I think Alan thought it would be humorous to give me a passage that carries with it interpretive controversy. I have not been shy to speak out on my views of the rapture, end times, and Kirk Cameron. Well, for the sake of his sermon on Sunday, I will only indirectly give my understanding of what is going on in these verses.
As stated in verse 26, those who were swept away in the flood are the ones who perished and suffered God’s wrath and those who were righteous were spared. Same as the time of Lot. Christ sets up his statement on those who are “taken” with those stories, hinting that those who are taken away are the ones who are experiencing God’s wrath through judgement. He even goes on to confirm this when the disciples ask “Where, Lord?” This question can only be referring to those who are taken. And Christ answer clearly points to those who are dead, stating that it is where the vultures eat the corpse.
Christ’s whole point in all this is how vital living out the Christian faith is. That it is in sense “losing our life.” Without looking back. Christ saved me when I was 19, and involved in a sundry of activities that would be clearly labeled un-Christian. Being young in my faith, it was extremely hard not to look back, and avoid being tempted by the same things that I enjoyed as my ‘old self.’ Living out your faith should be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. If its not difficult, you may need to ask yourself how much have you really lost your life for the sake of Christ. Do you really feel like your life belongs to God, or do you feel like you’ve just given over a few things to God, but haven’t allowed Him to truly be Lord. There’s no partiality in Christ’s statement about losing your life. Its an all or nothing statement.
May 20th, 2009 - 7:21 am
Chris,
“Pre-trib or post? Not sure we can fellowship unless you are pre-trib… Well I’m an amillennialist and I’m not sure I can worship with either of you…” Been in these arguments.
You hit the nail on the head. How are we living? 2 Peter 3: 11-12. As a friend of mine once remarked, “I’m a pan-millennialist. It’s all going to pan out in the end.”
May 20th, 2009 - 7:22 am
you are a funny man. chicken, but funny!! come on… let’s hear your calvinistic, post-millenial rantings!!!
jk…
thanks for this, Chris. may i lose my life on this day… and offer no sacrifices to God unless it cost me something.
blessings!
alan
May 20th, 2009 - 7:22 am
Sunday should be a good sermon. I do love to look at the end times passages so I won’t be caught by surprise. Even if I don’t get all my questions answered. It seems that the busier life gets the more I try and take back instead of letting God drive. It is the busy times when I don’t spend time alone with God and miss out on being grounded. Praise God He loves me even when…
Thanks Chris
We got another e-mail from John Jr. He loved the children’s home in Tumaini. He is in Karatina which is in Nyeri and heads back to Nairobi today. He’ll be home next Monday. thank you for praying with me for him.
May 20th, 2009 - 8:14 am
Thanks Chris…for the reminder & clarification around the importance and reality of the ongoing, purposeful, struggling, all-inclusive, and daily release and forfeiture of my life to Christ. The cool thing is, when I do…more real life comes my way. It’s just tough to stay in that mode…so praise God for his grace. Oh the tension of the Christian life. Thanks again for these words my friend.
May 21st, 2009 - 12:03 am
Alan, yep, I confess I am chicken on this subject. That’s because I cannot outrun anyone anymore. I exhausted my post-millennial rants using Hendrickson’s “More Than Conquerors” to swat heads – seemed logical at the time. But then I journeyed through “Revelation Unveiled” with Lehaye – so spiritual. Studied it with several great teachers. I guess I am suffering ETAP: End Times Analysis Paralysis, so I’m hanging with the “pans” for now, and have returned to the Book. “The Bible sheds a lot of light on them commentaries.”
Looking forward to Sunday.
May 21st, 2009 - 4:30 am
When I was younger, I read this verse and thought, “I need to make sure I’m the one that is taken.” For whatever theology or ideaology, it was a great motivator to know that salvation was only a choice away. When I read this verse now it reminds me of God’s promises and God’s coming victory. And I can’t help but think, “who is with me that will still be sitting on their roof?” Whatever it is that I believe about the end times, what am I doing for the ones that I love?
May 21st, 2009 - 6:34 pm
Chris,
It is amazing how true that verse it! God will make it so apparent if you aren’t living out your faith and I feel that lesson alone is tough. Thanks for the reminder!
December 29th, 2009 - 12:23 am
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December 29th, 2009 - 10:35 pm
A couple of non-connected thoughts that are always near the surface with this particular subject:
Nothing about the conclusion of existence as we know it has an iota to do with my obedience today.
People who turn the perishing of billions into fiction for entertainment and profit are not necessarily people I’m interested in knowing.
And a two parter: there’s a great deal more about how it all ends before you get to Revelation, but that’s where people’s attention turns (as well it should with six hooved, five eyed and three horned flying creatures eating scrolls, trudging through honey and whatever else they do whilst speaking indecipherable truths). And as utterly other as Revelation is, I don’t feel in the least bit released from it. That’s a part of the required daily obedience that I’ve at least learned to accept that I’m going to struggle with.
At least I have my Left Behind Snuggie to keep me warm.