The Day

There is, in basic Christianity, this notion of "the Day." It is "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1:8), the day that He returns, the day that He brings justice and eternal destruction (2 Thess 1:5-9) and the day He will "be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed." (2 Thess 1:10). We don't know the actual day that will be, but we do have signs to look for. And, brothers and sisters, there are a lot of those signs currently flashing in our world.

Signs of His return include false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, persecution, and the Great Apostasy (2 Thess 2:3). We all know the prevalence of false prophets. The rest you can see for yourself, but that last, "apostasy," is an interesting word. In Greek it is apostasia. It means literally "defection." Its root, apostasion, is the word for "divorce" in the New Testament. So it refers to the great defection, the separation, the departure from truth. And in a world where Christian churches permit atheist pastors and atheist chaplains and openly deny God's Word -- all in growing numbers -- it's hard to envision something more apostasia than today.

The author of Hebrews writes, 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb 10:23-25)

Hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering. Stir up one another to love and good works. Do not neglect gathering for fellowship. Encourage one another. These are things we should be doing all along, but "all the more" as you see the Day drawing near. Trust me. The return of Christ is nearer than it has ever been before. Are you doing these kinds of things?