We return because Jesus imminent return to earth is near.
While no one would doubt the need of the USA for the Gospel, the truth is, America has had every opportunity to accept the Gospel many times over, but has chosen to reject the truth. Is it fair that the Gospel be preached to some over and over and over, while 95% of Ecuador has had little exposure to the truth and are on their way to a Christless eternity?
Time is quickly winding out. I believe we are living in the last generation before the return of Christ. I believe there is a good chance that we will be here when the trumpet sounds and Christ comes to earth the second time in judgment.
I strongly urge spending 20-minutes to view this 2009 message by Anne Graham Lotz where she lays out a strong case that we are living right now in the final days of human history.
Knowing of Christ's imminent return, how does this personally affect your watching the signs of the times, working to bring in the final harvest, and your walk with the Lord?
10 comments:
Guy, I gave it my best effort, but I could only listen to about 5 minutes of the video. She's making the same claims other dispensationalists have made for well over a century. I thought Jesus made it pretty clear that we shouldn't follow the voices of those who say, "The time is near" (Luke 21:8) and "no one knows that day or hour (Matt 24:36). Such an emphasis can result in fear, guilt, and manipulation of the body of Christ.
I'm preaching on the Luke 21 passage tomorrow, which is the one of the reasons your post stirred my interest. What I see emphasized in Luke 21:5-38 is that Jesus is responding to comments regarding the splendor and beauty of the Jewish temple. Basically, he says to the disciples (all Jewish) that their world is about to be turned upside down, in THAT generation not some future apocalypse. He was referring to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, God's judgment on the Jewish nation and their deeply-misplaced zeal for ritual and externals.
So he redirects their priorities, encouraging them to remain faith, brave, careful, and discerning when the bottom drops out. He demonstrates how their persecution (and for some of them, death) would provide an opportunity for witness. Instead of watching for signs, they are commanded to watch & guard their own hearts.
I know we see eye-to-eye on most things, but you asked for a response how these things impact our witness and our walk with the Lord. Eschatology seems to be one of those subjects that you're either attracted to or not; and, well, I've always been more of a panmillennialist myself. :)
Bill,
Thanks for stopping by. I hope your message today on Luke 21 is used of the Lord to speak to his people. If you haven't done so already, I would encourage to you to view ALL the video for a clearer understanding of what AGL is trying to say. Basically, the signs of the times point to the imminent return of Christ. For me to believe (and thus agree with AGL's message) that our time is limited, there is a sense of urgency about our mission. Why get all worked up if we've still got decades or centuries of time left? For me it leads to a kind of passivity. Why get all worked up? Of course, I would hope love is the motivator for obedience.
It's kind of like the Father watching his son grow up and seeing the son passive and unmotivated about his studies, or maturing, and lax in doing anything other than what he feels like doing. I, the father, know the urgency and shortness of time before he reaches the age of having to get out on his own in the world and make something of his life. I want him to be intentional about what he is doing and to realize every day is a gift from God.
This might not be the best illustration, but knowing time is short helps me to focus on thinking through carefully before the Lord how I live my life. Will I live it like we have all the time in the world, or will I live it realizing time is quickly running out?
Thanks again for your response. I'd like to hear your message and thoughts from Luke 21. Maybe you could post an abbreviated version on your blog?
For those interested, to further clarify I am including the response I sent back to a friend's private email comment received but not posted on the blog...
...I hear what you are saying about the motivation needing to be love rather than work. However, it is love that motivates the urgency. It is the heart of the Father and the Son that none should perish but all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).
How does this urgency translate? I can use a crude illustration. For the past couple of weeks we have known that we will be returning to Ecuador the end of this month. The truth of the matter is, I have done little packing (work) knowing we still have plenty of time. But then a few days ago, we decided to leave a week earlier and move in with my mom and dad the last week. Now our task is urgent! Time is short! We have spent a lot of time planning, packing, tying up loose ends. Knowing our time is short has focused our task and made us more intentional. We are wasting less time the past few days knowing the "end" is close at hand. We are doing all those things NOW that before we were procrastinating about because we still had plenty of time before our departure.
That, in a nutshell is what I got out of the video. I see in Ecuador a ripe and ready harvest, but the church is asleep and seems to think there is still plenty of time. I want to be a voice that awakes them to the fact that time is short. Now is the day of salvation. We aren't guaranteed a tomorrow. If we absolutely knew that we only had one year left before the end, how would that change what we are currently doing? I daresay if we knew Christ would return in 2010, we wouldn't be about "business as usual."
Guy,
I have not watched the video--this time. I heard the narrative on the radio once. Regardless, as you do, I believe very strongly in the imminent return of Jesus. I read another convincing "sign" of that return just this morning at World Net Daily: http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=91941
It's a fascinating read.
We have to work hard, the days are short.
KDS
KDS,
I read with interest the article you suggested on WND and agree that this seems to be yet one more sign of an acceleration of events leading to the return of Christ. Who knows how much longer the "window of opportunity" will remain open, but it is surely not much time.
I will watch the video soon....but I don't have to watch it to agree!!! The time is now- to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth!
I love KP Yohannan's book, "Living in the Light of Eternity" and others I have read recently. He talks of the time of harvest, is a time of work. No rest, you must work till all is harvested or you will lose some of the crop that will spoil etc....
No one can disagree that we are definitely in the time of harvest. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
So- we have a lot of work to do...that is motivated by love from the Father to do his will- to share with those who have never heard. My call to other lands was confirmed today, when I was visiting refugees today in Ft. Worth- looking for people of peace and storying with a group of Bhutanese refugees. I didn't think many churches were reaching out to them, but I was wrong, they are already meeting with two other churches, one that is doing a bible study with them, and one group that is storying with them. There are so many laborers here in Ft. Worth, but in much of the world this is not the case!
Go be salt and light- my call is def. to go!
Praying for you all as you return. God is using your family in such a mighty way in Ecuador!
In Christ,
Beth
Beth,
What a great word for us all. Thanks! I loved your words, My call to other lands was confirmed today, when I was visiting refugees today in Ft. Worth...Go be salt and light- my call is def. to go! Amen! May the Lord continue to lead and guide you and T in all the details of where/how he would have you serve. You guys are in our prayers.
Guy to you and your blogging friends, please note that the "Abomination of Desolation" spoken of in Mtt 24 and Mk 13 is a sign.
I don't think anyone really believes that happened in 70 AD. But it will come in the Last Days when "the false Prophet" causes the image of the beast to speak miraculously and takes his place in the temple "proclaiming to be GOD". (Rev 13:15/ 2 Thess 2:4)
There will also come "a Great Tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." Mtt 24:21
These are indisputable signs. When we see the return of the sacrifices in Jerusalem (Daniel 9/11/12), we know that we are near the end.
Keep watching and keep "giving giving them their food at the proper time." Mtt 24: 45-51
Blessings.
Jeff G
Jeff,
Thanks for pointing us to the AGL video above, and for the additional clarification in your comment. Blessings!
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