By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #376 ~
You may wonder what God wants you to do in the end-times. What you must realize is that God told you everything you need to know about how to live for Him. He wants you to know these things so you can be fully equipped to serve Christ in these final years before His coming. Last week, I listed 12 key words that describe your identity, truths foundational to knowing how to live for Christ.
There are 20 more verses relating to the character God wants you to have and the work He wants you to do. What’s amazing about these verses is that every single one is in the context of Christ’s coming. Let me say that again – every single one is in the context of Christ’s coming. But why all this instruction about how we are to live for our Lord in the final years of this church age?
1. All these verses add weight to the Biblical evidence, to the fact of Christ’s coming.
2. All these verses emphasize the supreme importance of Christ’s coming.
3. These verses stress the need to not just know what will be happening, but how we are to live for God.
4. God tells us all these verses because He wants us to be properly trained to live all out for Him.
5. These verses, and those from the previous post, will help you train succeeding generations about Christ’s coming, most significantly, the last generation.
6. These verses are instructive for all Christians during this church age, but are particularly relevant in these end-times. At this time in history, God wants us be at the top of our game, to be fighting for Christ, to be world-class Christians, to be champions for Christ.
Let’s look at these verses:
Be Alert – “What I say to you, I say to all, ‘Be on the alert’” (Mark 13:37, Matt. 24:42). In His Word, God wrote out several things that will occur before Christ returns to rapture the church, and you are not to be spiritually asleep or drowsy, but you are to be awake and alert, to be on the lookout for all these things to happen.
Analyze – “You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?” (Luke 12:56, 1 Chr. 12:32). You must be discerning, you must put on your critical-thinking hat, and notice these events taking place, and know that what’s happening spiritually, morally, economically, geo-politically, and governmentally, is actually fulfilling God’s prophetic word.
Comfort One Another – “So we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18, Rom. 8:18-25). When times get tough, especially when there is great tribulation, it is imperative to comfort and encourage one another. One way you do this is by reminding fellow believers of the hope God has given them, specifically, that they will soon “be with the Lord.”
Be Discerning – “Let no one in any way deceive you” (Matt. 24:42, 2 Thess. 2:3). In these end times, the devil continually lies about Christ’s coming and the details of it. And he works through those who are naïve, ignorant, or evil. It’s critical that you are not deceived, but that you discern what is true and what is false – and this happens by having a good, clear grasp of God’s end-times’ prophetic word.
Endure – “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matt. 24:13, Rev. 13:10). Life will be extremely challenging in these end-times, especially during the rule of the Antichrist and the time of great tribulation. And God wants you to endure, to not grow weary, to not give up, but to keep going, to stay the course, to persevere to the end of your life or the end of this age.
Do Not Fear – “Do not fear what you are about to suffer… be faithful until death” (Rev. 2:10, Eph. 6:10-13). The flesh is prone to fear and worry, but God tells you not to fear, not to worry, even when there is great persecution and people are dying. Be strong and courageous, and do the work God wants you to do – and no matter what happens, whether you live or die, you will soon be with the Lord. Phil. 1:21
Have Faith – “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). In the last years before the rapture, life will be most difficult – there will be lawlessness, wars, earthquakes, famines, the Antichrist, and great persecution. And you must trust God. You must depend on Him and believe His promises. You must rely on Him for grace, peace, wisdom, strength, direction, protection, etc.
Be Faithful – “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?” (Matt. 24:45, 25:19-23). A servant of God has faith, and therefore is faithful – he is trustworthy, reliable, dependable. God can count on him to carry out the work He wants him to do. Then the Master will say, “Well done, good and faithful slave.” Matt. 25:21
Be in Fellowship – “Not forsaking our own assembling together… but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25). You are part of a church family, a body of believers, and you need others and others need you. The closer we get to Christ’s return, the tougher the times will get, and we need to love, serve, and encourage one another. Heb. 3:12-13
Be Holy – “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” (2 Pet. 3:11, 1 Pet. 1:16). This instruction is vital – do not be fleshly or worldly, say no to temptation, confess your sins, be filled with the Spirit, and live a holy life. A sanctified person is “useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21
Have hope – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, Rom. 8:18-25, Rev. 22:12). When there is tribulation, you need hope – you must know that it’s infinitely and eternally worth it to live all out for God. And this is your hope: you will be with Jesus, be with believers, be in heaven, be in a new body, be perfect, and be rewarded.
