Repent For The End Is Near

There�s also a longing in me for justice. I see the injustice in so many places in the world and I�m like the Psalmist. I want to cry out, �how long O Lord?� I believe there�s in each of us a desire to see justice done.

Because we understand that the sheep and the goats will be separated. Because we know that God�s judgment will come. Yet, when we think of Old Testament prophets who spoke of God�s judgment, there was always an inherent sadness to their words. They�d seen prophetically what God was going to do, and they knew that it would come if the people did not repent. We must guard ourselves from getting a little too gleeful about His judgment, because for many, it will mean eternity in hell.

So, it�s a both/and situation for me. The apostle John�s prayer in Revelation 22:20 is �come Lord Jesus.� Titus 2:12 speaks of waiting for the blessed hope � the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Yet, His coming will mean both indescribable joy for followers of Christ, and the beginning of an eternity in hell without Christ for people I know and love. So it�s hard for me to say, unreservedly, come Lord Jesus.

Still, whether or not we can clearly discern dates or events, we believe Christ will return. Scripture�s presentation of the end times has nothing to do with figuring out the details. It has everything to do with being ready.

In 1 Thess 5, we again find the image of the Day of the Lord coming like a thief. But what Jesus is saying here is watch, not speculate. When we look at the 2 Peter 3 passage, we see that we are to live expectantly. And then there�s 1 Peter 4:7 which says:

�the end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so you can pray.�

So you can pray. Not so you can figure out who is the antichrist. Not so you can figure out when the tribulation begins. Not so you can figure out when the rapture is to come. Jim Grinnell once preached a message about the enemy of our souls, the devil, and two of the phrases he used in that context apply here as well:

1. be alert but not impressed.

2. be aware but not obsessed.

Alert and aware in our context this morning, means we are to be spiritually ready, living holy lives, understanding the times we live in, related to our faith in Christ.

Do you think that only applies if we know when Jesus will return, or does that always apply? Do you think if we knew from Scripture that the return of Christ was, say,100 years away, that Scripture tells us this so we can slack off in our faith for the next 99 years? Of course not.

In 1 Peter 4:7 it says be clear minded and self controlled. Be alert. Be aware. But if we�re to be obsessed about anything, it should be what follows verse 7. Paul talks of how love covers a multitude of sins. He talks of how we should offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. He talks about how we should serve. All these are the practical outworking of how we should love and obey God.

In Rom 13:11-12 Paul notes that