Last Days? ...Yea So What!

By Ray Gano

I have to admit that I have been a little out of sorts recently.

Why?

Seems that no one cares anymore.

Let me ask you this, "Are we living in the last days?"

Now many of you will say "YES!"

OK, now how about this? " Can Jesus return at any moment?"

Again many of you will probably say "YES."

Ok, if we are living in the last days, what proof can you give showing that this statement is a fact?

:::::: The sound of crickets chirping :::::::

Better yet, if we are living in the last days and Jesus Christ could return at ANY MOMENT, what are you doing about it?

:::::: More sounds of crickets chirping :::::::

Here is the problem that I see. We have a boat load of believers walking around believing in the imminent return of Christ and yet very few people …

1. Do not really know the signs of the times

2. Are really doing anything about it.

"wow Ray, you are being pretty hard on people."

Look at everything that is going on around us and yet nothing is stirring people (Christians) to action.

We clearly see the signs of the times taking place every hour of ever day. Just look at some of these I have listed…

· Increasing instability of nature.(Matthew 24:7 & Luke 21:11)

· Increasing lawlessness and violence.(Matthew 24:12)

· Increasing immorality.(Matthew 24:37)

· Increasing materialism.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Increasing Hedonism.(2 Timothy 3:4)

· Increasing influence of Humanism.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Depraved entertainment.(2 Timothy 3:4)

· Calling evil good and good evil.(2 Timothy 3:3 & Isaiah 5:20)

· Increasing use of drugs.(2 Timothy 3:3)

· Increasing blasphemy.(2 Timothy 3:2)

· Increasing paganism.(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

· Increasing despair.(2 Timothy 3:1)

· Increasing knowledge.(Daniel 12:4)

· Increasing travel.(Daniel 12:4)

· The explosion of cults.(Matthew 24:11)

· The proliferation of false christs.(Matthew 24:5)

· Increasing apostasy in the Church.(2 Timothy 4:3-5)

· Increasing attacks on Jesus.(Romans 1:18-19)

· Increasing attacks on the Bible.(Romans 1:18-19)

· Increasing persecution of Christians.(Matthew 24:9)

· Increasing occultism. (1 Timothy 4:1)

Now this is just the short list, I could go on with even more, but this gives you a good example.

The issue is that we see many of these and even more biblical signs taking place daily and yet many of us who claim the title Christian, are doing nothing, except maybe chasing the signs.

So many people talk about the imminent return of our Lord and Savior, but it seems like nobody cares. It is as if people have become numb to the fact and people do not care about their fellow man who is lost and destined to hell.

It almost appears that people have the attitude of " Well I am going to heaven, who cares about anyone else."

"Yep, I've got my 'E' ticket to paradise, so …to bad so sad for all you friends, family and neighbors out there, you can find your own way."

As rude as that sounds, that is what many Christians are expressing today, maybe not verbally, but definitely in action, or better said the lack of action.

I mean think about it here for a second.

We are living in the last days of the last days. We are literally walking the razor's edge, and the imminent return of our Lord and Savior can take place at any moment of time.

Knowing this, shouldn’t we be out there letting those we love and care for know that they are on the path to hell? How about our lives, shouldn't we be living holy and acceptable life unto Him?

Folks, unless people repent of their sins and trust Christ as their personal savior and follow him, they have no hope in making it to heaven. What are we doing about it?

What we are witnessing today is utter complacency.

Here is how Christ described it…

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

In the days of Noah, the people did not care.

Signs, Signs, Signs

Here is some insight I want to point out to you.

Do you realize that many of those spoken of by Christ in this statement were also Noah's relatives?

Yep, they were his own brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, ect.

How do I know this?

Genesis 5:26 -31 (KJV) And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

Not only did Noah have brothers, sister, and such. Many forget that he, Noah, also knew his Grandfather, Methuselah. Yea, it is common sense, but we often forget that just from reading Genesis and all those "begots."

I say this because even before Noah, the people living at that time knew and understood that God's Judgment was coming upon them and they had a clear sign.

What was that sign? |The people had Methuselah, the oldest living man known.

Well why is that important you may ask?

Do you know that Methuselah's name meant "when he dies judgment comes" or "in the year he dies it will be sent."

Both of these are referring to the flood of Noah. Which means that Methuselah was alive up to a year if not days prior to the flood and then died.

So to spell it out for you…

Here we have the world's oldest man, whose name means "when he dies judgment comes." Folks, this is the oldest guy living; everyone knew who he was. Many of these people are his own descendants and kin. They know that when Methuselah dies, judgment is coming. Not only did Noah preach on this, but so did Methuselah. I mean how does one go through life with a name meaning "when he dies judgment comes" and NOT warn the people? How can you be a relative to Methuselah and not hear the warning?

See what I mean…But did the people care?

NO… they just went on with their lives eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day when Noah entered the ark.

So the people knew and understood what was going on, we can clearly see that in scripture.

When Methuselah died, the rains came.

They Saw The Signs

Folks, during the days of Noah the people not only had Methuselah preaching and being a witness, they also had Noah and his sons. Noah was not only preaching, but also building this huge ark. Here are at least three clear signs of their time. What did the people do? "Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage." They did not care about what was going on.

Looking at today, look at how many signs we have and yet the people of today do not care, Christian and heathen alike.

I state all of this because we are seeing a repeat of the days of Noah taking place right here, right now.

