The end of the world is a big topic that people like to talk about. Even if they don’t want the world to end. It seems interesting to, at least, discuss it. Considering headline news like the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, there are some people still carrying “The End is Nigh” signs. I’ve no doubt that the Lord is soon to come, but I have to remind people of what Jesus said regarding his second coming.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:32 (NIV) 

This tells me two things.

1. No one knows when Jesus is returning.

2. No one can guess when He’s going to return.

I mean, if anyone could accurately guess when Jesus is going to come back, it would be Jesus, wouldn’t it? 

What does He say in Revelation?

(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Revelation 16:15 (NIV)

And what does Jesus say in Matthew?

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matthew 24:43 (NIV)

As Christians, we are called to stay awake and be alert. We are to be ready for when He returns. In Mark, Jesus finished his discourse regarding the signs of the end times with this admonishment. 

What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:37 (NIV)

I have no problem if God has told someone to walk around with a sign warning people that they need to repent. It’s not a walk the Lord has given to me to do. At least not for today. We all have different callings and if your calling involves walking around with a sign, then praise the Lord! You’re doing what God wants you to do. 

In my church, we’re well aware of the current crisis in Ukraine. In fact, I don’t know of any of my Christian friends who aren’t. We believe the Lord is soon to come because he’s said so. However, we’re praying for the conflict to end and for peace. We’re praying for God’s mercy. We’re praying for Putin to be saved by God. Indeed, we pray for all of those in the world who have been raised to leadership by God. 

The end of the world is a big deal. No, that’s no deja vu. I’m saying it again. However, I don’t see it as a very effective point for ministry. Again, if you’re called to carry a sign around, then do that. The problem with the “end of the world” ministry is that it’s too big and it’s too impersonal. Now, you might be thinking, how can the world ending not be personal? Well, think about death. 

If everyone understood that they were going to die and could die at any time, would they live the way they do? Would we need to teach teenagers that they should execute wisdom in how they live their lives? Would we have to teach anyone that warnings about death are serious and shouldn’t be taken lightly? Cancer is real, and despite it claiming lives every day, people still smoke. People live the way that they live because they think, “Today isn’t going to be the day that I die.” Why not today? Why not 30 seconds from now? People think “it’s not going to happen to them,” right now. 

This is why trying to tell people the world is going to end doesn’t work as a means of bringing them to Christ. In almost every film or book I’ve read about the end of the world, there’s usually someone who survives. It may not be very many people, but someone usually survives. Here’s a film about nuclear destruction. Does everyone die? No. Even in Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, two humans survive the destruction of the earth. Given what we know about this popular concept, “It won’t happen to me.” Most people, we’d think, when they see that movie about nuclear destruction or read that book about the earth being destroyed, would get the point and realize that they would probably die in either case. But no, not us humans. We all like to believe we would live. Even if only two people lived. 

How does God put up with us? 

Death has to be personal for most people to understand it. People have to realize they’re going to die, and could at any moment, for death to even have any chance of getting someone to think about how they’re living. I’m not an advocate for using fear to bring people to Christ. Yet, that’s essentially what’s being done in the “End is Nigh” method of ministry. Isn’t it? 

Do you know God? God knows you, and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away. 

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal 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.

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