Within a span of about a week, several severe earthquakes hit different parts of the world.  A few days ago, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked Sichuan, killing 186 people and injured 11,000 people.  Before that, Iran was hit by a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake.  Then Japan was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale.

Some 2,000 years ago, when Jesus’ disciples asked Him as to when the end of the world would come and the day of His return to earth, He replied: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mat 24:36).  Therefore, do not believe it when anyone predicts the day of the end of the world.

But Jesus did give some indications as to when His return is near: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Mat 24:7-8).

I’m not saying that Jesus will return next week or next year.  No one knows.  But when we see an escalation of these events such as wars (e.g. nuclear armament of some countries) and earthquakes, they should cause us to be open to the possibility that the end of the world is approaching and that the return of our Lord Jesus is near.  No one knows when Jesus will return.  If anyone tells you that he knows when the end of the world is, you can rest assured that he does not know.  Thus, wise Christians know way beforehand that the prediction by the Mayan calendar (rightly or wrongly interpreted) that the end of the world would (but obviously it did not) happen on 21^st December 2012 is not true.

The escalation of world events: wars, earthquakes, famines, could be pointing to the soon return of our Lord Jesus.  Hence, I urge you to be prepared.  When Jesus returns, He will judge you.  You will be rebuked or rewarded.  You will not lose your salvation but you will either suffer eternal loss or receive eternal rewards.  How should you prepare to face the Lord’s return?  The most important thing is to love the Lord sincerely from your heart.  But who is the one who truly loves the Lord?  Jesus says: “Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.  The one who loves me will be loved by my Father and I too will love them and show Myself to them” (John 14:21).

First, put the Lord first in your life.  Put away anything that hinders your relationship with God because “those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disdained” (1Sa 2:30).  Don’t worry.  If you lose some things because of God, God will surely repay you with better things.  Neither will you, because you put God first, lose anything that is critical for your well being.

Second, if you love the Lord, you will take God’s commandments seriously.  The problem with many Christians is not that they do not know what they should do.  Rather, they know but refuse to obey.  It is very important that you put into practice what you learn from Sunday messages and your daily Bible reading.

Third, be faithful in your service.  You have promised before God at the start of this year to serve God faithfully in a particular ministry.  Work hard.  Be a blessing to your co-labourers and to people whom you serve.  Then you will be rewarded by the Lord when He returns.  Press on.