Have
you seen those National Geographic shows about Doomsday
Preppers?
Each show features people preparing to survive the end of the world.
Each show presents a different scenario. Lot's of money and time are
sacrificed on an altar of paranoia.
Our
fascination with the end of the world makes us vulnerable to cults,
charlatans and false prophets. It
was only two years ago that Harold
Camping
convinced large numbers of people that the rapture would be May 21,
2011. Many of them quit their jobs and spent their savings.
Jesus
warns us not to be fooled by signs and false prophets but, rather, to
preach the gospel:
“Many
will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive
many.” (Mark
13:4)
Wars,
rumors of war and natural disasters are fuel for the doomsayers.
Remember the media frenzy surrounding the Swine Flu? And the Asian
Flu? And AIDS? And Herpes? The 1918
flu killed 100 million (6% of the world's population.) It was the
worst medical holocaust in history but it wasn't the end.
In
the midst of speaking about end-time scenarios, Jesus states that
first the gospel must be preached. (Mark
13:10)
Jesus reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing.
God
will bring history to an end at a time and in a manner of His
choosing. It is a day feared by some but welcomed by God's people.
Jesus gives us words of encouragement. They are not meant to spark
the imagination of false prophets nor create new theologies.
Jesus
tells us that we are to first preach the gospel
- even in times of tribulation from war, disease and disaster
- even when the government turns against us
- even though everyone hates you
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