LIVING IN THE END TIMES

 

As I read the comments in the Public Pulse in our daily newspaper, The World Herald, I am convinced we are in the beginning of what the Bible calls the End Times!

Look at history and compare it too today.

Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

  When I was growing up in the 1940-50’s, yes, I am in my 80s now, there was never a question as to our creation, it was by God, or our purpose, to live for Him, and that the Bible was His word with instructions for us, as to how we should live. The ideas and thoughts of making ourselves God, never entered our minds. Today as we read the ideas put forth in any kind of secular publication, that seems to be the main theme!

Anti-god concepts are taught to our children in the schools, something we should have expected when we allowed the schools to delete God from them and their teachings. Currently with the great public debate about abortion, and whether and who should have the right to abort a living being in a woman’s body, even some of our church leaders are standing with the abortionists!  I am reminded of what Jesus questioned.

When I return, will I find faith in the world?

I used to wonder about this scripture. Is He talking about those who do not believe in Him, or have never heard the Gospel? Or is there a different thought being expressed here?

Seeing what is happening not only in the world, but also in our churches today, I believe Jesus was talking about some of the people who we call believers! The faith He is talking about is the faith in God and His provisions for His people. He is talking about so called believers who no longer think it important to believe that Jesus was and is the Son of God; that He left His home in Heaven to come to earth to die for our sins, and that He rose again from the dead and is reigning with His, and our Father, in Heaven awaiting the day when the Father says, “Go get our children, Son!”

As the son of a pastor, a church goer for most of my life, I know there are people who attend church for political or business reasons, who have never accepted Jesus as their personal Savior who, when the rapture occurs, will be left behind! That I believe is what Jesus was alluding to when He asked the question about finding faith when He returns.

That adds credence to these scripture.

Matthew 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Matthew 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Matthew 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Matthew 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Matthew 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.