What The Bible Says About "The Last Days" - Are You Prepared?

With all that is going on around the world, civil war, revolution, extreme weather conditions, earthquakes, fears of nuclear contamination etc., Christians, while they are as concerned as anyone else, are glad for their faith which sets them on solid, immovable ground.

The Bible says -

No-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 3:11

Jesus Christ is an immovable rock, an oasis in a desert, a shelter in time of storm, and a strong tower which provides a safe refuge, and, in all these things, not only for time, but eternity.

It is true, that some still say that all the things that are taking place world - wide have always been the same, but there has never been some many different kinds of disasters, wars and threats of war as in the recent decade; and for practically all of the last century.

Jesus said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" - Luke 21: 28

While it is true that Christians everywhere need to stand up and proclaim their faith in God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord, it is time, as never before, to show the reality of their faith by their lives and good works.

The apostle Peter wrote challenging Christians about these days -

What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of the Lord and speed its coming - Since you are looking forward (to Christ’s coming) make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that the Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him - 2 Peter 3: 14 & 15

The fountain head of all good works is love. The apostle John tells us that "God is love" - 1 John 4: 16 he doesn’t have love, he is love, that is, the source of it.

The late Welsh tenor Harry Secombe used to sing "Love is a splendored thing" and so it is. We can perhaps see this clearly where the New Testament speaks of the fruit of the Holy Spirit -

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self - control. Against such there is no law - Galatians 5: 22 & 23

Love does not seek its own selfish ends, but the good of others. It has many facets as the apostle Paul writing to the Galatian Church tells us.

Joy -
is deep happiness born of a personal relationship with God who is love.

Peace -
tranquillity of mind and spiritual well-being based on forgiveness.

Patience -
the thought here is of steadfastness and forbearance.

Gentleness and kindness -
speaks of character - remembering how fragile the human personality is, and how easily people are hurt; consideration should be shown to all.

Self-control - how often the lack of it has caused great harm.

True love never condones sin and evil, but loves the sinner, even the most depraved, and imagines what he or she could be if they came to Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us clearly that good works, of themselves, cannot save us -

For by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast - Ephesians 2: 8 & 9

The apostle James says the same thing from another point of view when he tells us -

Someone will say, "You have faith I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do - James 2: 18

The reality of a Christian’s faith is proved by a completely changed life - style full of kindness, forgiveness and good works. However we cannot boast about our good works because they are the result of being saved by God’s grace - that is, his favour towards us although we have done nothing to merit it.

Dear friend, do not rely on rituals, or liturgy or baptism, you need to repent, come to Christ personally just where you are and how you are, ask his forgiveness and that he will take control of your life.

Christianity is not meant to be on the periphery of your life, a kind of decorative religious façade; it should central in our lives reflecting in everything that we do.

God bless you!!!
Gordon Guillermo Burgess
The Pastor (Church Of The Good Shepherd)