Someone who had lunch with my lovely bride recently commented, “Of course, I had to hear about the end of the world.” My wife tends to speak of the end times, but that’s a good thing. There is lots of focus now on prophesy and “end times events.” Often these discussions produce feelings of dread or fear. That’s understandable for the lost, but for those who are followers of Christ, the arrival of the end time is nothing but good news. The world is not going to “end” it’s going to be transformed.
In the end the church will be lukewarm and persecution will increase; but toward the “end” the faithful will be taken away and then Jesus will reign over a new earth for a thousand years. Sounds good to me.
Toward the “end” many will drift away. It’s certainly painful to look at the decrease in church involvement in many younger people. I understand that many are following Christ outside of traditional denominations and churches, but “church” as we grew up with it, isn’t really “in.” But Jesus told us that would happen. Plus the church that we grew up with doesn’t completely match the church that Jesus intended. Just because “The Church” will become lukewarm and fall away, doesn’t mean we will.
We also need to remember that not all the younger people have “tossed away” the church. Today at Amana our young youth pastor and worship leader delivered a wonderful sermon. It was well researched, biblically supported, clearly delivered and passionately but calmly presented. This evening another young man will present a program on Prolife Persuasion. Since Adam and Eve, as folks age they have believed that the “younger generation” doesn’t quite measure up. It’s never really been true.
So when you hear talk of storms and earthquakes in diverse places, the church becoming lukewarm, a world becoming anti-Christian and emerging signs of persecution. Shake off fear and dread. Be sure to throw in comments about the return of our Savior, His 1000 year reign and the very real possibility that you and I will see that happen. And if not, there are some pretty good Christians ready to carry on until it does happen. We need to be about the business of making disciples, not hiding our heads in the sand.
Look up for our redemption is at hand.
Be blessed. Be hopeful. Be happy. It really does all work out in the end.
Nick
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