Our Focus
A few weeks ago, two friends of mine within a few days of each other posted the same viewpoint on what Christians should be focused on regarding the "End Times." Both posts said, "Imagine if our Christian view of the End Times was centered on preparing for Christ rather than the anti-christ, on the mark of the Lamb rather than the beast, on preparing for the redeeming of the earth rahtn than escaping it, on hope rather than fear." I couldn't be more in agreement with that statement. I responded to the post sharing what Jesus clearly stated we should be focused on in Acts chapter one.
In the book of Acts chapter one, just before Jesus ascension to heaven, the disciples asked Jesus, "Lord will You at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus response was, "It is NOT for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in His own power. But you will receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall BE WITNESSES unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter most part of the earth."
Note that Jesus said to BE WITNESSES. It's not just about witnessing, it's about being witnesses. The word witness there has in it's meaning to testify to the truth, to be proof evidence. We are called to testify to the truth, but the most effective way to testify to the truth is to be His proof and evidence. The only way we can be His proof and evidence that Jesus is who He says He is, the only way we can be His proof that He rose from the dead, is for us to become more and more like Him. The only way to become more and more like Him is to have as intimate relationship with Him as possible.
I'm not saying we have to be absolutely perfect. But to be His witnesses means we have to focus on our relationship with Him. Everything else MUST be secondary at best. Jesus is telling his disciples (and us) to be focused on HIM, not what's going to happen. He says point blank-it's NOT for us to know what the Father has put in His own power. Our focus is to be on HIM not the so called end times. I've been walking with the Lord for 48 years (and by saying that, I'm not trying to say I'm more spiritual than anyone else, or that I know more than anyone else) and in all this time, all the "End Time's" experts and "prophesy pundits" have been wrong. Which alone means, since there's been "End Times" experts and "prophesy pundits" before I became a Christian, they've been wrong longer than 48 years. That's a pretty abysmal record, you ask me. It show's that what Jesus said is true, "It's NOT for us to know the times and the seasons that the Father has put in His own power."
I'm not against teaching doctrine, and I'm not calling the "End times" experts or "prophesy pundits" false teachers or false prophets. Many of them teach and preach out of the sincerity of their hearts. However, over all, we need to let go of our favorite pet doctrines and focus on Him, and focus on becoming like Him.
Generally speaking, many of us (including myself) purse our pleasures. We've become a pleasure seeking society. Unfortunately that is infiltrated Christianity. The pleasures we seek will never fulfill us the way Jesus will fulfill us. We've got to get back to pursing Him and allow Him to transform us into His image like never before by yielding to His Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit like never before. We have got to become more focused on His Word so that HIs Word and the Holy Spirit can renew our minds. If you don't agree with this, then pray for me.
Love & God bless, Pastor Paul.