Morning Journal
I Thessalonians 5:2
“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”
This is our third entry on this passage. The first time we addressed how the second coming brings people to Christ. The last time we addressed how this message brings believers closer to the Lord. Today I want to speak to the fact that we should be telling others about God and the second coming.
The last command that Jesus gave was to share the good news with others (Mark 16:15). While the second coming isn’t exactly the gospel, it highlights the need for it. Most think they’ve got decades before pondering death and the after life. However, the second coming changes that. If Jesus could return at any time, then we should get right with God now.
The second coming isn’t popular in our present culture. Hollywood and the media mock it. Those that would speak of it are portrayed as extreme religious people. I believe this has crept into the churches. I don’t hear messages on it any longer.
We, as christians, shouldn’t fear what our culture thinks. Jesus says in John 15:18 that the world hated Him and it will hate us as well. We should share His message without fear. This isn’t easy. We all want to be liked.
I can think of two instances that turned people away. The first was a mild reference to my pastor’s message and the second was saying a blessing over a meal. I’m still friends with these, but it clearly changed the relationship. I can’t worry about that.
We should share what comes to mind in reference to the Lord. We have a rich relationship with Christ. It makes sense that it will come up in conversation. We toss out comments like a farmer does with seed. Some will take root and grow, others will not. We can’t worry about how it’s received. We are to speak. My examples are all conversational examples.
I haven’t brought up the second coming in a long time. This probably is because I don’t think of it much. I should. The book of Revelations is all about future events. In chapter one verse three it says that the one is blessed who reads, hears and gives head to the message. The end times should be part of our thoughts. It brings us closer to Christ and lets us see the potential immediacy that would affect nonbelievers.
It’s not difficult to see the conversation openers. The Bible says that “most people’s love will grow cold” and that “brother will turn against brother”. We live in a harsh time which is producing this behavior. We could reference those passages and how they are signs of the end.
Lord, help us to bring You into our conversations. Also with references to the second coming. Give us courage to do so and let it be fruitful in bringing others to You.