The World is Ending, the World is Ending (?)

For many years, I had several books in my library telling us when the world would end and why. I picked up most of them at yard sales or flea market because I thought they would be a nice collection. A bunch of books written by morons who didn’t believe God and think that they knew more about when the world would end than He does.

Recently, another one of these “geniuses” figured out a mathematical code in the Bible that proved the Earth would end on May 21, 2012. Naturally he garnered a lot of attention and secured his 15 minutes of fame. When the date/time passed, he came up with an excuse that his calculations were off and that October 21 is the real date. It’s now his third guesstimate of when the Earth will end. Sadly, some people believe these predictions, while others grow apathetic toward those who try to reveal prophecy to the world.

Sometimes, pastors or “prophets” like these give the world even more of an excuse to look down on Christians and our beliefs. Those who toil for many years reaching out to the world and trying to do the work that the Lord has given us, have a difficult enough time reaching others without crackpots making fools of themselves and putting all Christians in a bad light. Sadly, they are not alone. Many pastors/preachers/churches have done a fine job of repelling the world from Jesus instead of attracting people to Him. Many times our pride gets in the way and destroys any message that we may be trying to tell the world.

Now back to where I once was going with this……
Someday, when don’t know when, time on Earth will end for each of us. Either by our death, or by the long prophesied return of Christ. Plainly in the Bible in Matthew 24:36-39, it says;

(English Standard Version)
But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

So anyone who tells you they know when it will happen is lying to you and evidently thinks the Bible is in error. If I was you, I’d ignore them. That does not change the fact however that one day, it will happen.

What are we to do in the mean time then? We don’t know when the end will be so we need to be sure to live our lives in a way that honors Christ and follows His teachings. The most important commandment He gave us is also in Matthew. In 22:37-40 Jesus says;

(New International Version)
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

God owns heaven and that is where He lives. Those who decide to follow Him and turn their lives over to Him will spend eternity.

God also owns and created Hell. That is where satan and those who choose not to follow God’s teachings will reside for eternity.

The only way to get to Heaven is by turning the control and ownership of our lives over to Jesus.

John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You may be one of those who says that “God is love and won’t send anyone to hell”. You are partially correct. God is love, but He also is just and if you disregard His word and teachings and chose to live as you want without regard to Him, He says that He will send you away from Him. No matter how good you may have lived your life, if you don’t turn your life over to Him you will be sent away from Him.

Matthew 7:13-23 (ESV)
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

God never desired for one single person to end up in Hell. It’s not God’s will that anyone should perish and go to Hell...

2 Peter 3:9 (The Message)
God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

It is not God’s fault if men and women are unwilling to turn from ways. Hell was created for Satan and his followers, not humans. If we make a decision to follow our own ways, we are destined to end up there. No exceptions, even for really nice people.

So as mentioned before, someday this world will end. When it does, our spirits will spend eternity at one of two locations; paradise (Heaven), or eternal pain where the fire never goes out and you will be tortured for eternity (Hell). From what I’ve read and contrary to popular belief, there’s no party going to be happening there.

The choice of where you end up is entirely up to you.