And Then The End

It seems like every night on the news I see stories about California being on fire. Nasty fires burning thousands and thousands of acres. Sometime during the news story I usually say, "And then the end will come." Why?

I got those words from this passage of scripture in the Book of Matthew. See if this doesn't sound like California.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:9-14

It certainly seems like we are nearing the end of things, especially if you live in California. Here in Wisconsin however, we just received our first snowfall. Everything was a beautiful snowy white yesterday morning. So peaceful. Almost the exact opposite of what it's like in California.

From my point of view it's hard to figure out why anyone would want to live in California these days. Yes, it can be beautiful (when it's not smoldering or shaking) but it is also a hot bed of some of the most radical behavior and beliefs on the planet.

The Bible talks about things like what's going on in California and then it says that "all these things have to happen." The earthquakes, famines, wars, the increase of wickedness. All these things are a foretaste of things to come. And it will no doubt be even worse than it is now.

How do I know that this is not really the end of the world? That's an easy question. It's the Christians. We are still here! But imagine a world with all these natural disasters going on and even more evil in it. And no Christians! No churches, no faith-based relief organizations. Imagine a world so desperately in need of Jesus.

And then the end will come.

If you are not a believer in Christ, please consider becoming one today. People die everyday on this planet, most of whom do so quite unexpectedly. Those who die without placing their faith in Jesus will get to spend eternity walking through fires like those blazing in California.

Or, you could spend it in a place filled with peace, the air will be crisp and clean, and there will be no more war, forever. Which would you choose?

California's Burning - Tom Caves