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Topic: Minute(s) (as in time) (03/03/11)
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TITLE: Not a minute too soon. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sam Jones
03/07/11 -
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“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mathew 24:36). Here we find Jesus speaking to his disciples about his return; when he will leave heaven once again, and proclaim his kingdom here on earth; to fulfill his promise to both rule and save, and to hold to account the just and unjust alike, offering eternal judgment both in life and death.
Many throughout history have made predictions concerning this end of the world, while even more are eager to know of its time and place for concern of their lives and how they choose to live it. However, Jesus makes it quite clear that no one knows the day or the hour except for the Father; in fact, he tells us neither the angels in heaven nor the Son of Man (Jesus himself), knows the timing of his triumphant return. Therefore, we can’t possibly know the day or hour of the second coming of Christ, but we can be assured it will not take place a minute too soon.
It has been said that Jesus did not come to preach the gospel, but came so there would be a gospel to preach. While he was indeed a great teacher of Gods abundant mercy and grace, his place on earth was to serve mankind by offering a way to eternal life. In doing so, he became the sacrifice each of us needs to receive our free gift of salvation through our faith in him; therefore, those of us who know Christ and his selfless decision to fulfill the Fathers plan are blessed with the knowledge and truth that saves; thus, Christ became the gospel – the good news to be preached to the ends of the earth. Unfortunately, there are still many that do not know of this truth; in fact, there are many, who have not even heard the name Jesus spoken among them; moreover, they don’t know of the gospel, as they have never heard of the good news.
While Jesus was speaking to his disciples on the Mount of Olives, he spoke of the many things to come that would be signs of his imminent return. He spoke of wars and rumors of wars. He spoke of earthquakes, famines, and false prophets. He told them to prepare and likened his return to that of a thief in the night. He told them to “keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Mathew 24:42). He told them that only the Father knows the day and hour of his return; however, we can be assured it will not be a minute too soon.
You see; God loves his children, each and every one of us. No matter the right or wrong we choose to do, he loves us just the same. So much in fact “…that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Three days after the sacrifice and death of our Lord Jesus on a cross, he rose to life and spoke to his disciples saying “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mathew 28:19). His command was to preach the gospel, the good news, to all nations. He knew that many had not heard of him and this free gift of life; therefore, he called those who had, to reach out to those who had not; those whom are lost and wandering along the path which leads to destruction; those whom do not know Christ to this very day. Consequently, according to Gods love for his children, his desire for all to be saved by our belief in the everlasting life offered through our faith in Jesus Christ, and the vast numbers of people who have not yet heard the good news of his gospel, we can be assured of one thing; while we may not know the day or hour of Christ’s return, we can firmly believe, it will not be a minute too soon.
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