I think there is little doubt, question that we are living in difficult times. The level of intolerance and violent reaction seems to only increase. For the Christian, we are battered with temptations, seductions, trials, tribulations, fears(?)… Are we in the last days? I would say ‘yes’ but I have only my understandings of the scriptural descriptions to use as my ‘proof’. I look at what is happening in our society and the ‘values’ that are being projected. It’s enough ‘to make a grown man cry’! Who and where do we turn?
There is no doubt… we need an unchangeable and truthful foundation from which to speak and act. For the Christian, we have this sure foundation. We have One that has the power, authority – it is the Lord. When we abide in Him, when the Word is our foundation we have the strength, the ability to be that witness in our world.
“First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their petty feelings, they’ll mock, ‘So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.’” (2 Peter 3:3-4, MSG)
I would suggest that things HAVE changed… they’ve gotten worse. Matthew (10:21-22, AMP) says:
“Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put death. And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.”
Wherever you read in the scriptures about the last days, the descriptions do appear to define ‘these days’. My problem is that ‘patiently’ has never been a quality I’ve learned. No tongue in cheek – I do believe that if this kind of behavior is met with fear, trembling, stuttering, or any of their ilk, we only exasperate the situation. It will be our patient perseverance that will mark us, as we endure.
I’m sure that ‘in these days’ is a description that not all would accept. However, when you begin to look at the evidences from what we see in the news, it’s difficult to deny. And why should we? The ‘End Times’ have been talked about for ages. If we’re not in them, we are certainly close to them. Point in all this is what WE do and say and act… and believe DURING these days. Scripture should always be our measure. In how we act. In how we understand what’s happening. What prophecies from the Old Testament haven’t been fulfilled… what prophecies from the New Testament mark these days? That’s our judge.
Regardless of whether we are in the end times or not, the point remains – who are we and how do we go about being us? Again, those who endure to the end, who practice patient perseverance are the ones who should provide our example. The Book of Revelation paints a very vivid picture of what happens to our world. It really won’t be as we’ve come to know it. It will be ravished. However, the Christian doesn’t need to fear, doesn’t need to quake at the wrath of God that will happen. Plus, I don’t believe that we aren’t there yet – close, but not completely there..
Is there hope for this world? These days will lead, quickly, to the last days. What are we to do?
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38, AMP)
We need to be about our Father’s business… that’s what we do.
