Do you want to be left behind to go through the tribulation and deal with the beast (Rev. 13)? Are you tired of hearing people say, “The end is near” and thinking you have time to get right with God later? In Luke 21:34–36, Jesus tells us, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35) For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36) But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” The rapture will happen suddenly, and you do not know when it will be, so we must be ready at all times. I did a series of posts on what the Christian should be doing to prepare for that sudden moment. We learn the following from Luke 21:34-36:
- We are to watch for Christ to appear in the clouds and not get distracted by worldly indulgences, drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Worldliness will look different for each person. I did a series of posts explaining the destructiveness of being worldly. Are You a Sheep or a Goat? or How You May Be an Enemy of God.
- Calamity and destruction will appear suddenly on the whole earth. 1Thessalonians 5:2–3 states, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
- We are to stay awake spiritually and pray continually for the strength to escape and do what is required of us. See my post called What Is Required to Stand Before God?
- We will stand before the Son of Man. 2Corinthians 5:10 states, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
In the post called The End is Coming: Part Three, I explain why we are to stay alert and sober-minded for the purpose of prayer until Christ’s return. We know that Matthew 24:44 states, “Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Jesus warns us not to be caught up in the wickedness and cares of this world but to keep watch over our hearts through prayer because we will stand before His judgment seat. I hear worldly Christians say that people have been saying the day of the Lord is coming for hundreds of years, and it hasn’t come yet. This fact is correct. The Apostles and Jesus were warning people in their day of the coming end of the age. I explain this in ― Is the End Close? Part One―What does the Bible Say?
Since we don’t know when the rapture of the real followers of Christ will be, we need to warn the worldly Christians to fear God and be ready by turning from their sin and making Him Lord of their lives. True Christians are those who fear God, have submitted their hearts to Him, and love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength, and love their neighbor as themselves.
I was a worldly Christian for many years, and I knew I was not right with God, but I loved the sinful life more than God. At night, as my bed was spinning, I knew in my heart that I would go to hell if I died at that moment. Ironically, I partied Saturday night and went to church Sunday morning. Then, at a Christian concert, God spoke to me very clearly to stop walking the fence and doing the things of the world and having a form of godliness. He called me to follow Him with all my heart. I gave up my worldly lifestyle and totally submitted to Him, and I have had no regrets. He is calling everyone to follow Him with all their hearts and be totally committed to Him. Many Christians are like I was. 2Timothy 3:1-8 describes the worldly Christian.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6) For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.”
Does this sound like some of our politicians who say they are religious, but their actions speak otherwise? Do you know “Christians” who are always learning but never practice the truth of God’s Word? I hope you do not relate to any part of Timothy’s description of the worldly Christian. If you are convicted of complacency, please turn to God, and ask Him to forgive your sins and take your sinful desires from you and to give you righteous desires to please Him. Without godliness we don’t have God’s divine power to overcome our sins and temptations. My short book will help you resolve the issues that keep you from being godly.
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