Watching the Sky

In Matthew 24 Jesus tells about his return. For a number of years I have been hearing people telling how Jesus is "close" to returning. I read "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey back in 1975 or there about. I was convinced then that we were within about five years of the return of Christ. It didn't happen as I had it figured.

I do believe today though that it is possible that we are within the "shadow" of his return. I will not fall into the trap of saying that it is within the next x number of years, because Jesus warned us not to do that.

However, there have been several things lately that are making me think that it's possible that it could happen in what would be my natural lifetime. Whether I live to see it in person remains to be seen. Nearly every generation since the first century church has believed that it would happen in their lifetime.

We hear daily the horrible news of things happening leading to a collapse of the economy and possible food shortages. Prices for all the essentials are going up all the time. Some of the doomsdayers are saying that famine is likely in the next few years. People in areas where there never were food shortages are starting to feel a pinch like they've never felt before when it comes to feeding a family. Some folks are talking about massive grain shortages because of "global warming" or some other weather event that is causing crops to not come in on time. Some areas are so dry that nothing will grow, while at the same time there places where there has been so much moisture that the ground is too soggy to plant for a timely harvest. This is driving up grain prices. Other say that because we are growing grains to turn into fuel for our automobiles that we are creating a food shortage.

You can search news sources from television and print media to internet blog sites that quote "reliable" scientists telling you the human race is driving itself into extinction because of climate change, while at the same time you can find "reliable" scientists who claim that there is no such thing as global warming. Both sides of the issue can produce people much more learned than I with convincing arguments to back up their theses.

Events in the Middle East are pointing to a potential Armegeddon in the "next few years." I personally remember thinking in 1967 with the Six Day War between Israel and her Arab neighbors that we were ushering in the final battle. Then in the mid 1970s there was the Yom Kippur War, and once again I was convinced that we were on the threshold of the end.

Our current political climate shows people on all sides of the political spectrum making arguments pointing to how they have the answer to all our problems in this country. However, putting all our hope in one man or one woman to solve our problems is folly. We do need to make sure that we choose properly when we choose our leaders. However, don't forget that God has told us that whoever leads a nation was raised up by Him for a reason.

The main thing is this. We who follow Christ must remember his warnings. There will always be false prophets claiming to have the answers. There is only ONE Christ. Unless we see the sky light up with the Son of Man, we are not seeing the Messiah. We must always be ready. We must stand guard on the wall, looking for the signs. I personally believe that we are seeing many of the signs that are pointing to his return, but I don't know how long it will be before he returns. I would really like to see it happen, but at the same time, I fear the hard times that will lead up to it. The Bible also tells us that these signs, no matter how bad, will be like the labor pains of a woman about to give birth.

Being a man, I have never gone through labor pains. But having been there to see a woman go through labor, I can tell that it is intense. However, her joy when the pains end and her baby is delivered make it all worthwhile. So, if we are about to go into "labor" and experience some very tough times, we must continue to serve Him. We must continue to study the Word. We must continue to see to it that others come to know Christ as Savior. We serve the Risen Lord and perhaps, soon we may see him, either through the end of our life here, or when the "Lightening lights up the entire sky" with His return. Let us be ready always.

In whatever ways we are able, we must continue to support our church and ministries. Someone needs to be there to get the Word out.

Share the message in LOVE. Do not condemn sinners for their shortcomings. We must Love them to Christ. He will do the rest. Just as he did it for this sinner.

Beware of the false prophets. There are false prophets taking people into false religions and there are false prophets within the community of believers leading the "elect" down the wrong paths at times. Be alert, don't be fooled. Whether Christ returns tomorrow or in another one hundred years, someday will be judgement day for each of us.

Be blessed today and every day. Thank you for being there for Him.

I stand in His service daily,
Dan Schaffer