The Time Is Now...

End times...eschatology is the church word for it. We seem to love to try and figure it out. Like it is the great end-of-the-world mystery and it is just waiting for us to solve it. Many have made predictions about it, and many have been wrong.

Jesus specifically tells us in Scripture that no one will know. So why so much time spent in the debate? I think it is because we are naturally curious (doubtful is a better word), and overtly prideful (we deserve an answer). That’s nice, but I don't seem to be able to find the part about deserving an answer anywhere in Scripture...weird? Or maybe it's the way it’s supposed to be?

Fact: the world will end. Fact: no one knows when. Problem: what are we supposed to do instead of trying to figure it all out? That is what is really at issue - what are we supposed to do? I am gonna go out on a limb here, but I think we are supposed to do what the rest of the Bible tells us to...just a hunch.

Maybe we need to spend more time trying to live our lives "FOR" our Creator instead of trying to figure out what He is going to do next. Seriously, if we would spend a lot less time worrying about what is next, we could spend more time experiencing what is now…the present.

So what is next? It is clear in Scripture that at the end there will be judgment. Something we all want to put off, and when it does happen we are hopefully thinking we might have an opportunity to explain. Unfortunately, explanations will not be necessary or even an option. At that moment there will be two things left - wrath or reward. Everything will be based on our lives and choices we have made. So how does one avoid this wrath? Assuming you want to.

What can satisfy God's wrath? What price must be paid? Problem is there is nothing we can do...we have made choices that have consequences. But, there is a choice we can make that changes everything...that will "save" us from His wrath...Jesus.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NIV)

So when the end comes doesn't really matter...WHO you choose does. You can choose yourself or Jesus. Your way, or God's way. God's wrath will not discriminate, and it will either fall on you or Jesus. Cool thing - you can choose now.

Who ya gonna call (on)?

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat