The most important examination

 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves - that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5. 

I remember well the late night cram sessions before my college finals. Sure, I had all semester to learn, but the urgency of the moment was not quite yet. Thus the need for the "midnight oil" was poignant. Of course, the finals came, and they went. By the next day I am not sure how much knowledge I retained, but at least I had passed the test. 

My college years are way behind me, but there is one more exam I must face. At the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10-11), Jesus will ask me what I have done with what I've been given. There will be no grace here. I will be rewarded. or chastised, based on what I have done. Thus the urgency of the question. 

So just how does a man examine himself to see if he is in the faith? First of all, this is a private matter, only between him and God. No one else is responsible for his life. Second, we are ALL blind to our faults. No man can know his own heart perfectly. Thus the Psalmist in Psalm 139:23-24 asks, "Search me God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead in the way everlasting". I cannot claim to have an exhaustive knowledge of the questions that will be on our final exams, but I do have some ideas from Scripture. 

1. What is the fruit of my life? Do I look like Galatians 5:22? Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? Or is Galatians 5:19 more true of me? 

2. Is my life all about me, or am I a vessel for His Glory? Is my god my belly, am I an enemy of the cross of Christ, or is my conversation in heaven (Philippians 3:19-20)?

3. Have I passed from death unto life, as evidenced by my love for others (I John 3:14)? 

4. Is my identity found in external things such as possessions, jobs, titles and other things of this world, or am I content to only know Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Corinthians 2:2), only identifying as a vessel meet for the Master's use (2 Timothy 2:21)? 

Only our Savior knows the answers to these questions. If we ask Him, He will guide us and show us the way of life. The final exam is coming. Let us pray that we be found worthy. 

What is really important in trying times

 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible Day of the LORD" Joel 2:31

There are many eschatologies floated as to the exactly how Jesus Christ comes back. Some believe that the world will grow gradually better as the Church takes authority over the principalities and powers of the air. When fully taken ahold of by the Church, Christ comes back. I understand this view is called amillennial. Others believe the world will grow darker and darker till the world is ready for judgment. Christ then comes back to take back the world by force. Some believe that Christ comes back for His church, then for the next seven years pronounces judgment on the earth, ending in the Day of the Lord when He comes back to the Earth to rule. This is called Pretribulation rapture. Others see the Church enduring the wrath of the devil for at least some of the tribulation, being raptured out before the Wrath of God is poured out on the inhabitants of the Earth, those who do not know God and who are in rebellion against Him. This is called Mid-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture. 

Certainly all of these eschatologies cannot be right. When I evaluated these positions, Mid-trib or Post-trib makes the most sense to me. But let me say unequivocally that I would STRONGLY prefer to be wrong. Not so much in avoidance of persecution, but that passages such as 2 Thessalonians 2 and Matthew 24 make it clear that the main threat will be deception. Antichrist comes, brings "peace" to a strife-ravaged world, and nearly EVERYONE will think this guy is the real Jesus. Those who do not love the Truth will be taken in by him (2TH 2:15). The deception will be so thorough that, if possible, even the elect would be deceived. I most certainly do NOT want to be on earth then. But of course, that is not up to me, but to the LORD. 

There was a powerful word on Mark 13 at my church a few weeks ago. Essentially, Jeff said that far more important than being "right" about the end times is to be "right" with the LORD. Are we ready for his return? Are we "born again", as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit present in our lives? Is His image so imprinted on our hearts that our identity, our sense of self-worth, is no longer in our possessions, our families or our positions in society, but rather in the knowledge that we are His? I believe these are the far more pressing questions. 

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" Jude 20-21.