Judgement Day

I just have another thought for today. Today was predicted by a religious group to be the end of the world. They said that God would be returning to rapture the believers, and that there would be death and destruction to all those left on the earth until October 21st when God would return and destroy the earth with a fire ball. My first initial thought when I heard this the other day was along the lines of "Great, another wacko group out there to give Christians a bad name."
Secondly, it really got me thinking about my own life. If it was going to be the day God came back to rapture his believers, was I ready. How have I been living my life? Is my life pleasing to God? It was really a wake up call for me to do a check of my personal relationship with Jesus and making sure that I'm all good!

It also made me get antsy to think that if God was coming back today, had I done everything I could have to bring others to Him? Was my life a reflection of Jesus, and drawing people to God's saving grace? One of my favorite comments I learned from my BSF class this year was...."You may be the only Bible someone reads." I want to make sure that my life is a reflection of Jesus and that people want what I have!

Strangely my heart went out to this man and his followers. I have such a soft spot for people when they are being the butt of someones jokes and made fun of for any reason. The jokes were everywhere....they were a perfect target for late night shows, and even atheists were offering their services (pet care, etc) for the people who would be raptured. They were bashing this poor old man, who truly truly believed what he was speaking! I always have a heart for people like that (Mormons, Jehovah's witness'). They are out there professing their faith to everyone! Nothing stops them. I think, we as Christian's, have a lot to learn when it comes to being outspoken like that for our beliefs. My heart also broke for the families and followers of this man. He had them so convinced that this was the day, that most left jobs, families, houses, drained life savings, etc. Now that the end hasn't come, what will happen to these people. I heard a story of a pastor who felt that there would be extreme depression, so he was planning on camping out by the headquarters of this group to be there for the broken people.

I've refrained from bashing these people and their beliefs. It's sad, just sad.  It's been a great thing for me to challenge me to examine my life...a spiritual check up if you will. It's also caused me to get on my knees to pray for the people who believed (and still do) and for the people who have no faith and need Jesus.

Matthew 24:36

But the exact day and hour?

No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.