6/17/16 – Doomsday Prepping – Samuel Burger

6/17/16 Doomsday Prepping

TheEndIsNear

Have you ever seen the TV show “Doomsday Preppers?” I’m sure you’ve probably at least heard of them. Perhaps you’ve heard of conspiracy theories? The list could go on and on when it comes to apocalyptic matters but I think there needs to be a balance. I think the focus can be too extreme or one-sided. Nevertheless, I think we should focus more on what God has to say about the end-times. Yes, I believe in the Book of Revelation because it is God’s history written in advance. It is the apocalypse or the unveiling of what’s to come. However, it’s my concern that we can be extreme talking about the kingdom of God that is to come instead of being the expression of the kingdom of God now.

We need to live as though He may come tomorrow but prepare as if He may not come back in 100 years. As a young teenager, I remember Y2K very well. Almost everyone I met was in a frenzy of how the world will never be the same. Granted, the world isn’t the same as it was before the year of 2000, but it still doesn’t negate the fact that there was fear in lots of people. I also remember how everyone of us held hands in a circle on New Year’s Eve and we made this statement in repeated unison, “Come Lord Jesus!” Obviously, the Lord didn’t come back and after we were done we all went back to our routine!

I said all that to say this. Let’s have a balance in our message. This balanced message conveys that Jesus is coming soon unexpectedly but He also wants us to continue building, preparing and planning until He comes again. It doesn’t do any good to prep for doomsday instead of prepping to meet our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know, I know. There’s a lot of bad things happening out there. It’s terrible. Recently, there’s been a terrorist attack killing 50 people in Orlando. Last year, Chattanooga suffered a terrorist attack killing 4 marines and 1 sailor. There’s much unrest in this nation and the world. If there ever was a time for the church to shine, it’s now. Everything is a mess but look who has the message! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We know there will be a rapture of the church and there’s a Great Tribulation coming but let’s not forget this simple message of truth and love. I don’t know what will happen in the near future but I do know God is sovereign and I trust in that truth and in God the Creator and Redeemer.

Let’s face it. There could be way more years left here on earth which means there’s more time to reach people for Christ Jesus. We are looking for that great reunion which could take place tomorrow but we should also be seeking the lost at any cost. Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem (when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem you are actually praying for Jesus to come again because there can be no true peace without Him) but let’s also pray for more laborers and workers because the harvest is ready.