I was raised in a Pentecostal, Assembly of God church. Pastors preached fire and brimstone, and it felt like I needed to be more afraid of going to hell than of loving God. Traveling evangelists would visit the church and hold special meetings, each one proclaiming we were living in "the end times" and that the "rapture" was near. Although I knew I was a Christian and that Jesus "lived in my heart", I went to bed fearful most nights.
I remember there was a movie making it's rounds through the churches. It was called Thief in the Night. It basically told the story of people who didn't choose to follow God and the horrible things they endured after the Rapture (when God calls the Christians to Heaven). It was a Bible-based movie straight out of Revelation but, again, focused on fear rather than love. It haunted me for years! Again, I knew I was a Christian but I still felt like I needed to ask Christ into my heart almost daily. If I awoke during the night and the house was silent, I would panic. I would listen to hear my dad snoring. He was the best Christian I knew, so God wouldn't leave him behind. His snoring was a comfort to me.
As I matured in my walk with God, I learned His focus is on having a relationship with me. He wants to love me, not punish me. Don't get me wrong. I still believe in sin, and the punishment of sin. I still believe there will be a rapturing of those in relationship with Him. I believe there will be a time of tribulation as outlined in Revelation, and that this will provide yet another opportunity for people to turn to God.
I believe that time is near.
The Bible talks about wars and rumors of wars; our world is flooded with that right now. It talks about the seasons being confused, and floods, famine and pestilence. Today we're dealing with global warming, food shortages and murder hornets. The Bible says that man will rise against man-- this has never been truer than today (but I'll save that for another post).
I think because I grew up in such fear of the end times that I neglected to talk to my kids about it. I think I assumed that they just "knew". After all we went to church whenever the doors were open. We attended a Bible-based church, so I just assumed they understood. I did them a great disservice. My greatest fear as we speed along this trajectory is not for myself. I no longer doubt where I will spend eternity. It's for my kids, my extended family, my friends. Have I presented them with all the information they need s they can make an informed choice? Have I been the example they needed to see? Will they be drawn to God because of the relationship they see I have with Him? That is my burden.
So, as all this craziness unfolds in our world I urge you to check your heart. Is it right with Him? Talk to your loved ones. What is their relationship with God like? Speak to your friends and extended family. Spread the word. If you believe the Gospel is good news, share it! To you I may sound like those old evangelists, and maybe there's still time.
But what if there isn't?
No comments:
Post a Comment