SEARCHLIGHT
What will the last days on earth look like before Jesus Christ raptures believers?
SCRIPTURE
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Judges 21:25 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Here is the key to understanding the Book of Judges. People lived by a 5-word motto: ‘JUST DO WHAT YOU WANT.” The Scripture verse above describes how the people of Israel behaved for hundreds of years. Everyone did just as he or she saw fit. Judges 2:12-15 reveals more detail about the hearts of the people. The Bible says, “They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.”
What a sad, horrible picture. Their society was marked by increased wickedness, a collapse of moral standards, along with false teachers, and a falling away of believers. The time could be described as a rebellion against God. But there is even a sadder, more horrible picture.
In the last days before Jesus Christ raptures believers from the earth, society will be very similar to what it was in Judges. The phrase “JUST DO WHAT YOU WANT” will characterize the behavior of people. Just what does it mean for a person to do as he or she sees fit? Everybody is going to do their own thing and in their own way regardless of what others may think. The New Testament writers describe how people will behave in the end times this way:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 graphically describes this period as being highly undesirable. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
2 Peter 3:3 underscores how people will always put themselves first. “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.”
1 Timothy 4:1-5 identifies that some believers will backslide and some religious leaders will mislead people. ‘“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
Matthew 24:10-12 tells of Jesus warning what would happen in the end times. “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Jude reminded his audience of what the apostles had said about end times. “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”
JUST DO WHAT YOU WANT??? Those 5 words described the past and will describe the future. The hearts of people will be rebellious against God. There will be increased wickedness and a collapse of moral standards. In addition, there will be religious false teachers and preachers who will cause many believers to fall away. What a sad, horrible time to live. When you read the Book of Judges, remember that you are seeing a glimpse of how people will respond to God in the future.
You really do not want to become a person who does what he or she wants. Life is all about you. It leads to a self-centered, self-reliant, self-directed, self-motivated life. Your selfishness may lead to momentary pleasures but ultimately it will lead to disaster.
Just do what God wants!!! The Apostle Paul challenged the Thessalonian believers to allow the Holy Spirit to make them holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 describes how you should live to please God rather than self. “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact, you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
SOMETHING TO DO
Just do what God wants!!! Checkout other verses in the Bible that focus on the subject of living holy or holiness. Use the concordance in your Bible or ask your cell phone for some verses. Write your favorite verse on a card. Now carry it with you.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I realize that I am prone to do what I want before doing what You want or what anyone else wants. Forgive me for my selfishness and self-centered way of living. Make me more like You. I want to reflect Your character. AMEN!