It is time to get serious!

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14 NAS).

Taking this verse at face value, one must conclude that, we, The Church, play a direct role in when our Lord Jesus returns. 
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By J.M. Benson

Missionary with Bethany Gateways

  No other passage in Scripture has the one clear qualifier, “and then the end will come” this side of time. 1 Corinthians 15:24 speaks of it in relation to post rapture – the other side of time. This is the one clear distinction that we know will bring about the end of the age. Still, God sets the qualifications for it being complete. We will not know until it happens. Yet, we still influence the event without knowing when exactly it will occur. Why do we not take it seriously? Why do our actions not reflect this truth? In an age when, I might say rightly, our passions are aflame for the restoration of our nation – The United States of America – we forget that God’s Kingdom is world-wide. I have heard some speak of turning the Middle East into glass, yet, that is Jesus’ role and responsibility upon His return.

Isaiah 63:1-6 speaks of a portion of the location of the Lord’s wrath at His second coming. It states,

Who is this who comes from Edom,
With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
Marching in the greatness of His strength?
“It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
“I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
“For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
“I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
“I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.
 
Our task, as The Church, is to,

          Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of              the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I                    commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt                 28:19-20).

So, my point in this very short article is to have our passions and hearts burning for the glory of God among all the tribes of the earth – not only for our own. We know from Revelation 5:9-10,

           And they sang a new song, saying,
          “Worthy are You [Jesus] to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain,            and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and                    people and nation.
          “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign              upon the earth.”

They were purchased by Christ; our job is to go find them. It is the Lord’s desire that more people go. It is the Lord’s desire that more people give. It is the Lord’s desire that more people pray and fast for His Kingdom. Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’” (NAS).

There are three main ways one can get involved in missions:

1. Leave all and go - go
2. Pray and fast - pray
3. Financially support a missionary so they can go - give.
4. A combination of these three: go, pray, give.

 
I earnestly urge you to pray, asking the Lord how you are to get involved. The Kingdom of Heaven is not yet on this earth. I think it is a good thing President Trump is doing. But the New Jerusalem will not land in America. America may be a blessed nation by Almighty God that we should give thanks for, but it is not His Kingdom. Let us labor with all our might towards that end. We must live with an eternal mind-set, not living for this age and the pleasures herein, but the age to come. It is coming! We will all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ. That Day is swiftly hurling toward us through time. We must not grow complacent. We must not grow lazy. We must labor ever more diligently for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. We must pray all the more fervently and consistently for the grand scheme and plan of God to finally be established.

We all have our hobbies. It may be sports. It may be books. It may be firearms or archery. It may be TV, Netflix, Youtube, or video games. It may be working-out or woodworking. It can be anything that keeps us from God and His mission on the earth. We must be willing to lay down these “hobbies” or idles upon the alter of God and have them burnt up and consumed. It is time for us to get serious about the things of God. The time is short. The hour is at hand. Now is no time to be playing games. Men and women of God – Stand up! Fight! Make the Great Commission your mission. Christ gave it to us. Taking the gospel of Christ to the farthest corners of the earth is our task and responsibility. Now is no time to be lax. We must be fervent and fearless, longsuffering and loving, self-controlled and servant-slaves, graceful and gritful, prayerful and peaceful. It is time we are Christians! 

What will YOUR role be in the Great Commission? Pray! Seek God’s will - then act. Remain faithful to the end.