The Real 'The End'?

The latest Sherlock Holmes movie, A Game of Shadows, is out, full of clever scenes and Sherlockian deductions. But the final scene is a classic, obvious lead-into probable future movies.

Watson has just completed writing up his reminisces of Holmes’ last case and deadly battle with the archenemy  Moriarty in which the great detective was – seemingly –  killed at the famous Reichenbach Falls. We see a saddened Dr Watson typing the usual wrap-up line...THE END.

Without spoiling the story for those who haven’t as yet seen the movie, after the good doctor leaves his study, ‘a mysterious figure’ adds a question mark to that conclusion, making it read THE END?

Christians caught up with a false ‘the end’!
Such a simple addition makes all the difference in many matters!  As dictionaries explain, it means a doubt or ignorance is implied, or it draws attention to a possible mistake. And this leads to the following concern:

For some time now, but especially since last year’s cataclysmic disasters in the southern hemisphere, some Christians began wondering if the end of the world is virtually on us - the end as in ‘End Times.’

Some churches have been pushing this for some time and it’s currently being picked up again by others. Beyond Sunday church, quite a few Christians make it a centrepiece in their conversations as if ‘the end’ was just on our doorstep. And, adding fuel to the fire, there have been some outlandish prophecies regarding end times. 

We like what an old friend, Lee Grady, wrote in his Boxing Day Fire in my Bones article: 

'Some people are terrified of 2012. They worry because the Mayans of ancient Mexico mysteriously ended their 5,126-year-old calendar on December 21, 2012 - as if they expected the world to end that day. This silly hypothesis became the basis for several New Age books and a goofy disaster movie, 2012.

'I'm not afraid of December 21, 2012 because 1) Ancient Mayans never actually said the world would end in 2012 - and even if they did, they didn't have an inside track to God: 2) Doomsday predictions have never been accurate; and 3) Jesus holds the future in his hands.'  (www.charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones)

Misinformed Christians
But sadly several misinformed Christians, even leaders, with minimal biblical understanding about Bible interpretation, feel unsure about the future and about plans for 2012, let alone 2013 and future years!

Despondency has come about, as has a lack of trusting God for good tomorrows, enjoying life to the max, and getting on with what Jesus wants them to be involved with at present. Some simply don’t know what he wants of them and are afraid to make firm decisions in respect of their life this month let alone the rest of this year.

Then there are not only movie moguls making big money out of end times  confusion but book houses too with recent publications attracting gullible Christians. Not only that but so-called Bible teachers – really deceivers – have conned thousands of dollars from simpleminded followers See FAQ no. 7 in Connect (www.connectmagazine.com.au)

The bigger picture
The biblical reality of the end of the world with the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords is not as confusing as some would have us believe.

When we accepted Christ as Saviour he didn’t whisk us off to heaven. We’ve been left on earth to fulfil whatever he graciously gives us to achieve that will build his church and assist in fulfilling the great commission!

Personally we grew up in a generation that repeatedly harped on about what it thought was ‘the’ truth – that ‘Jesus could return tonight.’ As young people way back then it kind of scared us into being super good. It was years before we learned to check out if what big-name preachers said actually lined up with the written word of God. And that was before our Bible college days!

Like others who have done likewise, my eyes were opened to the real truth, and of course Jesus himself said, ‘The truth will set you free.’

So what is the truth about end times?

Truth has two sides
This comes as a shock to many white and black thinkers, so ... quickly to the point. Yes, we could be in the end times and the great THE END could happen. But, on the other hand, THE END hasn’t happened or I wouldn’t be still here writing this and you wouldn’t be reading it!

In Matthew 24:3 Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘What will be the sign of your arrival and of the end (Note: ‘THE END’) of the world?’ (Moffatt). Jesus’ immediate response (v4) was ‘Watch out for doomsday deceivers’ (Msge). He then went on to warn of all sorts of unavoidable end time disasters and added ‘Do not be alarmed. These have to come, but it is not the end yet’ (Moffatt).

