Before Jesus Comes Again
Scripture Reading — Matthew 24:36-41
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
—Matthew 24:37
At one point during his ministry, the Lord Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). It’s an important question. When Jesus comes again, will people still believe? More and more people seem to be turning their backs on God and the church. A European “the-ologian” calls faith in a personal God sheer foolishness. He also “knows” that the resurrection never happened and that there is no life after death. Millions of people are buying in to that kind of thinking.
Today’s reading mentions an indifference to the gospel before Jesus comes again. It will be “as it was in the days of Noah,” says Jesus, with people going about their everyday lives without any regard for God.
In 2 Timothy 3:2-5 the apostle Paul writes that in the last days, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive … having a form of godliness but denying its power.” False religions, selfishness, and a thirst for material things will rule the day.
I recently heard a pastor mention three tools that Satan uses today to draw people away from God: government, religion, and materialism. He called the church to fight today’s indif-ference with prayer and by spreading God’s Word. We need to ask ourselves, “What are we doing to bring God’s Word to those who do not care?”
Father in heaven, use each one of us to bring the good news to those who need to hear it. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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