situation for Christians, short of devine intervention in the hearts of men, is not going to improve and must reach the boiling point that God has already directed for the world; ultimately requiring the collection of his bride. We may have to suffer a bit. For example, even Christians fear death, natural or otherwise, because of the suffering that we may have to endure.
However, we need to remember that our Lord will return in his time, not ours. He will return at the perfect moment, and even though it may not be soon enough, or late enough to suit us, it will be alright. Yes it will!
Again, I think I'm onto something with the over focusing on the news of the day. We fret so much about what is going on, we forget to live our lives in the relatively peaceful country in which we abide at this moment.
I may have hit on one or two things already that may cause consternation among the flock, but I think the real reason eclipses by far anything written thus far. The end days brings disheartenment to the saints because the work is not complete, particularly among our families. I am so with you on this. It worries me to death to think of the state of my loved ones five minutes after Christ has come for his own. Can you imagine the fear that is going to grip their hearts, especially among the churched unsaved? It's agonizing to think of. I can not stand the thought of my friends and loved ones going through the tribulation, with all of the associated horrors. However, each and every person must decide for themselves whether they will accept or reject Jesus. We cannot make the decision for them. Yes, they are our sons and daughters and wives and husbands, but each are a separate soul and being created by God; each must choose one way or the other.
I thinked I've hit on several points that explain why even Christians are worried about the times we live in. But what to do, what to do???
Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say rejoice! Rejoice is the verb form of the word joy - in other words, no rejoicing = no joy.
Christ will win. We've all seen the back of the book and we know the ending. Be glad! We are saved, not lost in the stormy seas of life. Rejoice!
People are still going about their lives. Young people are getting married, children are being born everyday, we still have the freedom to worship and pray. Activities are being planned and attended. We are using technology to spread the good news of Christ's greatness and mercy. God is giving mankind the ability to overcome disease and pain. Knowledge is increasing. Missionaries are still heading out to the field. And occassionally a decent TV show makes it to the airwaves! Think of the times in 1939-1945. The world surely must have seemed as though it were ending. Yet it didn't. The key is to keep living your life until Jesus says it's time to stop, not some 'prophet' with their own calculations.
What am I doing? I'm living my life. I schedule fun things to do. I enjoy my family. I'm recently retired, so now I get to do all the things I've always wanted to, without having to worry about a timetable. I will die someday, but until that time or until Jesus comes, I'm not going to spend the mental health I have worrying about the current political climate. I'm not going to spend my remaining days in fear. I will however continue to witness and pray continuously for the souls of those around me, family, friends and neighbors.
I highly recommend the same for you, that we can learn to relax in Jesus. Christ is king and Lord of all - thank goodness. He's in charge, in spite of how much mankind thinks they are. Give yourself over to him and let him guide you through the storms of life - you can't make it well without him. Please, if you've tried to be saved before (and some of you know where I'm coming from on this statement), don't try to meet his standards. Let him save you. He will perfect you in time if you give your heart to him. Please.