What Should Christians Be Doing In The End Times? – (Part I)
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” – (I Thess 5:9 – NKJV)
This Bible verse by Paul, the Apostle is the reason for a Christians’ blessed hope. We are saved by Jesus Christ from the fiery and dreadful judgment to be unleashed on humanity. However, the Bible also warns us on rising apostasy in the last days and exhorts us to endure till the end, so we will be saved.
The ends of the ages have come upon us and it is just natural for a genuine believer who wants to survive these perilous times to wonder, “What should Christians be doing in the end times?”
A few days back, the Holy Spirit of God led me to a wonderful revelation from the Word of God which answers this pertinent question. And the Scripture which I was led to:
“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” – (Heb 10:38 – NKJV)
In the portion cited above, this phrase – “the just shall live by faith” is mentioned in the context of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the point to be noted is that this phrase which was originally mentioned by Prophet Habbakuk in the Old Testament is quoted three times in the New Testament. Now, when God says something, more than once, it is for us to sit up and take notice.
1. Habakkuk 2:4
Habakkuk complains to God regarding the bad times in which he was living with Judah being the epitome of violence, sexual immorality, perversion of justice and disobedience to God. He questions the seemingly laissez-faire policy of God till God reveals what He is going to do and he begins to understand God’s sovereignty over all humanity. Habakkuk ends his book with unqualified praise to God notwithstanding the deplorable circumstances.
2. Romans 1:17
In this verse, Paul quotes this phrase in the context of the revealed power of God in the gospel for the salvation of mankind. In the following passage, he talks about how man, though he knew God, did not glorify Him. And so God gave man over to a debased mind and to corruption. Man exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation instead of the Creator. These acts of humankind have caused the degradation of the social and moral fabric of civilization all across the world.
3. Galatians 3:11
Again, Paul quotes the phrase in his letter to the Galatians. Here it is mentioned in the context of justification, where Paul explains that we are not justified by our works under the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became a curse for us and thereby redeemed us from the curse of the law.
4. Hebrews 10:38
And finally in Hebrews this phrase is quoted in connection of the second coming of Jesus Christ wherein the believer is exhorted to endure till the end and not draw back from his faith. For yet a little while and He who is coming will come and will not delay.
The common thread running across all these quotations is that this phrase is used by the authors to signify how a genuine Christian can live in deplorable circumstances. Whether it be violence and immorality in Habakkuk, corruption and perversion in Romans, false doctrine and fleshly works in Galatians or endurance in persecution mentioned in Hebrews – the just shall live by faith.
Is it true for Christians today? Often times we wonder how we can live a godly life which pleases God, given the circumstances of our society. The violence, immorality, perversion and corruption all around is impacting us more than ever before. If we continue to live in this manner, will we be taken at the rapture or will be among those who are left behind? What should Christians be doing in the end times?
Here is God’s answer – “the just shall live by faith.”
(To be continued in Part II)
Written by: Samson
