End times signs and prophecies
Recently, my small group got into a discussion on the end times. I went back and read Matthew 24-26 where Jesus describes the last days before his return, and I noticed some things that have put my perspective on prophecy and signs of the times in a new place.
Like many people today, the disciples themselves wanted to know what "the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age" would be.
It is interesting that the first thing that came out of Jesus' mouth was, "Take heed that no one deceives you." The fact is, whenever we look for signs, we become susceptible to being deceived. And the only sure way to keep from being deceived is to focus on Christ and his words alone. We don't need to look for special signs or even to other people, only at Jesus.
When the focus is on him, the periphery details don't seem to matter as much. Jesus called us to follow him, and we'll do that during our life or until he comes. The question is, should our lives really be any different if we knew when he was coming, than if we didn't? I wouldn't think so.
There are a lot of people who like to focus on prophecy and trying to decipher the codes and symbolism (and, I would argue that prophecy does exist for good reason) as if they are the end all. These signs and prophecies ultimately point to Jesus, his sacrifice, and his promise to us. I wonder if we really only need to worry about following him, because whether these are the “end times” in our lifetime, or if they'll be after we die, we are all inn our own last days! The next thing we’ll see after death is Jesus’ return!
Live your life following the Person all the prophecies point to, and don't be consumed worrying which prophecies interpretations (of which there are hundreds of different interpretations out there, if not thousands...I researched non-Adventist interpretations and we Christians are all over the place; most of us have to be wrong) are true and which are false. "Do not be deceived."
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Matt 25:13
But ultimately....
"...the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." Matt 26:34-36
The real evidence of our belief and salvation is the way we act. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus' words and life, not if we have decoded the right prophecies correctly.
So, do we take Jesus’ words seriously, or only the prophecies that point to him and his return? We can’t be so focused on the exciting symbols that we miss the real thing....
Tuesday, May 13, 2008