What?
Me Worry?
By John Funk
There are a lot of people out there who display this
attitude: What? Me Worry?
Why should I? When they speak in
these terms, it concerns the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to “rapture”
or “snatch away” His believers. These
individuals rightfully believe that Jesus will return whether or not they are
looking for Him. They maintain that the
Rapture of the saints will happen, if it happens, when God ordains and not
before then.
Each of these statements is absolutely true upon its face so why
do some people seem to be consumed by the idea of looking for Christ’s return
and anticipate that it could happen at any time? Isn’t this just a big waste of time and effort? Why would reasonable, intelligent people
spend their valuable time and money trying to persuade others that Jesus is
coming soon and that they need to be prepared?
More than just being prepared for His coming, these people scan the
newspapers trying to tie world events to end times prophecies and actually want
others to spend their time looking for the return of Jesus Christ. Are these people deluded, brainwashed or
just hopeful that Someone will extricate them from the causes and concerns of
life? In the meantime, aren’t they
failing to make the most out of life and bothering other good people who need
to be living life to its fullest?
There is a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that ch
Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."
The
purpose of this ch
In
today’s world, what is there to be alarmed about? You can stop laughing now; it was rhetorical. Let us not kid ourselves. There is plenty to be alarmed about. Whether it is crime, war, terrorism, drugs,
the economy, this week’s latest natural disaster, increasing taxes, one world
government, globalism, the loss of individual rights, your children’s friends, the
state of marriage or numerous other reasons, we have good cause for alarm. Evidence of the declining state of our world
is shown by the number of people who rely upon antidepressants to just cope
with each day. What is even more
alarming than any of the reasons cited herein is the world’s lack of
preparedness for the return of Jesus Christ.
Just look around you and see if you think that this world (and the
church) is ready for the return of Christ.
It is not and it is for this very reason that we should “sound the
alarm.”
In
the context of the Olivet Discourse when Jesus spoke with His disciples about
the end of the age, He indicated that even though we would not know the hour,
we could discern the season. The fig
tree was a metaphor for
Matthew 24:32-36
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32 "Now learn this lesson from
the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you
know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know
that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth,
this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have
happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass
away. 36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. |
32 Now learn
a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves,
ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these
things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you,
This generation shall not pass, till all these things be
fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of
heaven, but my Father only. |
Jesus then went on to explain
that the Rapture would take place when it was totally unexpected. Just like it was “in the days of Noah”,
people will be living life. They will
be going about their work, eating, drinking and marrying. There will be no expectation by the world at
large that this could be the end of the age as prophesied so long ago. Just like those people then, people will
know nothing until it is too late. God
shut the door of the ark after Noah and his family entered and the world then
perished.
Matthew 24:37-44
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37 As it was in the days of Noah, so
it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the
flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up
to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would
happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at
the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be
taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one
will be taken and the other left. 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you
do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the
owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he
would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So
you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you
do not expect him.. |
37 But as
the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as
in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one
shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the
mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye
know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that
if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as
ye think not the Son of man cometh. |
Those
who take the attitude that Jesus is going to come when He is going to come and
that there is no real reason to watch with anticipation fail to heed the
admonition of verse 42. Jesus Himself
commanded “Watch.” The reason is that
if one was diligent and kept watch, he would not be surprised and would be
ready. If he is ready, then his house
will not be broken up. Could this be a
warning for us that by keeping watch, we will be able to avoid the breaking up
of our homes? By keeping watch and
anticipating His return, we will have an increased sense of urgency to try to
witness to others and therefore fulfill the Great Commission (see Matthew
28:19-20).
In
the following chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke of the parable of
the ten virgins and the wedding party.
In this parable all ten virgins clearly wanted to be there for the
bridegroom as all ten had brought their lamps; however, only five had brought
any oil for their lamps. All were
sleeping when the bridegroom (a metaphor for Jesus) came as He had been a long
time in coming but when the cry (or alarm) was sounded, they all woke up and
trimmed their lamps. Only the five who
were prepared were admitted. Even though
they cried out to Him, the five who were unprepared were shut out; He did not
know them. Once again we are commended
to watch because we do not know the day nor the hour
when Jesus will come again.
Matthew 25:1-13
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1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven
will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the
bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish
ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise,
however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long
time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At
midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones
said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9
"'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you.
Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom
arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.
And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came.
'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he
replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep
watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. |
1 Then shall
the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps,
and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five
were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with
them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the
bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was
a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all
those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise
answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage: and the door was shut.11 Afterward
came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he
answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.13 Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh. |
The Gospel of Mark addresses this same parable concerning
the fig tree with many of the same ideas but there is an interesting admonition
contained in his depiction.
Mark 13:28-37
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28 "Now learn this lesson from the
fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know
that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you
know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth,
this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have
happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass
away. 32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do
not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves
his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and
tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch because you
do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the
evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he
comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say
to everyone: 'Watch!'". |
28 Now learn
a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth
leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall
see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these
things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not
pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the
angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed,
watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.34 For the
Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave
authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the
porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of
the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.37 And what I say unto
you I say unto all, Watch. |
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Starting
in verse 34, Jesus analogized Himself to a man going on a long journey and
leaving His servants in charge. He
commanded his porter or the one at the door to keep watch because you would not
know when the master of the house would return. Verse 36 emphasizes that He should not catch you sleeping, i.e.
unprepared for His return. He
emphatically states in verse 37 that all are to keep watch for His return. It was not a suggestion or merely a good
idea; it is a command given by Jesus Christ Himself, our Lord and Savior. As such, it is a command that is not to be
taken lightly but rather is one that should be obeyed to the absolute best of
our ability.
Finally,
in the Revelation of John as Spirit addresses the church in
Revelation 3:7-13
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7 "To the angel of the church in |
7 And to the
angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is
holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no
man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I
have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a
little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and
are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy
feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word
of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which
shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou
hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that
overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no
more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from
my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. |
So when
someone takes exception to those who watch for the return of Jesus to rapture
or snatch away His believers, they need to know that we do it because we are
commanded to do it by the One we love.
By doing so we are past the point of being prepared; in fact, we now act
to sound the alarm, begging the world around us to come to Christ in faith
before the door is shut. When that door
is shut, a time of travail such as has never been seen before will come upon
the earth. That time is drawing ever
closer and many of us believe that just as the fig tree gives evidence of the
coming of summer, the current world events commencing with the re-assimilation
of Israel manifest the nearness of the rapture of the saints. We do not want to be found sleeping but rather
diligently working, preparing the way, for the advent of that time when we will
depart this earth and spend our time at the wedding feast, celebrating with the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That
is why we do it. Any
questions?
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