March Blog Message --- by Rev. Ron Mahler
“The World Can Be Bad, But God is Good”
The Bible says that one day, “like a thief in the night,” Jesus will return to this earth. What the final days will be like for all those who inhabit planet earth – has been recorded for almost two-thousand years. And in our own time, the signs of “the end” are becoming closer and bolder. AND yet – as we observe the attitude of our time, and gaze at what is going on in the world today, we see people living like they are going to be around forever. Time magazine – not too long ago – featured on their cover, a picture of the heads of the two most powerful countries smiling at each other – over the words” “Building a New World.” Many people refuse to believe that an end to our existence is even possible. YET even in last ten years we have seen tremendous changes in the world. And we have seen the signs of our time that appear to point to the final or the “last days” that Jesus was talking about – and which Matthew recorded in his gospel.
The purpos
e of this message is not to provide a full-scale evaluation of the prophecies from Jesus’ words in Matthew 24. The task before us isn’t even attempting to decipher in detail – what exactly will happen in the future. Rather, our task is to examine how God wants us to live, and in light of that, what He promises for those who have put their faith in Him. Jesus talked a lot about the future. He also related the future to present-day living, and He told His disciples about the future to encourage them to rest in Him during times of great hardship and turmoil. When the work of the Church is nearing its fulfillment on earth, Jesus said there would be “signs” that the final hours had come. “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (v.29) Jesus then said, “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”(V.v. 31-32)
Jesus indeed gave us some vivid and concrete details about what the final days and hours will be like. Matthew 24 and other passages in the gospels are loaded with them. The Lord was constantly getting people to interpret the times. He did this so that they would know His return was near, which would serve to embolden them in their faith and witness. But in talking with people, there’s this impression you get that a lot of us don’t want to think about the future times – even Christians. Except, that is, for the two evangelists who sat beside the road to an old bridge. Each was holding a sign saying, “Beware the end is coming.” Every time a car went by, they held up their signs. After hearing several loud crashes, one said to the other, “Do you think we should have said, “Beware the bridge is out?” But you know, the saddest thing is a church that goes about their business and plans, without the end in sight. Yet when we do keep one eye on the future, it gives urgency to our mission and to our evangelism, both individually and corporately. Simply, Jesus called us to know the times and to read the signs of our day – that point to His coming back. If we do, someone around us might just come to faith!