Christ told us "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The people of Noah's day did not care that the end of the world was coming. Just like people of today do not care that the Coming of The Lord is at hand. But what is troubling is that even the Christians have bought into the complacency.

How many people care?

How many watchmen are really out there?

Folks, as I have said before we are living in the last days of the last days. We have signs of His return all over. So much so that even the heathen knows something is going on. One cannot turn on the nightly news and in fifteen minutes not see something dealing with Bible prophecy.

God's prophecies are everywhere and yet no one seems to care anymore.

Christ is standing at the threshold, his imminent return is nigh and nobody cares.

It makes me have to ask, is everyone who claims the title Christian really a Christians in the first place if they don't even care about the return of their own Lord and Savior?

Last Days? Yea So What!

Look around, we have all these signs of the Lord's return and yet many Christians don’t care. In fact at times it seems that people are more interested in chasing the "signs" versus looking for the Savior. Sure they say they are looking for the savior, but if they really were, their lives would reflect that.

Sad thing is that in many Christians lives, that reflection of an imminent return is lacking.

Here is what scripture says…

1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

With all these signs of the Lord taking place, why is it that most of the world no longer cares about Jesus Christ?

It seems that riding on the "highway to hell" is more important to Christians and heathens alike than looking for the return of our Lord and doing something about it.

Here is what scripture says…

Matthew 7:20-23 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Do your fruits show that you love the Lord?

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Knowing that Christ can return at any moment, do people know and see your faith by your actions?

1 Peter 1:16 (KJV) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Can people tell you apart because you live a holy life? Or are you just another person taken up with "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage?"

In other words, what is more important, Sunday's church and meditating on the
Lord OR Sunday's football/baseball/basketball game with BBQ , Budweiser and the buddies?

Here is a goad, how many of you laughed just now as you read that and chose the second then said to yourself "oh not really" and changed your mind?

I guess what I have to ask is where is the urgency?

Everyone professes a belief in Immanency and yet very few produce the fruits to show it. I hear the same ol' I am to busy, I don't know the bible, I am not a preacher, yada yada excuses from many people claiming the title Christian, but where are the fruits being produced?

Here is the rubber meets the road point I am trying to make...

1. Either you love the Lord, believe in the imminent return and have an urgency in your heart moving you to action to share the gospel with everyone you know because time is just about out.

Or

2. You've been playing a real good game and have everyone fooled thinking you really love the Lord, and that you really care, but in reality you are just living a lie.

If you are number #1, great, but I have a good feeling that there are some of you reading this who are really #2.

If you were #1, your lives would show it. Sure you can give all the excuses you wish to give, what is key though is that your witness lacks thus producing no fruit.

Your faith without works is dead.

Now I know that I am probably ticking off many folks right now. But again I have to ask "knowing what you know and knowing that we are living in the last days of the days, why aren't you doing anything about it?

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Either you really don’t love the Lord nor wish to further his kingdom thus you are living a lie, or you do love the Lord and are doing something about it.

Which is it?

Now I do know that there is a third category…

3. You are so wrapped up in life, one feels like the rat running on that wheel day in and day out and yet you are going nowhere. All you know what to do is eat, sleep and run on that wheel trying to stay ahead getting nowhere fast. Is that is how your life feels?

If this is you, then I know you very well because I was there myself and from time to time it is easy to slip back onto that wheel. But I will let you in on something, one rarely gets to number #1 until you have gone through #3.

So is this you?

You love the Lord and you have given your life to Him. You read your bible, (from time to time), you go to church sometimes but you are living an empty life because you are missing one critical point without knowing what it is. At times you even shake your fist at God wondering why He isn't there for you and why you cannot feel his presence like others claim. You live a pretty good life on the outside, but you have emptiness on the inside wishing for that real personal relationship with the Lord. You have tried everything, gotten involved at church, maybe even teach Sunday school. But still life is empty.

What is the real issue? You gave Him your heart, but you have not given him your all. You might say that you have given Him your all, but if you are running on the rat wheel and I have described you above, then you have a propensity to maintain control of your own life.

And if that is the case, you control the "steering wheel of life," and not the Lord.

You love Him, but you have not submitted your all to Him; and until you come to that point where you finally give it all up and you can no longer run, you will be trapped on that wheel, quite possibly till the end of your days.

What you are battling is that sin nature, it is one of the steps of working out your Sanctification. Please note I said Sanctification and NOT your Salvation. You are already saved by grace, but now it is your turn to do as Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2….

Romans 12:1 -2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Once you realize your "reasonable service" then you are on the path of giving Him your all.

Here is at tip to help you in the right direction. There is complete freedom in submitting to the Lord. Hard to believe, but the freedom comes from knowing His word and then obeying His word. When you really have submitted to Him, you really have no desire to partake of the things of the world because you enjoy the peace freedom and happiness that only He can give you and not what the world has to offer.

As long as you are running on that treadmill of life, you will see very little of what the Lord offers in the way of His favor and His abundance. In other words living a content life happy in what the Lord has provided and what you have been given stewardship over.

Once you give up your all to Him, then you will really understand that we are living in the last days of the last days and then you will see that urgency that we must share with those who do not know the Lord.

Finally you will care about your fellow man and not be complacent, you will pick up your cross and follow Him.

Where is the freedom?

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

What is your reasonable service?

Romans 12:1 -2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What are we called to do?

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Time is critically short. Stop chasing signs, start looking for the Savior.