We are living in the end times...
If you've attended any church or youth group in the last 7 years you've undoubtedly heard that from some pastor at some point. Most everyone has been focused on the "end times" in the wake of 9/11, Katrina, the war on terror and all of the other seemingly apocalyptic events taking place throughout the world. My question however is not one of whether or not the end times are being addressed because I know it is practically common knowledge at this point. My question i why is so much fear being instilled in christians when or entire focus should be one of excitement and a mission.
From a little boy I was always scared when I heard of the tribulation and Christ's return. I was always scared to death of being left behind. So of course I was never quick to tell others about Christ's return because I wouldn't want them sharing in my fear.
I am afraid that the church as a whole has placed that fear in us. I think the end times is far too broad a subject to be squished into one sermon and I think that is where the fear comes from. The church has done a great job at letting us know of Christ's return, and it has done a great job of leading people to salvation through end times prophecy, but that's where it ends. People all around the world are being given salvation without a mission which is almost useless. We are not called to merely get saved... We are called to serve and get others saved as well. The word says that salvation without works is nothing and a salvation gained through fear does not lead to works.
That is the part of the end times story that we have missed out on. The truth of Christ's return and the possibility of being left behind for the great tribulation is a very important topic and needs to be addressed first, but i feel that it is imperative to not stop there. We christians are now embarking on the greatest soul harvest in history and we need to lay hold of that. We need to be sure in our salvation. (There is no fear when you know that you know that your home will one day be heaven.) Once we are sure in ourselves we need to accept our own mission to lead people to Christ and a real life. People need something real right now, and they will need it even more as things get worse.
I have started reading the left behind series and I have found that I am not filled with fear as a would've been in my Christian adolescence, but I am filled with a new purpose and mission. While the books are fiction they are completely founded in bible prophecy and I know without a doubt that those horrific events will take place in the very near future. I don't want to scare people into salvation just so they avoid that, but I want them to have a purpose. My end times mission is not focused on the end times at all. The truth of Christ's soon-coming return is not my sole message, but a catalyst that keeps me focused on my true mission in life.
In 2 short months I will be going to ORU where i will be trained and developed for 4 years. After that I will be embarking on my own mission to get this nation and world saved through Worship and the arts. My goal is not to become famous for the popularity and money, but to become known throughout the world so the He will be seen through me. God spoke to me very clearly in a packed arena once and showed me that while the audience was listening to music with a message they were still there to see the band. He said that I will be on stages just like that, but they wont be there to see me... but to see Him. That is a high calling and something that I will embrace.
My final word on this subject is simply to not allow fear to drive your christian life or your ministry. Show people the full life and mission that they can have in these last days... give them something to live for.
"Lord though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I’m not scared cause You’re holding my breath
I only fear that I don’t have enough time left
To tell the world that there’s no time left" -Group 1 Crew
