What is Your Plan for End Times?

 If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail, according to current financial planning wisdom.  How much more true is this principle in light of coming events and eternity.

"What is the world coming to?" many are asking as age-old standards of decency, honesty, and common sense are violated.   

Jude tells us to contend for the faith because the world will be filled with ungodly people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  They are grumblers, fault finders who live after their own lusts, ones who speak arrogantly and flatter people to gain an advantage. Likewise, 2 Peter 3 states "that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?'" 

Proverbs tells us that the prudent see trouble coming and prepare for it.  Both Jude and Peter give advice for anyone who wants to know what to do.  Peter answers the question "what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?"  

However, Jude 1:20-21, giving specific details of how to not only endure but how to overcome this present evil generation, states, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."  

Let's consider each of these four directions.  1) Build yourselves up on your most holy faith.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.  Faith builds faith, as we exercise the faith we have in little, God increases our faith to be greater.  Therefore, this instruction calls us to daily not only read and hear the Word, but also to step out and apply the Word to the challenges of our life.

2) Pray in the Holy Spirit.  When we yield our will to God, the Holy Spirit cries out "Abba Father" and with groanings beyond words expresses the will of God to the Father.  Use your prayer language and cry out to Him from the depth of your heart. God has given us gifts which are tools to be used not put away on the shelf. 

3) Keep yourself in the love of God.  What does God require but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.  Walk in the humble fear of the Lord, which simply means love good and hate evil and pride.

4)  Finally, look for the mercy of the Lord Jesus unto eternal life.  Our focus is not on the evil world that is passing, but as Romans reminds us, keep our focus on the fact that our Redeemer is coming with mercy for all those who call on His name.  In short, rejoice that God is not mocked, but continues to work all things for good, HIs mercy is greater than sin, and His authority reigns supreme so every evil will be justly dealt with and every one who turns to Him will live forever. 

Thank God we are not helpless, but in union with Him who has overcome, we overcome by simply walking in the ways He has provided.  Praise God forever, as God's children we will never be shaken.