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Viewpoint from Dave Weeks 16/02/2024

Dave Weeks
Pastor, Hope Church (retired)
 

End Times?

Jesus promised that He would one day return and at one point His disciples asked Him what will be the sign of His coming and when will the end of the age be? He told them that no-one knows the day or the hour but said various things would happen first. Among those things He mentioned were wars, rumours of wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes, and famines, along with an increase in wickedness. He also says that some who follow Him will be persecuted and put to death for their faith (You can read of this, and more, in Matthew chapter 24 in the Bible)
 
What with the war in Ukraine and the current activities in the Middle East, along with the recent earthquakes in Tibet and Japan, not to mention the many areas of famine around the world, we could be excused for thinking He must be coming soon. Present day persecution of Christians around the world is also well documented. The fact is that such events have been occurring on this earth throughout the whole of history. What is happening today is nothing new
 
The trouble is that many concentrate on what is happening now and wonder if Jesus is coming back soon but they miss the main point that Jesus was making, that is that we should not to be alarmed when these things happen (Matt 24v6). On the surface that seems to be a trivial remark, after all, how can anyone not be alarmed when such things are happening all around us? But what Jesus was saying to His disciples was that although we may have to go through such things, He is with us in it. But more especially, if we are a follower of Jesus, whatever happens to us in this life, we will be forever with Him in the next where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain
 
When we do hear of events like these happening in our day it should really be a wakeup call for us. Maybe Jesus’ return is imminent, who knows? Certainly each day that passes brings it another day closer. The question is, are we ready to meet Him when He does come back? On the other hand it may yet be many years before he returns and we may pass away before then. The question is still the same, are you ready to meet Him? 
 
When Jesus came to the earth the first time He said He hadn’t come to condemn the world but to save it, which is what His death on the cross was all about. There He took our sin and the punishment that we deserve on His own body. He died there in our place but three days later he rose again and is alive today. He now calls us to turn from our sin, come to Him, give our lives to Him and put our faith in Him. When He does return, this time it will include judgement, but those who have put their trust in Him will be saved whereas those who have not will be condemned. Are you ready to meet Him?
 
Can I encourage you to read Matthew chapter 24 in your Bible or online and think seriously about what Jesus says there?

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