Bug Eyed and Eager

On the new Iron Maiden album ( yes as like I said before , I still listen to some secular music) there is a song called Where The Wild Wind Blows. The readers digest version is the news is over obsessed with the end times and an older couple in the grips of fear , seeing signs everywhere , prepare a shelter . When they think a nuclear blast has occurred , they lock themselves in. In a moment of despair , knowing that life is over for them , they drink tea. At the very end of the song we find out that what they mistook for a blast was a earthquake and the tea had poison in it . They died in each others arms.

Now in todays world we see end times predictions all the time . Plus with the whole 2012 Mayan calender craze , I'm sure it will get a little loopy. We have always had these type of hysteria. Just read a little history and we can find all sorts of groups and cults , throwing out end of times predictions. Even the secular media have had there own Pope of doomsday , Al Gore with the global warming mania. So it goes deep.

But what gets on my nerves  the most are the late night Christian doom sayers , who twist and manipulate scripture to suit the latest fad. I can still recall one getting overly excited at something that was going on in the middle east at the moment. They are so obsessed with the end times that it makes the gospel a side issue when it should be the central truth. The people who follow these ministries become so engrossed , that they end up like the couple in the song. They are unable to use common sense and discern. Its like they are unhinged from reality.

There is no question about it, history is moving towards an end. The Lord is coming back. The day of the Lord is mentioned over and over again in the Bible. Jesus will return. But we need to keep it in  perspective. If we do not we can ignore the task at hand of sharing the gospel,enjoying fellowship and standing amazed at God's creation.

The Thessalonian Church seems to have been a bit obsessed over the second coming. Some within the Church  were idle , perhaps stopping work, thinking the second coming is close ( this is one view and with the emphasize on the end times, this I believe makes the most sense). What Paul does is tell them to get back to work. Not to be idle. He does tell them to be aware that Christ is coming and be ready. However not to over think it. After all it will be like a thief in the night .

So may we have our eyes open , realizing that there is an urgency in each day , knowing that it is drawing closer but may we see as well the good works , the gospel sharing , the joy of fellowship and be busy about what God has called us to be ,light and salt in a dieing world . Calling sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus, till that day comes.