by Kimberly Due-Vacco

Created on: August 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 30, 2009

I have been hearing a lot lately about the state of our country and conjecture that we must be living in end times since so much biblical prophecy is 'coming to pass'. This got me to thinking about whether or not we are living in end times. I went to the word to find out. Yes. I do believe we are living in end times, but guess what? Mankind has been living in end times since the day that Jesus went to heaven.

There have been events that have happened throughout history that could have been pointed to and speculated on their prophetic occurrence. The bible, in Matthew 24:36, clearly states that no one knows when to expect the second coming. So, if no one knows when to expect it, why all the attempted predictions? Because we need to get ready, of course! Really? Get ready for what?

If we believe in Jesus, then it is also our belief that our souls are already safe. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:35-39). As for warning those who do not believe, we are called to be salt and light in the world so that all will see God through us and turn to him (Matthew 5:13-16). So what else do we need to do to get ready for Jesus? Do we need to run around sounding an alarm? I see no reason to. After much prayer and introspection, I do not feel called to warn anyone of the impending end.

Obviously we are closer now to the end than we were when Jesus ascended to heaven - duh, it is 2000+ years later. That is a given, but it doesn't mean that the signs of these times are any more a fulfilling of prophecy than similar signs in history were. People need to stop theorizing about what to do to get ready for the end and start living in the now. That is what these scriptures that I have provided tell us*.

We need to be patient. We are called to align ourselves with God's plan. He has individual plans for each of our lives. Why do we fight over who is worshiping God the right way and quibble over scriptural minutiae? Those things are a waste of the time we have here, because no matter when Jesus returns we all know that we each have a finite amount of time to live. We need to focus on allowing God's light to shine through us more brightly than our own interpretation of theology. Christians are called to nothing less.

*For further reading:

Ecclesiastes 1:8-10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Philippians 1:4-6, 2 Timothy 4:18, James 5:7-8

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