Pat's Ponderings

Over the past few weeks, a group of us have met for breakfast to talk about a number of topics. This morning's focus was on the book of Revelation. Chris was talking about how scary some of the imagery that John uses is, and he made the comment that, if, for example, he saw the oceans turn to blood, there would be no such thing as free-time because it would all be spent in intense prayer and telling other people about what was happening. This made me think, "So, why aren't we doing that now?" Then, this afternoon, I read Peter's exhortation to the saints in 1 Peter 4:7-8:

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love overs a multitude of sins.

Wow, two thousand years ago, Peter felt like the end was near and told believers that, because of that, they should live in a state of readiness. Jesus Himself told the Disciples to be on the alert in Mattew 24:36,42,44:

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.... Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.... Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

So, that leaves us with one question: Do we live like we really believe that Jesus is coming back?

Along with that, Jesus said in v. 14 that the "Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." What are we doing to fulfill that promise?

I would encourage you to take a fuller look at Jesus statements concerning His return in Matthew 24. I think it's probably one of the more definitive passages on one of the least defined topics in Scripture.

Let us live with eternity in mind!

This post categorized under The Church and Culture.