THE END IS NEAR…
There is a Filipino barber with an American customer. After a few minutes, the Filipino barber wanted to tell the customer that he is about to finish cutting his hair but he doesn’t know how to say it right in English so he said in broken English “Sir, your end is near…”
This maybe a funny story but in reality the end is near. Let’s read 1 Peter 4:7-11.
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 But the end of all things is near; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Honestly, the first time I read 1 Peter 4:7 that says “…the end of all things is near”, I was frightened. I asked myself “What if Jesus is coming soon? Will I be left behind? What about my family? Are we ready?” Suddenly, I felt I am not ready and I was in an unsure state. I know that I am saved and going to heaven because I have Jesus in my heart but deep within I felt I am not prepared if Jesus comes again at that time. I had to do some heart searching and evaluation. Praise the Lord, I know better now and I can share to you some preparations we have to do to get ready.
How can we say that we are nearing the end or we are in the last days? In Matthew 24, Jesus taught the disciples about the signs of the end time. Please read the whole chapter of Matthew 24. I believe that all signs of the end times written in the bible are happening right before our eyes. I believe that the next big event is the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus. We are now in that time. We are now in the end time-the last days. We must know how to make our election and calling sure (2 Peter 1:10). We must be prepared. How should we prepare? What should be our lifestyle now that the end is near? What manner of life should we live now? What should be our lifestyle- our Last Days Lifestyle?
LIFESTYLE – is a manner of living: the way of life characteristic of a particular person, group or culture. (Encarta 2009 Dictionary)
LAST DAYS LIFESTYLE
1. BE SERIOUS AND WATCHFUL IN PRAYERS-1 Peter 4:7
1 Peter 4:7- The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Time is ticking closer and closer. We cannot afford to play around. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil”. Ephesians 5:15-16
a. Focus. Now is the time where many are distracted with many things. The world offers a lot of things to distract and eventually destroy people. We are instructed to clear our mind (be sober) and be watchful in prayers.
b. Watchful. Now is the time to be more prayerful than ever before. Jesus said “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation”. Matthew 26:41. If you are praying, you need to pray more. Prayer is power. God moves in response to prayer. We accomplish more when we pray and plan than plan and pray. The bible says “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” I believe that satan knew his time is almost out that is why he will double his efforts to steal, kill and destroy us Christians. That is why we need to be watchful and prayerful. 2 Tim. 3:1 says Earthquakes, famine, false teachings, etc. we need to pray more to be able to overcome these things. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God…"If it is hard for the righteous to be save, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" – 1 Peter 4:17-18
2. POSSESS AND SHOW THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT-1 Peter 4:8, Gal. 5:22-23
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
a. Possess - Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
b. Show - 2 Tim 3:2-4 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
One morning Jesus was hungry and was looking for a fruit from a fig tree. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. (Matthew 21:18-19). Also in John 15:8 Jesus said, “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples”. Now is the time to possess and show the fruit of the Spirit. In the last days, people will show the fruit of darkness but believers should display the fruit of the Spirit.
In the last days, “the love of many will grow cold”. Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35.
3. USE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-1 Peter 4:10-11
1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 24:24 discusses that many counterfeit gifts will appear in the last days to deceive even the elect. We have to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to perform true great signs and miracles. There is no other time to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit other than today, not tomorrow. We cannot boast of tomorrow. Tomorrow may not come. Jesus may come again today. We are living in an uncertain time. This maybe my last message. We are not sure if we are living in the same world few hours, days, or months from now.
I remember Jesus told his disciples about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-28. Three persons were all given different measures of talents (or gifting). The first two used their talents and gain more talents. The last one dug the talent under the ground. When the master arrives, only the two got the commendation from their masters. What about us today? If God cannot use us today, then when? Our work or the use of our gifting, abilities, talents, and skills today is our preparation for our millennial reign with Jesus. Now is the best time to use our God-given talents for the glory of God.
4. PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION-2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-16; Matt. 24:9-10
2 Tim 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
1 Peter 4:12-15 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Matt 24:9-10 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
Jesus, Paul and Peter agree that in the last days great persecution is coming to the church. We must be prepared. Recently, I received a text message about the 22 Christian families about to be executed by Muslim extremists. Someone said that if we are not willing to die for Christ then we are not worthy to live for Him. Jesus was willing to die for us. We should be willing to die for Him, if necessary.
5. CONTINUE IN THE WORD & PREACH IT-2 Tim. 3:14-17; 4:1-5
2 Tim 3:14-17
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim 4:2-5
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
In the last days, many false teachers and prophets will appear and will deceive many. In the Philippines, we have a known person who claims to replace Jesus because he is now the new appointed son of God. He has a big television ministry that reaches even outside the Philippines and literally many are being deceived. As the true disciples of Jesus, we must heed to the advice of Paul to Timothy, we must continue in the word (see also John 15:7). In these last days, we have to devote ourselves in reading, studying, meditating, and applying the word of God in our lives (Joshua 1:8, Ezra 7:10).
Aside from personally benefitting from the Word of God, we must continue to “preach the Word in season or out of season. We must continue to preach sound doctrines even if others do not like to hear them. In the last days, many people will have itching ears wanting to hear only what they like to hear.
6. DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST-2 Tim. 4:5
2 Tim 4:5
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Paul advised his young apprentice “Do the work of an evangelist”. Paul described the last days where people will be evil: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (2 Tim. 3:2-5). He therefore challenged Timothy to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Indeed, these prophecies about these people are happening right before our eyes. Recently, American Evangelist Billy Graham wrote a letter to America. In his letter, “My Heart Aches for America,” the 93-year-old Graham wrote that he recalled how his late wife, Ruth, once expressed concerns about the nation’s “terrible downward spiral”—exclaiming, “If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” I believe this is not unique to America alone but to most if not all places worldwide. The harvest is ready. We must harvest them now while there is time. It maybe too late if we will procrastinate.
Two days ago I dreamt of my former male workmate. In my dream, he visited our church and seated at the last row. My wife saw and recognized him. So she motioned me to come and greet him. I was doing something and so I decided to do it later. Few minutes after that, I saw him stand up and go out. I assumed that he's coming back but he did not. So I followed him outside but could not find him. Then I woke up. It was just a dream but I know God has a message. I missed that opportunity to share and lead that person to Christ. So it is with us now. We cannot afford to see people perish without Jesus in their hearts. We must share the precious gospel to them while there is time.
7. GET READY FOR THE COMING OF JESUS-2 Tim. 4:6-8
2 Tim 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Get ready for the coming of Jesus. Paul wrote this letter during the end of his life. He advised Timothy to follow his example.
Our crown is waiting for us. Just like the apostle Paul, we must fight the good fight; we must finish the race, and keep the faith. Christian life is not a bed of roses but a bed of thorns. We must struggle and fight to survive. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We must get ready. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus told a story about the 10 virgins.
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
In conclusion
Few years ago, my former boss talked to two sales engineers; myself and Andy (my officemate). We were given the chance to apply for a U.S. visa. with a condition that whoever gets a visa he will fly to the U.S. for a two-week technical training. Fortunately, both of us were granted a visa but the company can send only one. We had to undergo a draw stick. I got the longest stick! After that day, I became a changed person. I started preparing for my trip to the U.S. I was so excited because that was my first time to be in an airplane and in an international flight. Nearing my flight I was slowly preparing. I was counting the days for my departure. My attitudes and my thinking were different. I was focused and literally counting every single day preparing and even imagining myself already in the place.
In any big event that are coming may it be a wedding, debut, birthday, going abroad, business opening, a new baby, or an anniversary we tend to have a change of heart. Our attitudes and actions change and we become focused for that event. We think different and everything else revolve in it. It is the same now that we are nearing the second coming of Jesus. We must think and act differently as though Jesus is coming today. I believe that the coming of Jesus is nearer than we think it is. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thess 4:18). It is my prayer that God will speak to you today about these words. All together, may we live out these Last Days Lifestyle for the glory of God.
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Rev 22:20-21 NKJV
