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I hear a lot of talk lately about the end times and how various news reports are making people think we are living in the last days. Have no doubt those times are coming but there are things that must happen first. Jesus is returning for a pure spotless bride.
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”
II Peter 3:14 NKJV
To me this reflects a unified church that is walking in their proper role. I don’t yet see this happening. I believe we have some work to do before that glorious day of Jesus’ return.
First, God is waiting on the church to rise up into their place and tell unbelievers about His love. In 2 Peter 3:9-13 he uses the term hastening his return. God desires that as many people as possible would know of His love and forgiveness before the day of judgement. If we want to see His return than we should be hastening it by sharing the good news of the gospel. We know that to be a true reflection of God; we must love as he loved. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
I John 3:10 NKJV
How do we know if we are loving the way Jesus did? 1 John 3:16-18 shows us,
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
Sadly we can sometimes use the return of Jesus as fear motivation as we try to share about forgiveness. Jesus never operated in fear nor should we. He always personified and extended love. We don’t want to portray God as an angry God that needs to be pleased in hopes of earning mercy. To present the gospel message as “time is short you better get right” is completely opposite of what God extends to us; it’s based in fear and judgement and trying to be good enough.
Instead of focusing on our “escape plan” let us focus on establishing His kingdom love here on earth. Yes, the time is coming and it will be like a thief in the night but no one knows the day or hour so isn’t that all the more reason to be about our Father’s business.