Still Here – Now What?
Yesterday was supposed to have been the end of the world- Judgment Day. It is behind us and you’re probably as sick of hearing about it as I am. I never believed it for a minute and I surely didn’t teach it. The truth is it was kind of a non-issue for me. I had seen one of the garish trucks in the parking lot of the local Mall but even that didn’t set me searching the scripture so I could do the math for myself. What calculations would one use from the Bible to make such a confident prediction of something God is entirely in control of?
The saddest part to me is that for some people who have never studied the Bible these things leave a really bad impression of the One who can save them from Hell – be it at the end of the world or at the end of their own lives on earth. I fear that Mr. Camping’s predictions will cause some to dismiss all of the scripture.
In church our Pastor addressed the issue. From the pulpit he was bold and Biblical to call Mr. Camping a false teacher that we should not listen to. I love to hear a man of God preach the truth! He talked about predictions that this man had made before, the same one with different dates. He even offered to show us the books that proved these predictions in the 80s and 90s. I believe my Pastor – no need to waste time reading those books.
I have heard several people use Mark 13:32-33 to refute the claims of this false teacher. They say, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Many Christians disagree on exactly when these verses are talking about so they may not be our best argument against a man like Mr. Camping. The more convincing to me are in Deuteronomy 18:21-22 “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
This was at least the third time this same man had made a prediction about the timing of the coming judgment and he has been wrong every time. Why does any Christian with a Bible listen to anything He says?
So, what now? Well, here’s great advice right from the Bible. It is for the believer in Jesus Christ and is found in Colossians 4:4-6, Paul speaking to the Colossians instructs them, “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Paul’s major concern was the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ – not the day the world would be judged.
If we consistently followed these instructions – and I am not saying that I do – we would not have to be concerned about the last days because we would be telling others about Jesus all the time – seasoned with salt (making it easy to swallow) and full of Grace, meaning we won’t be shoving the Truth down anyone’s throat. We offer it and let the Lord use it how He will in each person’s life.
It is exciting when any child of God speaks truth – from the pulpit or over the backyard fence or in the marketplace. It honors and glorifies God which it seems we’re always praying that we would do. It is shameful when someone who claims to be a child of God makes such a mess of God’s word publicly. Indeed, He is a false teacher. But, it’s no better of us to remain silent and not say anything about the Gospel. We are to be salt and light to the world so that they can see Jesus Christ for who He is, the Savior of the world.
Watching and praying are fine for the Christian if we do it while making the most of every opportunity God offers us to tell anyone about Jesus and His sacrifice for sinful folks like me. If we spend the next few days and weeks talking about what a foolish man Mr. Camping is we may miss opportunities to talk about what a wise, compassionate, sacrificial Savior God sent to save us from men like him.