“An Important Indicator: How Close Are You to the Lord?”

AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR?

A PRIME INDICATOR?

I’LL LET YOU DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.

IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

LORD AS CLOSE AS IT SHOULD BE?

IS IT AS CLOSE AS IT NEEDS TO BE FOR

YOUR INCLUSION AMONG THE “FEW”

WHO WILL BE SAVED, OR THE “MANY”

WHO WILL BE REJECTED AT THE TIME

OF JUDGEMENT?

IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE

“CONTENTS” OF THE BIBLE ADEQUATE

TO DISCERN HOW TO ANSWER THESE

QUESTIONS?

The Holy Spirit brought to my recollection the opinions I’ve heard from people over the last few years concerning the discussion of end-of-days events.

I have heard several people, in YouTube videos and on LinkedIn, who have said that since nobody knows the day or the hour of Jesus’ return that we shouldn’t even worry about watching for the return of Jesus at all; he will return when he returns.

They went on to say that watching was a waste of time and that your energy would be better spent preaching the gospel.

A person’s thinking on this very topic, I believe, is a “PRIME INDICATOR” of a person’s overall relationship with the Lord; how in harmony they are with God’s thinking, his plan for the world, and their knowledge of God’s revealed Truth in the Bible.

At this point I think it’s helpful to consider this CAREFULLY in recognition of the times Jesus instructed us to be watchful.

At the same time, we also need to evaluate whether the gospel we are presenting to the world is the gospel Jesus demands being presented.

This same Jesus who said that no man knows the day or the hour, tells us to be watching and waiting for his soon return.

This same Jesus who told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow him gave us the very definition of the gospel (which you won’t hear in many denominational American churches today).

Jesus is our only Teacher and our final Judge.

Jesus taught us to confess, repent, and surrender the remaining part of our lives to obeying his teachings and to continue the mission of his Father, making disciples of the entire world. We are to become a “living sacrifice.”

Instead, many churches proliferate the message that it’s all God’s grace. That salvation is all God and none of you, that you bring nothing to the table. “You don’t have to stop sinning because you can’t, even if you tried. You just have to believe” they say.

But Jesus says:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s not a stretch to make a connection here. Many who tell us not to discuss end-of-days prophecy are probably spending their time spreading the “it’s all grace” gospel, which is a false gospel.

The connecting links between these two topics is our knowledge of God’s revealed word (the Bible) and our relationship with him.

My hope is that you will prayerfully consider.

And read the Bible more.

May the Holy Spirit guide you.

Greg’s passion for Bible study began when his wife, Janel, introduced him to a local men’s BSF group. The daily discipline of God’s Word drew him into closer fellowship with the Lord and inspired him to share Scripture-based reflections on LinkedIn. His mission is to encourage believers to study the Bible for themselves, examine their faith, and live with the assurance of eternal life in Christ. Greg and Janel live in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and enjoy time with their two married children, Emily and Jordan, and their grandson, Jack.

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