And in Mark 13: 32 he emphatically states regarding his return and the real end times, ‘The exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father’ (Msge).

So there it is for us today... we’re in what seems like end times but not in the end times – yet!
Church history tells of many times when deceivers – and not just spurious groups and their leaders – but within the traditional accepted church itself, have falsely declared the end time, the big THE END, is here (Check even Google). Over the centuries these predictions have all failed to eventuate.

Unfortunately a lot of Christians refuse to read the word of God for themselves. Their attitude is almost the old catholic stand...we pay the priest (minister), he’ll keep us right, let’s just listen to him, we don’t have to read the Bible ourselves.

Even many Pentecostals who are supposed to love the Bible default in this, don’t bring Bibles to church but rely on their pastor. They even strongly but unthinkingly quote big-name speakers beyond their own local church pastor and lead others astray.

What should we be doing in 2012?
The same as we should have been doing in 2011! Obeying Jesus’ command of Mark 13:33, ‘Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come’ (TNIV).

Being on guard means to be awake and keep vigilant.  The various Bible translations teach in Matthew 24:14 that Jesus won’t return until the gospel is preached to everyone in the whole world. That, as many Bible scholars understand it, means every people group in the world –and there are some 6,700 yet to be reached! Then that verse tells that the end will come about. The real THE END!

In staying alert we need to be focusing on everything that Jesus would have us do for him. Living life to the full yes, but living for Jesus and witnessing by ‘walking the talk.’ If we’re really involved in that, then we’ll be zeroing in on those tasks and loving the truth of the word. We won’t get sidetracked by spurious teachings.

When is the real END TIME? When we hear the Master’s welcoming ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’

Meantime a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit will keep us on our guard and about the master’s business. This means knowing what the word means for ourselves. And the Holy Spirit and a good pastor preaching from the word will help there.

THE END...no, rather THE END? Let’s move ahead this year into new adventures with the Lord against our enemy Satan, the greatest deceiver ever. Our next real-life ‘movie.’ It's time to move away from the current, spiritually deceptive 'game of shadows.'

Digging Deep!

As news agencies continue to report, we live in frightening days! This year has seen Australia's Queensland flood disaster, followed by New Zealand’s Christchurch devastation and horrendous Japan tragedies.


People are asking ‘What’s going on? Why is the world’s southern region under attack?’ The bigger picture is that disasters, including earthquakes and famines, are happening in other world regions too!

We also hear of Christians mistreated for their faith, even killed; of pastors mishandled in Asia. The list of worldwide troubles - church and commercial - goes on and on!

End times?
Some Christians are saying it’s a sign of the times. That God is bringing nations and the church itself to repentance. That Jesus is obviously coming back soon!

Maybe! But understand something biblical! No matter how convincing any world renowned prophet’s orations predict about end times, with an attached decades-old ‘Jesus could come back tonight’ - know what scripture really teaches about these disturbing times and what we should be really focusing on.

What did Jesus himself say about end times? Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 24: ‘The exact day and hour? No one knows...not even the Son. Only the Father knows’ (V36). He warned: ‘Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders ... will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumoured wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end...Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming’ (v5-8).

Worldwide events may be unsettling but Jesus said they are only routine history! In verse 14 he tells us what is really meant to be happening in every nation during these end times of crisis: ‘All during this time, the good news ... will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.’

So much still to do!
Of course Jesus could come back at any moment. But the truth is that he isn’t because there is still so much to do around the world beginning in our own suburbs! The gospel hasn’t been really staked out everywhere.


Jesus clearly said that he won’t return until every nation - ‘every Gentile’ - had been heralded with the gospel. We need to realise that globally there are still 6,782 currently unreached people groups representing 2.8 billion people. That’s 41% of the world! That includes lots of westerners!


An unreached people group is one that no one has physically gone to, doesn’t have translations of either outreach or Bible portions in its native language and doesn’t have an adequate number of indigenous believers to be a viable witness.


