What Should Christians Be Doing?
Kyle Braselton
The cornerstone to Christianity is the belief that Christ died for our sins and that He will one day return for His children and judge the rest. This, as Christians, we can be sure of. But when? Christ's return is imminent:
Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:36-38).
We will not know when it will take place. It will be a different time across the globe when it happens. Some people will be asleep and others in the field. We won't know the year - much less, the time of day.
I was just in a conversation where this man mentioned that people have been pointing out the antichrist for years and years. This is the danger of predicting dates. It is clear we cannot know the Day of the Lord. His return has been imminent for about 2,000 years.
I, personally feel that the world is at a point to where it is ready for the final judgment. I see the world at the height of everything. History has sped up in every facet of our lives. If you were to graph our lives you would see a sharp curve in the last century's speed of advancement in technology, science, medicine, the acceptance of perversion and sin, natural disasters, diseases and mutations of viruses, wars, rumors of wars, false prophets, and the global outreach of the Word. We have reached pinnacles of human good and bad. The waves are getting more frequent and more intense:
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:6-14)
I was listening to Todd Schnitt on the radio the other day. He compared the nations of the world today to the final scene in Reservoir Dogs. He said that all these nations have guns pointed at all the other nations in a standoff. All it takes is one stupid move, and someone like Iran or North Korea will make it.
The world is in chaos. The world is ready for our Lord's return. His return is imminent. So what should Christians do?
Do what Christians have always been called to do - but really do it. The message doesn't change. As His imminent return has been imminent for 2,000 years, so has the Christian's task. We are to love one another. Christ said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34).
We should study the Bible so we can live like Jesus. We should witness. We should fellowship. We should walk and talk with God. We should learn as much as we can. We should be stashing heavenly treasures. We should have a passion for Christ and understand His work on the cross. But really do it.
I have recently come to the Word. I fell away during college and had some hard times. I found God again when He pulled me out of despair. But recently, I have found a passion for His Word. This is where we should start. This is where I learned to walk with God, and walking with God keeps me focused on God at all times. When I am driving, walking, eating, talking, I am thinking about God. This is much different than how I used to be, and I enjoy life a lot more.
Other than the obvious, God tells us to plan for the future. Since we do not know when he will return, we are instructed to watch and be ready:
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Matthew 24:42-46)
John tells us in Revelations that those blessed who long for His return will get a crown in heaven.
When we plan for the future, we should watch be ready and strive for the crown. But it might be good to plan for the world's future. Perhaps Christians can save lives even after leaving the world. Websites and books have been dedicated to instructing those who are left behind already. There are bumper stickers that plant the seed: "In case of Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned." When the Rapture happens, people need to know what it is, so they can come to the Truth.
I read a lot. Right now I am reading a book called Bible Prophecy by Oliver B. Green. I wrote on my bookmark, "If you find this book without me, study it, but more importantly read the Bible." I also directed the reader of the bookmark to www.raptureready.com. Who knows, maybe I have saved a EMT or a fireman's soul. Maybe they will save ten more.
