Is it the End of the World, as We Know it?

China has had a horrible earthquake. We’re just beginning to know the extent of it and thousands of lives are lost. One of our Chinese members e-mailed me to make sure I knew what was going on and got the word out for prayer and help.

I will attach links at the bottom of this (the same organizations as last week) if you want to help.

And that parenthetical statement there is a key. Didn’t we just talk about a natural disaster last week? What is going on?

Matthew 24:6-8

⁶You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

The beginning of birth pains? So does this mean that it’s the end of the world?

Yes, it does. But it’s been the end of the world for a long time. Jesus told us to be ready for the end – two thousand years ago. I don’t think we need to read too much into this stuff. It’s terrible that these things are happening. But they said the same thing with the Tsunami and the Hurricanes, and there will be more. The truth is, we are at the end and we should be ready. Jesus said it could happen at any time – so “watch and pray.”

Peter said it this way,

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
¹¹Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹²as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 2 Peter 3:8-12

If it is the end, or isn’t – it doesn’t change the way we live.

We live holy and godly and LOOK FORWARD to the day when it all gets made right again.

Here are the links if you want to help with China.

International Disaster Emergency Service
Samaritan's Purse

Tim