The End Has (Not) Come
A few people told me a few different things about Judgment Day. Some people told me they wished they could be “raptured up”. Someone told me they wished they could be sure if Jesus would actually accept them into heaven. Someone else told me that if they saw Jesus coming down on the white horse, they’d repent right then and there.
Well, May 21st ended up not being Judgment Day. No, I am not going to pick apart Harold Camping. Don’t worry about his mumbo-jumbo. Here’s my question: what if he was right?
Yes, we know that no one can predict the end of the world. This is addressed numerous times in the Bible, even by Jesus Himself (Jesus: Matthew 24:36/Mark 13:32, also Acts 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). Harold Camping can even fit under the category of a false prophet. Ok ok, we know this. Let’s get past this stuff for a second though. What if he was RIGHT?
While people were unfortunately blinded by this man’s false predictions, several of them spent their time and money trying to honestly witness to the rest of the world. Now let’s say they were right, and Jesus came back; what would YOU have been doing?
Here’s what I’m getting at. They thought they knew when Christ would return, and that’s why they started witnessing. BUT, the rest of us Christians sat back and chuckled because we knew it wasn’t true. “We know He’s not coming on Saturday, so I’m not going to sweat it.” But what if Jesus came back on May 21? Or May 22?
In Mark 13:33 and 13:36 Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come… If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.”
What does this mean? It means don’t let Him find you sleeping!! We have an even GREATER reason to be witnessing, because we have no idea when Jesus is coming back! His last commandment was to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). If He came back on Saturday, would He have been pleased with you?
If you felt unsure of what would have happened to you had the world ended May 21, 2011, know that you CAN be sure. Jesus loves you; He loves you so much He died for you. The Bible says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21, 1 Cor. 1:2, Joel 2:32). The Gospel is the good news “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17).
We have no reason to fear. We know that Jesus loves us, wants us to be in heaven with Him, and while we’re waiting for Him to come back, we’ve got to tell others of the wonderful gift of salvation He’s made available for everyone to have (2 Cor. 5:9, Matt 28:19)!
Well, May 21st ended up not being Judgment Day. No, I am not going to pick apart Harold Camping. Don’t worry about his mumbo-jumbo. Here’s my question: what if he was right?
Yes, we know that no one can predict the end of the world. This is addressed numerous times in the Bible, even by Jesus Himself (Jesus: Matthew 24:36/Mark 13:32, also Acts 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). Harold Camping can even fit under the category of a false prophet. Ok ok, we know this. Let’s get past this stuff for a second though. What if he was RIGHT?
While people were unfortunately blinded by this man’s false predictions, several of them spent their time and money trying to honestly witness to the rest of the world. Now let’s say they were right, and Jesus came back; what would YOU have been doing?
Here’s what I’m getting at. They thought they knew when Christ would return, and that’s why they started witnessing. BUT, the rest of us Christians sat back and chuckled because we knew it wasn’t true. “We know He’s not coming on Saturday, so I’m not going to sweat it.” But what if Jesus came back on May 21? Or May 22?
In Mark 13:33 and 13:36 Jesus says, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come… If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.”
What does this mean? It means don’t let Him find you sleeping!! We have an even GREATER reason to be witnessing, because we have no idea when Jesus is coming back! His last commandment was to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). If He came back on Saturday, would He have been pleased with you?
If you felt unsure of what would have happened to you had the world ended May 21, 2011, know that you CAN be sure. Jesus loves you; He loves you so much He died for you. The Bible says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21, 1 Cor. 1:2, Joel 2:32). The Gospel is the good news “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17).
We have no reason to fear. We know that Jesus loves us, wants us to be in heaven with Him, and while we’re waiting for Him to come back, we’ve got to tell others of the wonderful gift of salvation He’s made available for everyone to have (2 Cor. 5:9, Matt 28:19)!
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