In Those Days - Pt. 1

 

[Jesus said] “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For 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, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:36-42 ESV).

 

I have often shied away from writing or preaching “eschatologically” (just a big word meaning things of the end times).  However, it seems like this is one of those times when a few reminders are in order for us. There are several reading we could turn to in such a study. Our reading today is taken from what is commonly known as the Olivet Discourse. Jesus has gone to the Mount of Olives with his disciples and they ask Him when “these things” will take place? These are the things he listed for them to use as signs of his second coming. There have been times like he has described in our world before; however, we seem to be living in another of those times today. So, in the next few days we’ll look more closely at this part of the Scripture.

 

At one point during his ministry, the Lord Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). It’s an important question. When Jesus comes again, will people still believe? More and more people seem to be turning their backs on God and the church. A European “theologian” calls faith in a personal God sheer foolishness. He also “knows” that the resurrection never happened and that there is no life after death. Millions of people are buying in to that kind of thinking. Today’s reading mentions an indifference to the gospel before Jesus comes again. It will be “as it was in the days of Noah,” says Jesus, with people going about their everyday lives without any regard for God.

 

The apostle Paul writes that in the last days, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive … having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).  False religions, selfishness, and a thirst for material things will rule the day. I recently read a pastor point to three tools that Satan uses today to draw people away from God: government, religion, and materialism. These seem to be perfectly in line of the new developments in our culture today. Learning how to recognize the truth will help us to “stay awake” and alert to what God is doing in these days. Pray for a keen awareness of the truth of Scripture in your life. That is our hope.