Four-Calendar Café

Scripture

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Observation

I often hear people proclaim that we are in the last days, that Jesus is coming back soon so we should repent. There have been those who point to things such as the pandemic and say that these are signs of the times that indicate He is coming soon. These verses are two, among many, that people have been known to point to and then point out how they are being fulfilled today. I wholeheartedly agree that people should repent of their sins and follow God today. Not because He could return soon but because tomorrow isn’t promised.

According to the Worldometer website, as of this writing, 99,900 people have died today. Before I finish this paragraph at least 100 more people will have died. That’s over 100,000 people who were alive yesterday and have gone to judgment today. How many of them thought that today, June 27, 2021, would be just another normal day?

I think that the Church, rather than preach of the Second Coming to those who do not believe, should focus more on today. The fact that anyone can die at any moment. I believe the message of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is one for Believers. It should be a message of encouragement to those who are waiting on the Lord while they suffer through this life because people just can’t grasp apocalyptic events. Death is an apocalyptic event, that pretty much everyone is going to experience unless the Second Coming happens soon. Human, not God soon. And yet, even though everyone dies we don’t live like it.

Talking about death isn’t popular. Especially in a pandemic. The thing is though, that statistic I mentioned above, the 100,00 people who have died today, so far? Those aren’t pandemic-related deaths according to the stats for those. You know what bothers me, as I write this? How easily it can be to look at numbers and not think about the human being behind each number. There’s something inside of me that cannot process that information. When I start to do so my heart just wants to break because so many of those people don’t know Jesus. I’ve got tears in my eyes and my heart is wrenching right now.

Moving past the old thoughts on death, though, is hard. I’m still processing. I know that I’ll be Home, with the Lord, I know that death is just a new beginning of life. I suppose that I’m not a mature enough Believer to not get choked up about death, when it strikes those who I know are saved, whom I love deeply. I’m starting to get there. Frankly, though, I don’t know if I ever really want to get there, wherever there is. I’m doing better though, when it comes to those who have passed that I know are with God. I will see them again. This is what helps me handle death so much better than when I was younger.

Death to the unbeliever, to those I know, don’t believe, as I have already mentioned, has the potential to just turn my heart to rubble. I remember what it was like, not believing. Wondering and thinking about death. Wondering and wondering. I don’t wonder anymore. I rarely think about it anymore. Except when I think on the Lost. I know where I’m going. I have hope for today. I know that God’s not done with me yet, so here I am. Writing this, hoping and praying to God that He will bring it to someone who doesn’t know Him and they will be saved.

Do you have hope for life? Do you know where you’re going when you die? God has eternity with Him just waiting for you. Eternal salvation, peace, and hope are just a prayer away. Say this prayer with me to accept the gift of eternal salvation today.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.