(From the Feb. 2011 Newsletter of St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Westfield)
As we approach the end of this world, we can see that God’s Word is true, especially His Word which speaks about the approach of the end of this world. Of course, simply to make that statement often brings looks of suspicion because our society has come to the point of thinking that only lunatics with signs on street corners talk about the end of the world. So, how did we get to this point and how do we know we are at this point?
How did we get to this point? We slowly moved to this point by not taking God’s Word seriously, by compromising our faith and beliefs, and by allowing Satan to slowly move us from believing God’s Word to believing man’s opinions. If you do not like what God says in His Word, His demands, then close the book, and do not read it. Do not listen to it, do not go to where you might be convinced otherwise.
How often do we find ourselves in opposition to God’s Word, but instead of going to where we might be corrected, attending divine service and Bible class, we simply stay away, pleading ignorance if you will. Again, this is just as God predicted, “3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (1 Tim. 4:3-4). And yet, these same individuals will believe that their souls are not in jeopardy because after all they are members of a church or at least their names are on the rolls. Please do not be deceived, God is not mocked,
Slowly as human opinions began to take over God’s Word and as human opinions began being accepted as truth over God’s Word is how we got to this point. Yet, we know that our own human opinions have been tainted by sin, so more often than not they are incorrect. The biggest example is the heretical teaching of Darwinism which would have people believe that God’s Word is mistaken and man’s word reigns as truth. When we begin believing this heresy, then it is easy to dismiss God and live as we want to live, thinking in our own hearts that there will be no repercussions. The other result of believing the heresy of Darwinism is that the world will never end, but as it has been going, so it will continue to exist.
How do we know we are at this point? We know we are at this point because we truly do not know God’s Word, nor do we truly believe it (see above). A bold statement indeed, yet how true and how easy to see. Simply answer this question, “If you knew the world would end tonight, would you live today any different?” If you answer, “Yes,” then you give yourself away, because you do not know if the world will end tonight or if you will pass on. Either way, it would then be over. Jesus tells us,
You know you are ready when the Lord makes you ready. You know you are ready when your heart is at ease because, even though you are a sinner, you know you have forgiveness as each week you hear those wonderful words of absolution, “Your sins are forgiven.” You know you are ready when your desire is to be about God’s business regardless of what the world thinks and even if it means being ridiculed by the world, including your family and friends. You know you are ready when you can answer “No” to the question, “If you knew the world would end tonight, would you live today any different?”
The world is coming to an end, soon. Or, we will pass on and go to the Lord, soon. Either case will be sooner than we know and sooner than we might imagine. Are you ready? Now more than ever is the time to get ready. Throw off any false hope you might have, “get right with God” and make sure you are ready because ready or not, it will happen.
As we approach the end of this world, we can see that God’s Word is true, especially His Word which speaks about the approach of the end of this world. Of course, simply to make that statement often brings looks of suspicion because our society has come to the point of thinking that only lunatics with signs on street corners talk about the end of the world. So, how did we get to this point and how do we know we are at this point?
How did we get to this point? We slowly moved to this point by not taking God’s Word seriously, by compromising our faith and beliefs, and by allowing Satan to slowly move us from believing God’s Word to believing man’s opinions. If you do not like what God says in His Word, His demands, then close the book, and do not read it. Do not listen to it, do not go to where you might be convinced otherwise.
How often do we find ourselves in opposition to God’s Word, but instead of going to where we might be corrected, attending divine service and Bible class, we simply stay away, pleading ignorance if you will. Again, this is just as God predicted, “3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (1 Tim. 4:3-4). And yet, these same individuals will believe that their souls are not in jeopardy because after all they are members of a church or at least their names are on the rolls. Please do not be deceived, God is not mocked,
“6One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:6-8).If you think you will be saved by simply having your name on the rolls of a congregation and live a life despising God’s Word by refusing and rejecting His Word, by refusing to be admonished and corrected by His Word, you are mistaken.
Slowly as human opinions began to take over God’s Word and as human opinions began being accepted as truth over God’s Word is how we got to this point. Yet, we know that our own human opinions have been tainted by sin, so more often than not they are incorrect. The biggest example is the heretical teaching of Darwinism which would have people believe that God’s Word is mistaken and man’s word reigns as truth. When we begin believing this heresy, then it is easy to dismiss God and live as we want to live, thinking in our own hearts that there will be no repercussions. The other result of believing the heresy of Darwinism is that the world will never end, but as it has been going, so it will continue to exist.
How do we know we are at this point? We know we are at this point because we truly do not know God’s Word, nor do we truly believe it (see above). A bold statement indeed, yet how true and how easy to see. Simply answer this question, “If you knew the world would end tonight, would you live today any different?” If you answer, “Yes,” then you give yourself away, because you do not know if the world will end tonight or if you will pass on. Either way, it would then be over. Jesus tells us,
“36But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24:36-39).Are you ready? Do you have a false hope or a real hope? How do you know? You know you have a false hope when your life exhibits these signs: gift refusal through lack of divine service and Bible class attendance (in other words, attending whenever offered, if at all possible); not taking God’s Word serious especially concerning His judgements; being more concerned about this world, what people think more than what God thinks, amassing a nest egg, having the best and the most; spending more time concerned about this temporary world than the eternal world to come.
And so we see our world living in this manner, “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” oblivious to the fact that the end is coming, soon.
You know you are ready when the Lord makes you ready. You know you are ready when your heart is at ease because, even though you are a sinner, you know you have forgiveness as each week you hear those wonderful words of absolution, “Your sins are forgiven.” You know you are ready when your desire is to be about God’s business regardless of what the world thinks and even if it means being ridiculed by the world, including your family and friends. You know you are ready when you can answer “No” to the question, “If you knew the world would end tonight, would you live today any different?”
The world is coming to an end, soon. Or, we will pass on and go to the Lord, soon. Either case will be sooner than we know and sooner than we might imagine. Are you ready? Now more than ever is the time to get ready. Throw off any false hope you might have, “get right with God” and make sure you are ready because ready or not, it will happen.
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