"The END is coming!!"

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions" (Matthew 24:45-47).

Matthew 24 and 25 record Jesus speaking to His disciples about the coming of the end.  As they were admiring the temple and remarking about its magnificence, Jesus told them that the temple would be destroyed and one stone would not be left on another.  The disciples were shocked and asked Jesus when this would happen and what would be the signs of the end of the age.  Surely, they thought, if the temple is destroyed it means the end has come!  Jesus went on to explain in great detail how the end would come.  There is so much more detail in God's Word concerning these events than most imagine. Many speculate and come up with their own ideas, but God tells us what we need to know in His Word.

I am getting ready to begin to share on this blog what will be the foundation for the book I have been promising to write and to finish.  Maybe it will never get into book form ... perhaps this is the only place I will ever share what I believe God is revealing in this day through His Word.  That is up to God.  Most of what I will share in coming days and weeks I have already shared in a ten-part series of messages on the return of Jesus.  I pray that it will be enlightening to all who read it, and that it will challenge you to "search the Scriptures to see if these things are so."  Since I will continue to try to do daily posts, you will receive these things in "bite-size" pieces.  If you become a "follower" (I don't like to use that word for myself, because I don't want anyone to follow me, but rather, Jesus Christ!) ... but if you become a "follower" of this blog, you can comment or ask questions as we go along.  All the posts will be available, so you will be able to "catch up" if you miss a day or a few days.

But what I want to share with you today is this, based on Matthew 24:45-47 ...  the END is coming!  Of course, we know that the end of the age will come, according to God's plan and in His time.  As you will see as we look at what the Bible says about these things, the time is drawing near, BUT it is not going to happen today.  Some things need to happen first, before the return of Jesus.  I know that even saying that will disturb some because many are being taught that Jesus could return and rapture believers any day.  We will talk about that at length to see if that is really what the Bible teaches.  The important thing for you TODAY is this:  the end of THIS day is coming soon!

As I write this, it is Monday afternoon, October 1st, 2012.  It is 4:33 Eastern Daylight Time.  In less than seven hours and 27 minutes, this day will come to an end.  During these seven+ hours, people all around this world will find that their lives have ended.  As the old saying goes, "Time waits for no man."  Jesus asked the question, "Which of you by worrying can add the smallest amount of time to your life?"  The answer:  Not one of us!!!  So should we be fatalistic and just live however we want, for our own pleasure, knowing that the end of the day, the end of the week, the end of the month or year or decade - or even the end of our own lives is just around the corner?

And what of the end of the world?  If it is drawing near, then what is the point of living the way we are living ... storing up things for the future and planning for tomorrow?  Of course, God tells us in His Word that planning is important and that it is wise to store up SOME things ... but at the same time, God says that we should LIVE today!  "THIS is the day the LORD has made" refers first of all to this twenty-four hour period, but also to the present age.  II Corinthians 6:2 says that this is the "day of salvation."  God has opened the door of salvation, of eternal life, through faith in Jesus Christ, since the Day of Pentecost until today and until Jesus' return.  In the verses preceding those quoted above Jesus says that His return will come like the days of Noah ... people who do not know the true God will be taken by surprise.  The door of the ark will be closed and they will cry out, but it will be too late!!

So we come to our verses for today, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions" (Matthew 24:45-47).

Those who know Jesus Christ as Savior also know Him as Lord.  We are servants of the Master and have been sent into the world.  We enter the mission field from the moment we open our eyes in the morning.  And as we fall asleep praying for others, we are doing battle for His kingdom.  Our calling, our job, our task, our mission is not to sit and wait for Jesus to return, but to be working as His servants in the world.  Too many today are continually asking God to do things for them, but are offering God nothing.  The Apostle Paul would write, "I have been crucified with Christ and now I no longer live, but Christ lives IN me.  The life I live in the flesh (NOW), I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

God has His people in many different places around the world.  You are called to serve God by serving others right where you are.  He may call you and send you somewhere else, but today you are called to serve Him where you are.  Today, your life could end.  Today, you could meet Jesus face to face.  I thank God that we are saved by grace, that our works do not earn us anything, that we do not have to wonder if we have done enough to please God and to enter into heaven.  The blood of Jesus covers those who trust in Him.  Our sins are forgiven; the debt has been paid.  Hallelujah!!  Now we are freed from the need to please ourselves so that we can live for our King!

"It will be good for that servant whose mater finds him" serving HIM by serving others - by caring for them, loving them and sharing the Gospel with them, when He sends His angels to carry them home.  Be about your Father's business today.  Pray without ceasing ... put your mind on "speaker" and listen for His voice, even as you share your heart and mind with Him.  Do what He lays on your heart to do, and at the end of the day ... every day ... and your last day ... and when He returns ... the King will say to you, and to all whom He finds so doing, "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the earth."