Time is at Hand

 

“But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels which are in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray: for you do not know when the time will come (for my return).” Mark 13:32-33 RSV

                  Time is at Hand

 We are living in a time of uncertainty, which time itself cannot promise us anything.  We must look to the one that knows all things; the Creator of all things, Jesus Christ.  In the beginning of this year I awoke from my sleep by a voice which sounded like someone speaking underwater and it said “Watch and pray.”

 Watch and pray is mentioned several times in the Bible.  But what the Bible tells us clearly again and again what we must do is “Be always on the watch, and pray.”  Be on the watch, means to literally to keep oneself alert, awake, aware, to be vigilant, in awareness of threatening situations, to be alert, to watch over something, to be on guard.

 Jesus wants us to be aware and alert for the day of the Lord will come upon us unexpectedly.  He illustrated by speaking in parables to His disciples that would warn them to be alert.

 In Mark 13 the parable speaks of a man going on a journey, when he leaves home he puts his servants in charge.  Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come, lest he come suddenly and find you asleep (not ready).  I say to you, I say to all watch.  
 Other parables of Jesus illustrate that we need to be aware and alert for His coming.

 

The thief in the night (Luke 12:39-40)
The faithful and wise servants (Matt 24:45-51)
The wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-13)

 Jesus warns us to be diligent in keeping our spiritual house in order and shows us exactly the kind of distractions to avoid.  “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.  For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NIV. 

Jesus talks about things that can dull our senses and our watchfulness.  We can be preoccupied with this life, families, jobs, relationship, self-improvements, education, vacations, suffering, sickness and death, that we are no longer careful of what is going on around us spiritually.  Our whole focus is on living our lives and this can shift us away from listening to God and observing what He is doing.

 Jesus encourages us to be alert and pray so that we will be able to have strong faith to escape all that is about to happen.  We are to live in a continual state of talking with God and listening, fully alert, fully engaged and spiritually awake at all times.

 Another occasion Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane facing the trial of His life.  He prays in desperation, Peter, James and John His disciples are nearby.  But they fall asleep three times.  This prompts His words, “watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week.”  Sleep might take care of our physical body, but prayer will take care of our spiritual body.  God’s spirit is willing to give us everything that we need to stay strong spiritually.

 Jesus’ return is imminent; it could happen at any moment. The Bible can help us to be aware of some earth changing events.  This material has great significance to the world occurrences that we are experiencing.  The Bible reveals prophecy that will take place in our world.  Recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21; this is where Jesus Himself warns us to be vigilant about our spiritual state.  He describes and reveals the conditions and events that will lead to his second coming.   

 “Take heed that no one deceived you.  For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ”; and will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  Matthew 24:4-8

 In Matthew 24 the disciples ask a question to Jesus “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of time?”  Jesus reveals seven signs pointing to His coming: 1) deception, 2) worldwide birth pains (sorrow), 3) persecution, 4) falling away, 5) false prophets, 6) wickedness and 7) worldwide evangelism. 

 Jesus warns us of deception in Matthew 24:4, religious deception is on the increase in the world today.  There are false christs, false prophets, false teachers; people out of control chasing whatever makes them feel good.

 The Barna survey group uncovered some of the ways people in America are being deceived.

59% do not believe there is a Satan
51% believe praying to dead saints is beneficial
35% believe you can communicate with the dead
50% believe that salvation is earned and not a gift
75% believe people are born neither good nor evil – they make a choice between the two as they mature
54% believe truth can only be discovered through logic, human reasoning and personal experience

 Many of these people are setting in our American churches and say they are Christians.

 Jesus tells us of wars and rumors of wars in Matthew 24:6. Historians all agree that the 20th century was unparalleled in the scale of its human misery created by other humans.  No period has witnessed the escalation of wars as has the 20th Century.  The Red Cross has estimated that over 100 million people have been killed in wars since the 20th Century began.  This is not including genocide of Russians opposed to Stalin or the Jews exterminated during the Holocaust. Since World War II, there have been numerous major wars & hundreds of rebellions & revolutions.  The death toll in conflicts since the end of World War II has topped 23 million.

 Jesus also predicted in verse 7,”...and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in various places...”  On March 27, 1964 Alaska was devastated by a massive earthquake measuring 8.4 on the Richter scale.  In the almost 50 years since the great Alaska quake, there have been as many major earthquakes as in the entire previous 2,000 years of world history.  The World Almanac tells us that there were only 21 earthquakes on major strength between the years 1000 and 1800.  But between 1800 and 1900 there were 18 major earthquakes.  In the next 50 years, between 1900 and 1950, there were 33 major quakes, and between 1950 and 1991 there were 93 major earthquakes, almost tripling the number of the previous half century, and claiming the lives of 1.3 million people around the world.  In the last 20 years, including the recent Japan earthquake, there have been 316 major earthquakes around the world measuring 7.0 and above.

 Also Jesus predicts in verse 7, “...and there shall be famines and pestilences...”  The HIV virus, which causes AIDS, has infected more than 33.3 million people around the globe.  In 1993 AIDS became the leading cause of death of U.S. males between the ages of 20 and 45.  AIDS is not the only modern day plaque to afflict mankind.  Virtually unheard of among our ancestors, over 100 different kinds of cancer now kill over 7.3 million people every year.

 The world recession, resulting in poverty and homelessness has devastated the healthcare system of many countries and diseases once thought banished by modern science have made an alarming comeback.  Epidemics of typhoid, diphtheria, and even the Black Death, have affected areas of India and the former Soviet Union.  Deadly new strains of Malaria, Tuberculosis and Cholera are becoming resistant to all known antibiotics and are killing millions of people.

 Jesus relates to the signs of worldwide tragedies and disasters; these are the beginning of birth pains.  The pain of giving birth is great, but the joy that follows birth is equally great.  The worldwide birth pains that lead up to the return of Christ is far greater than natural birth; however, the joy for us who are expecting Christ will likewise be far greater than the joy parents share at the birth of a child.

 Time is at hand – in 2 Peter 3:8-9 “But don’t forget this on thing, dear friends:  with the lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. “

 We must rely and trust God in this uncertain world; A world that appears to be falling apart all around us.  When everything begins to become unstable in our world or personal life, we must embrace God’s word.  Jesus said “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word is everlasting.” (Mark 13:31)  If we will hold onto Him, He will take us through.

 “Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary...He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”(Isaiah 40:28-29)

 God is the most stable Being in this whole universe!  His overall plan and purpose remains constant and unchanging.  God is our refuge, our one place of security, our hope in the face of the uncertainties that plague us.

 One thing is certain; all people have an appointed time to die.  Three thousands years ago King Solomon confirms this in Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die..”  Even death cannot defeat those who trust in God.  It was Jesus who said that “whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:26

 Time cannot promise you anything, yet Christ promised there would be a resurrection to eternal life for those who truly trust in God and His word.  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”  John 5:24

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