The Last Days Of The World XXXIII

 Understanding what is about to descend upon the world can be overwhelming if our hope is pinned on the things of the world. However, if we have come to the knowledge that we have no lasting city here but seek the city that is to come, we will take the events of the last days in stride, learning to walk by faith and trust in the hand of the Almighty who is able to preserve and protect those who are His.

The signs that we are nearing the last days of the world are undeniable and unmistakable, and this should serve as an impetus for us to draw ever closer to Christ, the giver of life. In the end, that is the underlying purpose of discussing the events of the last days. It’s not to stir fear in the hearts of men; it’s to stir in them the need to prioritize their walk with Jesus and take it more seriously.

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Whether it’s the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life, these things are meant to weaken your spiritual man and take your focus off Jesus. The world is passing away. From institutions that men thought implacable to safety nets people thought secure to the very fabric of society and what keeps it together, the cracks are showing, and the foundation is crumbling. The believer’s reaction to all these things isn’t to bemoan the fate of the world, for it is made clear that it is passing away, lacking permanence of any kind. Our reaction must be to deepen our relationship with God, grow daily in Him, learn to boldly walk in His ways, and know that if we remain under the shadow of His wing, nothing will by any means harm us.

Focusing on the things of this earth, loving them, or prioritizing them is akin to building sandcastles during a hurricane. It doesn’t matter how grand and elaborate your sandcastle might be; the storm will come, the winds will howl, and all the time and exertion you’ve put into it will be for naught.

When our minds are set on the things above, the things of this earth and all that they entail are put into the proper context. We are here one minute and gone the next. Then, eternity. That’s how quickly it happens, and all the well-laid plans we had for ten, fifteen, twenty years down the road, all the trinkets and baubles we amassed that were such a source of pride either get sold off for pennies or end up in a landfill somewhere to be picked up by scavengers, whether winged or bipedal.

As a side hustle to my side hustle, I frequent estate sales on the weekends. Usually, the homeowner has passed, and their kids just want to sell the home and pocket a nice chunk of cash. You walk through some of these homes and see a lifetime’s worth of accumulation, from art hanging on the walls to sculptures sitting proudly on side tables to smaller things that once held value but now get haggled over because nobody wants to pony up the dollar, but they’re willing to pay fifty cents, even though the retail tag on it is well north of a hundred.

Few things exemplify the futility of focusing on this present existence more than walking through a home brimming with all manner of things and realizing that the individual who spent their life accumulating them is no longer there to enjoy them. Ultimately, we all get the same thing: a box, a patch of dirt, and, hopefully, a handful of friends and loved ones to remember that we were once among the living.

I heard a quote some time ago of such deep profundity that it was hard to believe it came from the mouth of a late-night comic: Eventually, all our graves go unattended. Six little words that resonate and perfectly encapsulate the vanity of keeping our focus on the here and now, the things of this earth, and the pride of life.

Eternity is our aim, goal, and purpose. Anything that tries to distract from this principal goal must be excised and done away with, recognizing it for what it is. We can either focus on the events leading up to Christ’s return or on the undeniable reality that there is an end in sight, that He is returning, and that one day He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24:32-33, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors!”

Staring at the fig tree will not make it bloom any faster. We can ascertain where it is in its cycle by seeing that it’s putting forth leaves and even budding, but the tree should not become our obsession. It’s a means of gauging the closeness of the hour, not the focus of our existence. By all means, be aware of the times you’re living in, but don’t let it become your defacto religion.

If we’re spending all our time staring at fig trees and not growing in God, cementing our faith, and telling those who would hear about Jesus, we’re wasting the most finite resource we’ve been given and will be called to account for it one day.

Yes, chaos is about to be unleashed. Yes, the last days of the world are upon us. Yes, events will begin to unfold at breakneck speed that will shock the world and the inhabitants thereof. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.