When I created my Word Press site a few years ago, the Lord impressed upon my heart that the front page – the page where readers would land if they came to my site – should be about Salvation. What is more important than showing a lost person how to be saved?
Is that not why we believers are still here? I think that it is.
Last words of our Lord
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Biting and devouring
The timing of the Rapture has taken precedence over sharing the Gospel with others. This article is in no way meant to debate Rapture timing. It is about our priorities in the Lord. It is about our hearts.
I wonder about the millions of Christians who have been martyred for Christ throughout the ages. They were persecuted before they were killed. I doubt that they fought with other believers over when Jesus would come in the clouds and rapture them. I believe that these people wondered when they would be slaughtered, and they prayed that they would be strong and not deny their Lord before they were killed.
This is not something that American Christians have had to consider – NOT YET.
Persecuted Christians have more faith
I remember when I was a baby Christian in the 1980’s, and I would read about Christians who had to go underground to secretly worship Jesus. Of course, these believers were from other countries where Christianity was not tolerated by their governments.
The thing that struck me more than anything was that these persecuted Christians were praying for the Christians in America. Why? Because they knew that with all of the distractions, and that many American believers were wealthy (comparatively speaking) that we needed to be lifted up in prayer to the Lord Jesus. They prayed that our faith would be strengthened.
We should want to be more like Jesus
I understand that we are to watch for the signs of His coming, but I believe that if Jesus were to sit among us right now, that He would focus on His teachings. Remember He said this:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).
Read the response from our Lord when asked which Commandment was greatest:
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).
Jesus spoke of our hearts and our love for others
The Sermon on the Mount:
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5: 1-12).
Calling out False Teachers
This is necessary and right for believers to mark and avoid those who preach a different gospel. To some this may seem unloving, but in reality it is one of the most loving things a Christian can do for others.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).
We must expose these false teachers/preachers. It is the loving thing to do – especially for baby Christians who are most vulnerable to the lies and deception of the evil one.
The fighting and bickering over the Rapture timing is wood, hay and stubble
Millions have gone and will go to hell – not because they didn’t understand the timing of the Rapture, but because no one told them to Repent and Trust the finished work of Christ on the Cross – the payment in full for their sins- and that Jesus conquered death and hell when he rose to life three days later.
No one told them that Jesus loves them, and wants to reconcile them to His Father in heaven.
Is there someone in your life whom you want so desperately to know the Lord? That burning in your heart to share the Good News of the Gospel comes directly from God. That is His priority.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Some may be upset with me and may say that I am downplaying Bible prophecy and our need to be watching. That is not at all what I’m attempting to say in this article.
I believe that we need to get our priorities in order. Saving lost souls is what sent the Lord Jesus to the Cross. His love for us caused Him to die that excruciating death on the Cross because He knew that He would rise again; and He knew that this was the only way to have our sin debt paid.
Nothing needs to happen before the Rapture of the Church
This is clear in Bible prophecy. He can come at any time. Isn’t it better to be ready at every moment, and be looking for Him daily to come and get us? When I lay my head on my pillow each night, I think to myself that He could come during the night and we would be with Him in heaven! But as I lay there, all the people I know who are unsaved will be heavy on my heart and I will pray for them to know Him.
Pastor J.D Farag
Pastor J.D. is one of the best known Bible prophecy teachers. I have watched him for years. But have you noticed that he ALWAYS ends his sermon with the ABC’s of Salvation? He knows that the Salvation message is of utmost importance when thousands tune in to watch his updates. This always warms my heart.
Brethren, I too want the Lord to come soon for His people. But the real heaviness comes over me when I think about those who are bound for hell if they do not submit to our Lord.
Pray for them without ceasing!
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!
I agree with what you saidand why don’t we as Christians and that includes me as a Christian is because of people rejecting what we say or fear and how can I preach the Gospel to others time is getting very very short. It seems like every time I expose Joel osteen people don’t like that they say he preaches the Gospel if I remember the statement correctly Joel osteen is a false teacher. I was called a Pharisee for saying what Bible Prophecy websites and pastors like pastor JD Farag and others say because they were saying the same thing the Bible says about us being in End Times and that the Rapture of the Church can happen at any time and that somehow know more than God when I don’t.Correct me if I’m wrong on any of this if I’m wrong.
I agree that Pastor Farag gets the message of salvation out with his preaching and should be commended. But have you ever noticed that when a woman does that, she is often accused of ‘preaching’ and is told she is to remain silent? It’s ok in some circles for women to report on events, but as soon as they start quoting scripture in mixed company, they’re told they are out of order.
Hi Jackie,
I think that the Bible supports all of us (male and female) to share the Gospel of Christ. I do not see that the Bible supports women being in positions of authority over men in the church. I’ve never been in a church where women were instructed not to quote Scripture or share Salvation. Is it in church where you have seen this?
In Christ,
Geri
Several years ago I wrote a short article on elements in The Acts of the Apostles. I have read Luke’s book more times than I can recall…and Every Time I read it, I turn the page expecting the narrative to continue, and I’m confronted with Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Really, I fall for it every time. But there’s a reason why The Acts doesn’t really have a conclusion, and that is Matthew 28:19 -20. Paul made great use of the ‘runner’ motif, or ‘relay race’, if you will. The book doesn’t end because the baton was passed to you and me, and every other believer in each succeeding generation.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Am I Timothy?” And if the answer is ‘no’, then what do I have to do to become Timothy? I found an entertaining article that discusses this in better detail than I’ve scribbled here. It reads in part:
“As leaders we should always be on the lookout for the next prospective relay runner. We need three men in our lives:
Paul—someone to whom we can be accountable. Everyone needs a pastor.
Barnabas—someone to encourage us.
Timothy—someone that we can mentor; to whom we can pass the baton.
The challenge for every Christian father is to successfully pass on His faith to their children.” (1)
Prophetic events unfolding in Israel and the Middle East, Europe, and here in the US are good to follow; the Rapture is wonderful to consider. But concentrating on either one, or both, to the exclusion of ‘our’ Great Commission is a mistake that I believe I and many others make frequently.
So your article here is a great reminder to focus on the basics, stick to the mission plan. Reach others while it is still harvest season!
Amen, brother Ed 🙂
Whoops! Faulty scholarship. Here is the footnote reference that should have appeared in y comment above.
https://developandlead.com/2012/08/05/passing-the-baton-from-generation-to-generation/