Love Jesus – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength” (Mark 12:30, Job 19:25-27). The most important thing you can do is to love Jesus, to praise Him, thank Him, honor Him, sing to Him – and then you will truly live for Him. Then you can say, “I can’t wait to see Jesus in His glory as He bursts from the sky.” Pat Terry
Love One Another – “The end of all things is near… above all, keep fervent in your love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:8). Loving one another is one of the main ways you live for God in these final years. This will be especially true during great tribulation. You love by being a good example, by sharing the truth, by being patient, kind, gentle, humble, compassionate, forgiving, forbearing, encouraging, and loyal.
Be obedient – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance” (1 Pet. 1:14-16; Jn. 14:21, 23). You show your love for God by obeying Him. And you obey God by trusting Him, loving Him, praying to Him, serving Him, using your gift, sharing the gospel, making disciples, and telling others what you know about the end-times and Christ’s coming.
Pray – “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (1 Pet. 4:7, Eph. 6:18). The storm will rage before the Son appears in the sky – and you must pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come” (Matt. 6:9-10). You must ask God for help, faith, strength, wisdom, courage, endurance, etc. And you must intercede for others.
Be Ready – “You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44, 25:10). Jesus is coming soon, and He wants you to be ready, prepared, equipped. He wants you to put on the full armor of God, and to be holy, obedient, ready to love, ready to serve, ready for opportunities, and ready and waiting to see Jesus Christ, your Lord, Savior, and King.
Be Sensible – “Who then is the faithful and sensible servant, whom his master put in charge of his servants…” (Matt. 24:45, 1 Chr. 12:32). A sensible person is thoughtful, knowledgeable, wise, and prudent. You are to not only know what will be taking place in the end-times, but you are to make the right decisions, and then you will truly live for God and help others live for God. Phil. 1:9-11
Serve God – “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Th. 1:9, Matt. 25:14). The humble person is a servant of God, is God’s slave, and he desires to serve Him. In these last years, there will be great hardship, but don’t go by how you think or feel, but walk by faith, sacrifice your life for God – do what He wants you to do, serve Him by loving and serving others.
Be Sober – “Let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Th. 5:6, Rom. 13:11-14). Do not be asleep, do not be fleshly, worldly, or stained by sin. Do not be ignorant of God’s prophetic word and what’s happening in the world around you. Be righteous, self-controlled, awake, and alert to what’s taking place. Set your heart on Jesus Christ, on His work, and on His coming.
Be Waiting for Christ – “Wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus” (1 Th. 1:10, 1 Cor. 1:7). As the days grow dark, as there’s hate, betrayal, hardship, and death, be aware of the signs that are occurring, and be waiting, be looking for Jesus. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” Ps. 27:14
I encourage you to print out these last two posts for yourself, your family, your friends, and your church. They clearly spell out what God wants you to know at this time and as we draw closer to Christ’s coming. But it’s not just a matter of knowing them, but being who God wants you to be, of doing what He wants you to do, of being a well-trained and equipped soldier for Christ, a special-ops Christian. “Onward Christian Soldiers…”
I am so thankful God did not leave us on our own and did not leave us uninformed and ignorant with regards to the last years of this age. Not only did God tell you what to do, but Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will always be with you, will never leave you or forsake you. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). “Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.” Psalm 73:21-23
P.S. I love the fact that God has clearly told us what will be happening and how we are to live for Him. Here are two articles on this subject: “The Excellent End-Times’ Worker” and “Wholeheartedly Working for God in the End-Times.”