Last Days Advice

Several years ago, while perusing my local used bookstore, I came across an antique hardcover volume entitled “The Last Days.” Published in 1851 this book detailed contemporary events which, at the time of publication, pointed to the immediate collapse of society and our planet. Complete with illustrations, this thick book featured depictions of men adorned with top hats standing by horse drawn carriages and parasol-wielding ladies, looking into the sky as stars rained upon the town. It cited newly developed gunnery which could launch projectiles almost a full mile as proof that world destruction would soon befall them. Of course the author was completely right, though his timeline was a tad off. Societal destruction and terror did indeed engulf our planet several times since this book’s publication. Two world wars, the near obliteration of the Jews of Europe, worldwide earthquakes, ravaging pandemics, and civil unrest all came to pass.

There’s much discussion these days regarding the coming apocalypse. Everywhere we look we discover copious quantities of conflicting opinions and predictions surrounding the end of the world. Our society is inundated with constant noise on last days’ prophecy, signs of the end times, and the imminent collapse of major world powers (Matthew 24:6). All this alarm has, understandably, put everyone on edge and cast a very dark shadow this new election year. The shelves explode with soothsayer material, prognosticating interpretations on the book of Revelations and doomsday hypotheses. The so called “prepper” craze now includes both conservative and liberal populations, turning an already booming industry into a worldwide phenomenon (Matthew 16:25). Social media is ablaze with debates over the identity of the four horseman and which member of the royal family might in fact be the antichrist. The sky is falling and there seems to be no suitable shelter in sight.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins, and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

In his correspondence with young Timothy, the Apostle Paul provided a detailed prediction on the end of the world. He did not discuss any divine visions or astounding signs and wonders that would shake earth’s foundations but rather the state of men’s hearts. This insightful list requires no major explanation or super spiritual interpretation (Matthew 16:3). Stated simply, the end of days will see darkness (which emanates from our wicked hearts) encrust our souls and plunge us ever deeper into the foul abyss of our selves. We don’t have to look far to see all these things already coming to pass. A casual scroll through your favorite social media platform reveals the horrifying worship of self, money, pleasure, and corruption which fester in the hearts of man. Our brutish and abusive behavior is most assuredly self-evident. The absence of genuine empathy and the hatred of God increasingly invade both the general populous and even our church congregations (Matthew 24:12).

While the collapse of democracies and organized religion certainly foretells the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, these in themselves are only rumblings of the destruction to come (Matthew 24:4-8). Empires have risen and fallen for several millennia. Persecution of the devout along with the oppressed minority have always plagued civilizations. Many antichrists have come and gone and every generation has its curbside prophets declaring the time is indeed at hand (1 John 2:18). Yet, since His ascension into heaven, Christ has been actively returning. Every aspect of profound Biblical prophecy from Daniel to John the Revelator, has come to pass, is coming to pass, and will come to pass soon. The questions remain: what is in your heart and will you be ready?

Paul’s warning of men having an “appearance of godliness, but denying it’s power” remains one of the darkest last days’ attributes on the list. It speaks of the hypocrisy which deceives our hearts and dupes us into believing we’re ready for Christ’s return. However, it’s clear all our theological knowledge, devotion to prayer, generous giving, love of country and family, remain insufficient to save us. Too many still manifest only a “form” of righteousness while our lives and actions reveal we’ve yet to begin rudimentary discipleship. Modern virtues and Christianity can take many forms. For most, it’s simply the appearance of having everything in its proper place. Patriotism and faith rank with marriage and family on the priority chart (Luke 14:26). For others, a “sold out for Jesus” lifestyle with all its heartfelt worship and passionate self-sacrifice, props up yet another form of superficial godliness. Still others take on a godlike persona that manifests in a self-righteous, pharisaic, “holier than thou” existence. All of which deny the power of Christ to transform us into His image (James 1:22). We appear to know what we are talking about, but the breath of the Holy Spirit fails to fill our hearts and we lack divine spark.

Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying, and selling, planting, and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

Luke 17:28-33 (ESV)

Consider for a moment the full summation of your life to date. Your upbringing, education, places you’ve lived, people you’ve known, and your loved ones. Think further on your accomplishments, triumphs, failures, secret sins, achieved goals, and accumulated belongings. Additionally, consider the lives you’ve touched, cared for, and prayed over. Now, ask yourself how much of your life was spent for you and how much for the honor of Jesus (Daniel 5:27)? If we were to place on a balance scale these two lived categories, which direction would your life tilt? If we’re truly honest with ourselves, I’m afraid we should declare the scale tips fully to a life primarily consumed by self-love . Even the most perfected saint concedes all righteous sacrifice remains only filthy rubbish compared to the holiness of the calling (Philippians 3:8, Isaiah 64:6).

When the final day arrives the reflex of our allegiance will reveal just how much of our life we surrendered and how much we sought to preserve. The pursuits that fill our lives today inform us exactly what will anchor our souls when Christ comes to claim His own. The more we relinquish now the better prepared we will be when the entire world turns on us and the kingdom is at hand (Mark 1:15). Those who lay down their desires and selfish pursuits today will be ready to abandon all for the name of Jesus tomorrow. While prudence may require some limited necessity preparation (Proverbs 27:12), all the best prepper advice in the world will not hold back the tsunami of sin headed our way. Instead of frantically preparing to hold onto our lives, let us strengthen our hearts to surrender everything for the gospel. Take Paul’s last days advice and begin to rid yourself of those things which plague these turbulent times. Prepare for the moment of His return, liven your constitution for the days ahead and set your mind on things above where your treasure is found (Ephesians 5:14, Matthew 6:20). The peace of Christ be with all whose hope rests in Him.