For years we’ve been saying that despite all our hi-tech gear almost half the world still hasn’t had an adequate gospel presentation! And that could include our own neighbourhood or suburb! There’s still much work to be done by every church and every Christian. Despite our technical gizmos we haven’t achieved what the early church did in only 24 months!

Yes, let’s deal with any sin in our lives and churches. But let’s also be  taking every opportunity to witness for Jesus and share our faith! Let’s trust God to care for us and get on with what Jesus wants us to be doing in these troubled times...Matthew 24:14, staking out our witnessing! And that includes staking out locally!

That great Australian missionary statesman, Dr George Forbes, has commented: 'I am convinced that "the end will come" when we "finish" the job of making disciples of all nations.'  

The real question today
It's not ‘Is Jesus coming back?’ but ‘Am I staking the gospel in my city, my suburb, my very church for that matter?’


Staking has several meanings, including taking a risk. When used as a transitive verb it means to secure, to mark out with stakes as in the old gold rush or oil well claiming days.


Apply this to following Jesus and doing what he wants in these days of ‘What’s going to happen next?’ and we realise that it’s time for action in our locale!


But perhaps we’re feeling inadequate or hemmed in by circumstances, enemies, opposition and Satan’s cunning. We may be thinking, ‘Hey, the troubles around me are heavy and I need a breakthrough.’ It’s okay to feel this way, but we should trust God to change the circumstances and renew us with a sense of purpose.

Our letterbox was broken, the upper portion having been damaged in a storm. A new box was purchased but before it could be staked the ‘heavy duty’ concrete that had surrounded the old one needed digging out. Our son applied a heavy plybar to that ‘enemy’, that opposition. It was tough going but he successfully dug deep.

Churches, as Acts 2 teaches, are meant to be all about fellowship. That includes members engaging in helping one another towards a common cause. Our 'church family' is there to help one another fulfil the great commission that is the heart fo God.

And God himself - the God of blessing - will help us in troubled, uncertain times as we trust him. Take Isaac for example...


Planting in famine time
Abraham’s mightily blessed son Isaac had to do some digging deep too. Isaac found himself in troubled times among the Philistines, perpetual enemies of God’s people. There was a great famine and he was tempted to move away.


Then he heard from God and obeyed in order to receive more blessings for himself and family. God told him: ‘Stay here in this land and I'll be with you and bless you’ (Gen. 26:1-3).


Isaac trusted his God and verses 13-14 reports he did something strange that achieved incredible results: ‘Isaac planted crops in that land and took in a huge harvest (A hundredfold) God blessed him. The man got richer and richer by the day until he was very wealthy.’


What was the strange thing  Isaac did as he trusted God? The Valley of Gerar (‘Subject to flooding’), where he stayed, had never produced great yields, usually only 25%. Isaac trusted God and, strangely, planted there in a time of famine. One of God’s blessings is that we too can prosper in a time of famine. This is not a time to move churches or stop tithing and generous giving!


But Isaac had also to dig deep
Satan gets jealous when God blesses us. He uses people and circumstances to upset us! Repeatedly envious Philistines clogged his wells with dirt and debris. At other times they disputed over ownership. Wells of life-giving water for Isaac’s family, servants and flocks were blocked!


But again Isaac heard from the God he trusted and envisened success. God's encouraged him this way: ‘Don’t fear a thing because I’m with you, I’ll bless you’ (v24) and Isaac had his servants successfully dig yet again, discovering a well of fresh water that caused no further troubles.


The lesson?
When God speaks to us, keep digging deep! This is a really time to trust God, to sow in a time of famine to reap a hundredfold, to dig new deeper wells and be refreshed. And if there is some rubbish, dirt and debris we need to dig out, let’s do it.

At this unsettling time in 2011 let’s pray for troubled countries, but for the gospel's sake let our major focus be on staking out all unreached territory for Jesus. (c) 2011