Yesterday you’d have noted I posted a verse from.the second letter of Peter. Here’s where I was coming from.
It started with a conversation I held recently.
I like the guy.
I don’t know him that well. We met a few weeks ago. He could hold a decent conversation, which is always useful. He’s a Christian as well, which is a good continuation from holding a decent conversation. His testimony really fascinated me and his zeal for preaching to the masses and infiltrating cults to share truth was intriguing.
The issue isn’t about perfect agreement on everything, it is celebrating the opportunity we have to share Jesus together and perhapa build each other up in the faith as we do so.
His particular passion was end times. He confidently spoke of matters biblical and historical painting the picture of how signs are clearly indicating things are about to wrap up pretty quickly.
As I sat hearing him speak with such relish, it reminded me of similar end time enthusiasts. Their ability to connect events to certain scriptures and their confidence that certain things have now been prophesied is quite the spectacle. Their glowing eyes about a date or time predicted for the Rapture, Showdown, Second Coming, etc. can be captivating, slightly perplexing and a little scary.
What I notice, however, is for the amount of energy invested in the speculation, guestimation, Scripture add-up and current event analysis, there isn’t as much energy invested in the life we should live NOW as a result.
Indeed, other than cursory references to ‘getting right with God’, there’s little in the way of what life should be like now even if their extensive efforts turn out to be true.
Study of end-times is something that hasn’t appealed to me often, because it’s almost been approached feverishly as a horror show meets a political thriller meets sci-fi fantasy display. Much in the way of symbolism and equations, but little in the way of how that should motivate the nature of what I do today. Less still of the revelation of Jesus in it all that should make me want to know Him and love Him more.
Let me get this straight. I do believe in the Second Coming. I believe there are enough scriptures that speak of times yet to be fulfilled to know God’s plan continues to unfold.
What I also believe is the importance of perspective. God thinks now is so important He allows to call it the present. I can make the most of the gift of the present by ensuring my life is hid in Christ and I live with the blessed thought of eternity now. Scaremongering, speculating and getting hung up on scriptural permutations doesn’t appear to be the most conducive of exalting Christ above all things.
Sure we need to be aware of the time in which we live. It’s important to be mindful of His return. All the more reason to live the life now that He’s called us to live. As Peter said – a holy and righteous life.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 
When people start going on about the “end times” I am always reminded of these verses in Acts:
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11, ESV)
Quit standing around looking at the sky for signs and get about the business of the Kingdom. Word.
Amen to that King Arthur. Going further I’m reminded of how just before then the disciples were keen to learn if the end times were gonna kick in and Jesus restore Jerusalem to power. I enjoy Jesus refocussing them on the fact that the only thing that matters is being witnesses of Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.