Title: When is Now?
Content What time is now? (About 5:7-9)
In Ecclesiastes 3:1 and below, it says that there is a season for everything under the heavens, and a time to the fulfillment of every purpose: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. This is the saying that everything has a time. If so, what time is now? Even the people of the world say it is the end now. We are living in a time when all the signs of the end times prophesied in the Bible are fulfilled.
How should we live when the time of the Lord's coming is near?
Today's text tells us that the early church members greeted each other with “maranatha” (the Lord is near) and encouraged each other whenever they met, living with eschatological faith. The word “maranatha” has several important meanings and teaches us how to live.
First, the Lord is with us, let us love each other
Love one another as I have loved you. Jesus asked us Even within the church, this sting can be quarreled. Whenever we do, let us remember these words. The person who carries the heaviest burden in the world and lives foolishly is the one who lives with a grudge in his heart. If you hate others, your hatred doesn't go through your stomach, but your personality and faith are twisted. <Matthew 18:21> Jesus said in the parable below, "Is it not right for the person who was forgiven of 10,000 talents to forgive the debtor of 100 denarii?"
Second, since the time of the Lord's coming is near, let's keep the incision of faith until the end.
The members of the early church were thrown into the lions' den to keep the incision of faith, but they kept the incision of faith.
In the last days of the world, when Satan runs wild like a roaring lion, let's keep our faith. Looking at the rebellious generation, I remember the words of the Lord who lamented whether I would see true faith when I come back.
Even if the world commits sins, let's live holiness, truthfulness, honesty, and keeping the incision of faith! This world is for a moment, but the kingdom of heaven is eternal. Longing for that country, let's keep the incision of faith until the day the Lord comes.
Third, as the time of the Lord's coming is near, let us carry out the mission entrusted to us.
The five virgins, who did not prepare oil lamps because the bridegroom was late, wept bitterly and grinded their teeth. Let's take care of the precious missions God has given us! There is a day when the talents entrusted to you are counted. Then there will be the day of judgment for the good and faithful servant and for the wicked and lazy servant. God gave Samson the strength to save Israel from the Philistines, but he fell into a luscious trap and misused his power, resulting in the shame of having his hair cut off and his eyes plucked out. We are stewards, but material, youth, time, and talent are not mine, but God's. You have entrusted it to us faithfully, but let us be faithful to death when the time of the Lord's coming is near! Let's lead 270,000 people to God to accomplish Daegu evangelization. Let's achieve national evangelization Let's become a nation that will be used in the last days for world evangelization.
<Conclusion>
We are living in the end times of the world. The time has come for the Lord who had promised to come soon. Let's love each other and live. Let's live by keeping the incision of our faith. Let's live up to the mission entrusted to us!