I am kind of disappointed this morning; disappointed that I am still on this earth after Saturday. Disappointed, but not surprised, by the cynicism and derision that my fellow man is heaping upon sincere people who actually had the gall to act on their belief, misguided as it was. Held out for particular ridicule was the gentleman who liquidated his 401k and purchased space on bill boards across the country proclaiming the end of the world and how it was not too late to repent. Was he doing this for himself? Carving out a little of the pie for him and his? No. He was concerned about people going to hell and genuinely interested in keeping them out of it. As Bugs would say, “what a maroon”. All of this makes me want to pray for the people who did actually have something material or spiritual invested in Saturday’s final act.
Anybody who visited the web site and saw the math involved with the prediction, and understood the basic scriptures, knew that it was kind of far-fetched. But one can still hope, and scripture clearly teaches that one should hope.
Romans 8:22-25 (NIV) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
So, are we to be looking for dates? I don’t think so, Jesus clearly teaches us to be aware of the signs, but he never tells us to circle a date on the calendar. Jesus, God as man, was certainly aware of our tendencies. Why pay bills, why mow the lawn, why tune the car, why do anything except wait with our eyes on the clouds if we know the date that the Rapture (more on this in later lessons) is going to happen? No, we were saved for a purpose.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What could these works be? They are you using your gifts in a body of local believers. Being hospitable, being generous, being loving, and showing others Jesus in you. If you are doing these things when Jesus does finally come, you are obeying scripture. IN 2 Thessalonians Paul says:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (NIV) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
Because of this supposed coming people had grown lax and lazy.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 (NIV) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
I swear we will get back to the lesson next time.
All quotes are from “The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.”
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