Good Thursday morning! The end time came last night. Yes, our men's Bible study is finished until next fall. The signs of summer are kind of difficult to see this year as even the plants are greening and growing slowly with the still winter-like night temperatures. We have to look more closely at the signs and not all of the signs say the same thing right now. The night sky showed a hint of sunset after 8:30pm last night, but the light jacket on me said, "not enough!" in the cold wind. We may face the same thing during the end times. One sign may tell us to warn others, while another may point to Jesus' return being farther away. This doesn't surprise anyone who believes in Jesus. We know quite well that Jesus said that no man would know the date of his return. If every sign pointed to the next sign and all signs pointed to the end, we would be able to figure out the date as it approached. Jesus told his disciples that at the time just before his return, life would be getting on just as it did in Noah's day with the weddings and banquets happening just like they always had. We could add things like going to work, paying our taxes (sorry, that too), sending the kids off to school, and the many other things that go on each day.
The signs are not deliberately confusing, but God always leaves room for unbelief. We see a large earthquake, and then things seem to calm down for a while. We hear of this war or that conflict, and then the news headlines get quiet for a time. However, those riding out each day on patrol in a war zone might tell us of the comrade buried last week or of the near miss from an IED that happened on today's patrol. For them, the war has not quieted down. Those made homeless by the last big earthquake do not feel that particular event has ended for their family. Our so-called quiet times are but illusions relative to the next big news event. I suspect that if we included all the residual suffering from every war and natural disaster on the timeline we would find that at no time has there been a complete stop of the signs we are to watch for leading up to that final period of tribulation. Yet, all over the world the weddings, births, funerals, and going to work have continued just as before. The return of Jesus is closer only in that it must happen some day because Jesus told us it would happen. On the other hand, the return of Jesus is no farther away than the next 'quickly': that event that happens so suddenly and quickly that it catches everyone by complete surprise.
A person can choose unbelief because the world seems to be progressing in the same way it always has. That person can scoff at those of us who look up every chance we get hoping to see Jesus coming in his glory or just ignore us. A person can also choose to believe in Jesus because the pot of the world does seem to be coming to a boil and we know that the return of Jesus must be soon. As in the days of Noah before the Great Flood, there is room for unbelief for those who choose this world, and room for belief for those of us who will choose Jesus. Noah had faith in God and was saved from the flood. We have faith in Jesus and will be saved from the next destruction. God has left room for unbelief, but why seal your own doom?
Have a wonderful Thursday in Christ!
Bucky
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