Friday, March 25, 2011

Serving Christ In End Times

Serving Christ in End Times

3 days ago I went for a walk and saw an elderly woman, Tokiko, who is a good friend of mine. She has studied the Bible with me in the past. She saw me and called my name as I walked around the small lake near my home. “Are you and your family going back to America?” Tokiko asked. Many foreigners are leaving Japan.

I am reminded of Luke 17:33. Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. This warning is present in all of the gospels when Jesus discusses End Times. The problems are so big that people have a choice to live for themselves or lose their life. For many they decide to live for themselves and their love grows cold.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mark 24:13~15)

Last year an earthquake hit Haiti that killed over 200,000 people. In 2008 an earthquake hit China that killed 70,000. In 2004 an earthquake hit Indonesia that killed 250,000. Just to give it some perspective in World War II the US had 418,000 military deaths. These are big numbers. The problems of the world are so big that we numb ourselves and let our hearts grow cold. We become like Lots wife thinking of ourselves rather than following the God leading us out of Sodom.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38)

We live in a unique time with a unique calling. Kazumi and I got in an argument last week about money. We do not have a college fund for our children but yet are giving to various world wide causes and support our local church. Kazumi in frustration asked me, “Do you love some person in Africa more than your own family?” Of course I don’t. I assured her that when the time came for our children to go to college somehow God would provide. But today the gospel needs to go forward, and starving people need to eat, and those in distress need care.

To my friends in America the news of Japan’s earthquake and the 20,000 dead has been interrupted by the news of another war we are in. But we are not really in a war with Libya but with the prince of this age. Pick up your cross! Do not let your Love Grow Cold! Give your Life for Christ knowing you will only gain your soul! The problems are too great to solve but with our eyes on Christ let’s move forward in love, serving and proclaiming the good news! In His Return the prince of this age will be put to shame and we will receive the Father’s Glory.

I don’t want you to respond to the quake in Japan. There will be more earthquakes, wars, and famines. Respond to Christ and reflect on how you can give to His Kingdom. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. Thank you for your prayers for Japan. Japan is still the second largest unreached people group in the world. Pray that we in Japan will do more than save ourselves but give our lives to the Savior.