4 Reasons From A Pastor Why The World Will Not End Soon

Ok, so yes... another post about the End of the World. This is my third in a month. I apologise if you're getting tired of it. But I just can't help it. With so much bad news in the media in recent weeks, fear-mongering is at an all-time high. And someone needs to be a voice of reason! Especially in Christian circles, where the apocalypse has been the centre of discussion for the last 100 years or so (since World War 1).

Having said that, I do realise that I am not the authority on world events. No one is. I can assuredly tell you that there is no "prophet" on earth who could give you even a decent estimation as to how the world may "end" or when. Not even Jesus Himself laid claim to such predictions, stating "of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." (Matthew 24:36)

So the reality is this... things are volatile right now. I am very much aware of that. And things could go wrong. They could possibly get worse...

• The world's current financial systems seem to be on their last legs
• The Middle East is in turmoil
• Russia are looking to take over Northern Europe
• The USA's police force is causing mass rioting
• The list goes on

I don't know what could happen in the future. But I believe and hope that the future is brighter than what we are experiencing right now! After all, the Gospel that us Christians are meant to be believing is one that is meant to impart HOPE!

So yes; I say what I say as an optimist. One who is convinced of the goodness in society. I say it with hope. Hope that 2000 years ago Love was sown into the world and it is growing at a rapid rate. Sure, the "tares" may be growing with it (Matt. 13:24-30), but Love is the harvest. This world is not a harvest field of hate and corruption, it is a harvest field of Love. Hate and corruption are the small weeds in the field that don't deserve the credit they are getting in the media today.

Explanatory disclaimer over. Let's get to what I really believe...

These points come out of a sermon I preached on Sunday night 17 August.

1. God doesn't want His children to fear

Like any good father, God doesn't want His children to live in fear. That means that He will do everything He can to ensure His children can overcome challenges and not have to worry or fear about the future. And if worst comes to worst, we can endure painful tribulation with His supernatural strength getting us through it, knowing there is a reward of His eternal Presence on the other side of this life.

But in general, in this life, He doesn't want us living in fear. He wants us living in peace with one another, and looking forward to a bright future.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

God IS Love. It is not in His nature to perpetuate fear.

2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.


2. History is full of horrendous events, yet Jesus didn’t come back. What makes us think current events are any different? 

Think about these events for a second...


These are just a few from memory. There are many many more terrifying events that have bedevilled this planet since the crucifixion of Christ. The humans that were on the receiving end of these terrifying, apocalyptic events must've thought for sure that the end was near.

These events also seemed to fulfil many of the seeming prophecies about the End Times. But Jesus didn't come back. What makes us think current events are any more special (or worse) than these above events?


3. God has given US the world as our inheritance, so the enemy’s rise of power is both illegal & temporary

We know that hate, selfishness, greed, control, don't come from God. They are from the other camp. And this world doesn't belong to that camp. It belongs to those in the camp of Love.

Psalm 115:16
The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the children of man.

God gave earth to us humans. We gave handed it to the enemy in the garden of eden, but Jesus redeemed our title-deed and He gave it back to us. It's time we stood our ground and took this world back. This world belongs in the hands of Love.

God is not going to come back and do this for us. He is waiting for us to step up to the plate.

The promise of the Gospel includes the promise of inheriting this world!

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Galatians 3:14 then goes on to say "in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles"


4. The Gospel is a Message of Hope and Power, not fear and defeat - move in the opposite spirit!

If your faith causes you to fear the future, I doubt it is based on the Gospel the apostle Paul preached.

His faith was based on a POWERFUL, world-changing Gospel! In fact, it did indeed change the world! All until "religion" took over and got the better of it, using it for man's own selfish desires. (That's what religion does, it takes the Truth and turns it around for its own desires).

Romans 1:16 - 17 
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

My friend, I don't know about you... but I live by faith. Faith in the fact that there is more good in this world than we realise. And we will see society get better. And I can be part of that.

Will you believe with me?

-------------------- 

If this Blog inspired you and made you think a little differently to all the fear-mongering going around right now, I would love it if you could please forward it on to someone who you think could do with some encouragement. Thank you.

Keep changing the world! It's what you were born for.

Enter your Email address for Free Inspiration every Week:

Join the journey on Twitter by clicking Follow below:
Follow @jamesprestonza