Clueless!

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27)

Things go on as always. Nothing seems to change. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Kim Jong-un has placed a big chip on his shoulder and dares America to knock it off. Xi Jinping, who tacitly agreed with President Trump to put pressure on North Korea to back off its nuclear expansion, now warns the US not to take military action against North Korea. In the meantime, Iran continues its nuclear program undaunted by restrictions imposed by the Obama nuclear deal. Russia, Syria, and Iran continue to amass troops on Israel’s northern border, while the cry for Israel’s destruction by Islamic extremists grows in intensity and volume. All of Europe is overrun with Muslims where almost daily there are reports of riots in the streets. Acts of terrorism and the raping of European women by Muslims, who see it as their sacred duty to conduct themselves as barbarians, is as commonplace as the rising of the sun.

Meanwhile, back at home, Trump haters and “Never-Trumpers,” aided by the Trump-hating liberal media, can find nothing but fault with President Trump. Regardless of the chaos going on all around the world, their concerted effort to delegitimize his administration consumes the majority of airtime with complete disregard for national security. Thanks to the previous President, the division in our nation grows deeper and wider than ever, and there seems to be no salve that can heal our nation’s wounds. It seems that any perceived offense serves as a motive to riot in the streets. Left or right does not matter; both sides thirst for blood. Morality? What morality? It no longer exists in America. Some public schools teach our little ones that their gender is a matter of their choosing regardless of their biological equipment. Our nation slaughters the unborn by the thousands daily.

With all the goings on in our country and in the world, it seems (generally speaking) that our people stumble around in a fog oblivious to the social collapse around them. They bury their faces in electronic devices. They search for diversion on television screens – sports, “reality” shows, TV gossip shows, etc. – anything to escape the “real world.” Then, if that does not work, they numb themselves with drugs or alcohol. It is like a bad dream where you are falling through the air without a parachute, and the ground is racing up to meet you. There is nothing around to grab to stop you. You are going to die, so you may as well think about something else because considering the inevitable will not help this time. Clueless!

The feeling is understandable for those who have no hope in Christ, but increasingly, I see a similar kind of attitude among Christians, albeit perhaps not to the same degree. Sometimes I listen in on conversations of Christian brothers, and what I hear is not much different than the conversations of non-Christians. They deliberate about their favorite sports team evaluating the condition and performance of the star players. I hear them discuss with great animation about the latest movie thriller or their favorite TV series. They will talk about who is “Dancing With the Stars” or the next “American Idol” or who is in the lead of “America’s Got Talent.” Sometimes they confide about what is going on in their families. Sometimes the conversation shifts to current events, which usually ends with the sense that there is nothing we can do about it. Very rarely is the conversation about what is going on at their church or about the pastor’s sermon last Sunday. Never do I hear about what they learned from their personal Bible study or what the Lord is doing in their lives. Their exchange sounds no different from that of the lost world around them – except without the “colorful” language. Clueless!

Jesus will return very soon.[1] He stands at the gates of heaven awaiting His Father’s command to go get His Bride – the Church. Like never before, a convergence of end-time signs continue to increase. Prophecy teachers more knowledgeable than me proclaim the same message I have written about over the last couple of years.[2] The prophecy teachers of which I speak are not false prophets the likes of Harold Camping who erroneously predict specific dates for Christ’s return. While they speak of a strong “likelihood” of Christ’s return this very year, they are quick to follow up with the disclaimer that we cannot know with certainty. However, the “signs” seem to indicate that our Lord’s return is more imminent today than ever. This is no time for Christians to be “clueless.”  Christians should rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus is coming soon.  Rather than confabulating over meaningless scuttlebutt, we should warn others of what is coming and share with them the way of salvation. Our Lord does not want us to be clueless. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1).

“But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:9-10).

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Do not be clueless! The things of this world do not matter. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him … And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15, 17). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, emphasis mine). All things that consume your mind are temporal. In one blinding flash, they will all vanish. When that happens, what will you have left that is of any value?

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:11-13, emphasis mine).

Reader, if you are not looking forward to Christ’s return, do not continue being clueless. Find the way to heaven here: https://erniecarrasco.com/heaven/. Prepare yourself for what lies ahead.

Notes:

[1]  “Coming Soon!” https://erniecarrasco.com/2017/07/09/coming-soon/

[2] For a list of articles I have written on these final days, look over to the right-hand column of this blog and find the “Categories” list and select the categories “End Times,” and “Second Coming of Christ.”