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Hello , The End Of All ThingsThe end of the world is coming soon. 1 Peter 4:7a. NLT.
1. The Sandwich Board. You've seen the guys in movies wearing the signboard saying "Repent! The end is near!" According to the Bible though, the end is near and that was written 2,000 years ago. Doesn't sound like the end is near, does it? There are three sub-points to be made.A. We are in the last age, so the end is truly near. There's no more earth-time after this age. These really are the last days, Hebrews 1:1-2.B. The end is nearer now than it was back then. If the end was near then how much closer are we now? Every day counts as a huge gift to be lived in gratitude and praise of God. 2 Peter 3:9.C. You know we have no idea when the end will come. Jesus speaks to that in Matthew 24:36. We also know the chain of events when the Lord appears, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. As of this moment, Christians are waiting for the return of the Lord.
2. Be Watchful. We don't want to be like the evil servant in Matthew 24:48 who didn't recognize his master was coming, and so, began beating the other servants, and engaged in partying and drunkenness The owner was so angry at the servant he cut him in pieces. Let's be watchful so that when the Lord comes He will find us living righteously and praying.
3. Sincere Love. Love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8. How is that so since only the Lord forgives sin? Here's the answer: since our Lord is returning at a time we do not know we can cover each other's sins as we forgo retaliation when our brethren slight us, injure us or verbally abuses us. Such was the case in the first century at the beginning of the church when Jews and Gentiles came together as Christians. Customs and personalities were a hard mix in those days. It took a lot of love to make a congregation pleasing to the Lord just as it does today.
Tip: Since the Lord is returning sooner than we think, let's be watchful, prayerful, and loving. Prayer: Our God and our Father. The church needs love now just as then when the church was new. We still have personalities that sting from time to time. May we be forgiven of those stings. May we grow in peace and love toward You and our brethren. The church you designed is perfect and we thank You for salvation, for our heavenly home, for a clear conscience before You. All glory and praise to our Lord. Amen Father. Amen.
This message is from Garland Van Dyke at Bible Points!Matthews St. church of ChristPO Box 1522, Bay City, TX 774141915 Matthews Street, Bay City, TX 77414(979) 318-2463www.matthewsstreetchurchofchrist.com facebook.com/matthewsstreetchurchofchristWant your own copy of our devotional in your inbox? biblepoints.org/bible-points(It's twice weekly and we don't bombard you with stuff!)
