From my teens I've always wondered what the end of the world as we know would be like. I was intrigued by Hal Lindsey's book, "The Late Great Planet Earth." We talked about the end times in our Sunday School class. I didn't so much like reading the book, but the movie was really interesting. I went with some friends to see it at a drive-in theater.
I'm not so sure I agree with Hal Lindsey about what the end times will be like, but at least it caused me to think about it. I've never been cracked about experiencing death personally. I'm not afraid of being dead. I'm afraid of getting dead. So I've always wanted to hang around to see the end times, no matter how turbulent they may be. I just figured I'd rather go on to heaven like Elijah, riding a flaming chariot, than the normal way, dying. The Bible does say that the dead in Christ will ride first and then those who are alive in Christ will be caught up with Him in air. I just decided that I didn't have to be first. I'd just as soon do the caught up thing in the air. That would be sooooo cool. Look Mom, I'm flying.
I honestly don't know how close we are to the last days, when the trumpet sounds and that's all she wrote. I do know that we are closer today than yesterday. As I look around it seems that there certainly are a lot of earthquakes and famines in various parts of the world. It seems nations are rising against nations. Many nations in Africa fit the description in today's passage.
I've also noted one thing that is of great concern to me. Jesus stated that as the end draws near many will turn away from the faith. He said to expect false prophets and false teachers. He said to expect an increased of love for wickedness and/or wicked things. He said that people's love for truth and righteousness will grow cold. I don't if anyone else has noticed, but it sure seems like that's happening. I read a stat not too long ago that stated that porn shops out number McDonald's three to one in the US. It also went to state that the porn industry is the number one industry on the internet.
In the middle of His discourse Jesus makes one incredible promise, "He who stands firm to the end will be saved." Wow! That's a victory statement. Standing firm on God's truth, standing firm on the hope of Jesus, sounds like the right and spiritual thing to do. But Jesus also warns that many will cave under the pressure and abandon their faith. Before you quickly announce, "Not Me!", I remind you of a guy in the upper room by the name of Peter. That "never deny you, Lord" statement became 3 denials within 24 hours.
Standing firm isn't easy. We cave in small ways all the time. We embrace much of the world's ways on a daily basis. We accept immorality in it's various forms as if it's nothing to be concerned about. People go without food. Woman and children abused. Widows sit alone behind drawn curtains. Sexual promiscuity doesn't even get a raised eyebrow. In fact, it's a major theme in most of our favorite TV shows.
As we lower our standards, our love and passion for God and His righteousness slowly dissipates. Our heart, our love is growing cooler. The hope, the light within us is fading. The saddest thing is that we don't even know it.
Jesus says run to the hills when you see it coming. He's not suggest we all wall ourselves off in a monastery. He's say to run from the world's ways. Perhaps that's why even though Jesus was divine, He still headed for the mountains to be alone with God on a regular basis. He needed to renew Himself with the Father. He needed to get away from the corruption for a while and find Himself enriched and enraptured by the holiness of God.
Father, I'm sick. The world is corrupting me. It's hard to live in the world and not to be a part of the world. My soul is bombarded daily with the germs of ungodliness. Refresh my spirit as I draw close to you. Purge the worldly elements from my being. Detox my soul. I want to stand firm in Christ, so empower me with your spirit.
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