A pastor asked a church member what he thought the biggest problem in the church at large was: ignorance or apathy? The man replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” 😬
From the book Until He Comes, by Amir Tsarfati & Barry Stagner
The world today isn’t normal. That is if, like me, you grew up in America in the 1950s and 1960s. Please just indulge me for a moment as I give you a glimpse into my childhood.
I grew up in New Jersey and attended public school. Every morning, we started the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer.
In elementary school, every Wednesday (during school hours) we all went to church for Bible study. We walked in a line to the church of our choice. Some to the Baptist church, some to the Methodist church, and some to the Catholic church. (No one thought this was odd. It was just what we did.)
At lunch, we either went home to eat or (if you were lucky and had money) you could go to The Luncheonette. They made delicious hamburgers, which we often flattened with our plate. (I don’t know why.) The Luncheonette was packed with boisterous elementary students laughing and talking loudly. Can you imagine?
For all 12 grades, we walked to and from school every day. (We didn’t have school buses.) We thought this was fun because it gave us the chance to be with our friends.
Now there’s something I must confess. I wasn’t a perfect child. It’s true. In fact, in 7th grade, I got after-school detention for shooting a rubber band across the room! (I was mortified!)
Girls were not allowed to wear pants, and boys were not allowed to wear jeans. (Yes, Public School!)
Abortion was illegal. No one had even heard of transgender ideology, using the correct pronouns, or LBGTQ. Men could not marry men, and women could not marry women.
The average score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) peaked in 1963–1964. Today, 12th-grade reading and math scores are at historic lows.
The U.S. has changed drastically in my lifetime! It is quite shocking to have watched this with my own eyes! So, what does it mean? Why does it matter?
It matters because something of epic proportions is happening in our world. The Bible warns us about what will happen in the last days. Jesus told the Pharisees,
“You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:3b
So, yes, it is necessary to interpret the signs of the times. We do that by carefully studying the Bible, not by reading books written by those who rely on their own opinions, what they claim “God told them”, and false teaching. Discernment is vitally important.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-8
The difference between what was normal then and what is normal now is striking. Is God warning the church to wake up? You decide.
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
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