As the virus known as COVID-19 or Coronavirus continues to ravage its way across the world, this question has come to my mind on more than one occasion: is this the beginning of the end? The purpose of this blog post is not to discuss eschatology, the study of end times prophecy and events. The purpose of this message is to share a very important truth: regardless of when Jesus returns, we should be actively sharing the Gospel with the world. We should continually be discipling other followers of Jesus.
Anyone who has known me since I gave my life to Jesus in September of 2011 has likely experienced the passion and excitement I once had as I studied prophecy and end times events. There was a time where I spent countless hours reading prophetic news events from around the world, visited end times prophecy websites and forums, and studied the Scriptures thinking Jesus would return at any moment. Then, something happened along the way… I became almost consumed with “looking up” for Jesus that I became paralyzed with inaction serving Him here.
Lest you misunderstand me, the study of Scripture is of critical importance for every follower of Jesus and should be a daily discipline. So we are clear, Jesus thought His second coming was important enough to speak about the end of days on more than one occasion. Plainly said, I encourage every person to take a honest look at Matthew 24 and Luke 21 to understand an important truth: Jesus is coming again. The events that He said would happen are beginning to happen; and just as the “birth pains” increase until a child is born, so the events Jesus told us would increase in measure and intensity will continue to do so until His coming.
So back to my question, is this the beginning of the end? The answer is “I don’t know”. Only the Father does… (Matthew 24:36) When Jesus told us to “look up” because our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28), what Jesus was not saying was to become so mesmerized by these events that we stopped serving Him. Is Jesus coming again? Without a doubt. Should that excite us? Most certainly! Should that change how we act or serve Him? Most definitely! It should increase our urgency, passion, and resolve.
The purpose of this message is to share from the painful lesson I’ve learned. To my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, let the Master find us at work when He returns. If that’s this week or 100 years from now, let us be faithful in taking the Gospel to the nations. Don’t get so caught up on being “caught up” (raptured) that you forget the world that God so loved He gave His only Son (John 3:16) not wanting any to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
