Longing for His Return in a Darkening Worldfeatured
Our World is like a Sinking Ship
This whole world feels like a sinking ship. If you love the Lord Jesus Christ, you would likely agree that it is getting darker and more chaotic. I recently watched a video about a teacher in Ireland who was incarcerated for refusing to participate in the indoctrination of his students on the LGBTQ doctrine. What a brave man, standing against a dark, corrupt system.
How I Experienced Censorship
I have been banned from the Nextdoor app twice for posting blogs like this one. They warned me that any future posts with “religious content” could result in a permanent ban. Interestingly, Nextdoor’s headquarters are in San Francisco, California, which is known for its secular culture.
A Shift in Perspective on the Lord’s Return
For many years as a young Christian, I didn’t think much about the Lord’s return. Perhaps I even thought, “Yes, Lord, come back—but not too soon.” Like others, I had personal goals: finishing my career, getting married, buying a house, etc. I admire young people who love the Lord and genuinely pray for His return. I pray daily for the Lord to raise young people for His move before His return and that we, the older generation, would be strong role models for them.
Facing Mortality and Longing for the Lord’s Return
Now in my 40s, I have seen friends and patients pass away from various conditions—cancer, COVID-19, old age, and many other medical conditions. It has brought me face-to-face with my mortality. The verse in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” has resonated deeply in my whole being for the Lord’s return.
Saved from Loving This Present Age
In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul laments, “For Demas has abandoned me, having loved the present age.” May we never turn away from the Lord’s calling or become ensnared by the attractions of this age. Why would we cry out for the Lord’s return if we are deeply invested in this present age? May we, by His grace, be saved from its distractions and attractions. The only way to overcome this age is to love the Lord Jesus more than anything else. The more we know Him, the smaller and more insignificant the world’s enticements become. Let’s spend time with Him daily and gather with others in our local churches to express Him.
What World Are We Leaving for Future Generations?
Even setting aside eternity and our Christian faith, if the world’s current trends continue, what kind of life are we leaving for the next generation?
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- Debt and Inflation: With rising global debt and inflation, it will be harder for our children to afford an education, housing, a car, and the basic necessities of life.
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- Sexual Indoctrination: If the normalization of multiple gender identities continues, many young people may view traditional family life—marriage between a man and a woman— as a strange thing!
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- Rising Violence: If school shootings continue unchecked, desensitization will grow, and violence will spill over into local churches, grocery stores, and even homes. Anxiety and depression from social isolation and fear will only increase even more.
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- War and Global Conflict: The Ukraine-Russia conflict has already lasted longer than most expected. If it expands, or if other tensions escalate, we could face global war with devastating human costs, especially with nuclear weapons that many countries now possess.
Are These Signs of the End Times?
Romans 8:28 reminds us, “For we know that all things work together for good, to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The dark path the United States and the world seem to be on may be allowed by the Lord in His wisdom. Should the Lord’s return tarry, I can’t imagine what our world will look like in 10 or 20 years. But we know the Lord is a loving God, and in the midst of a “crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:15),” we may turn to Him more desperately. In such a chaotic world, our prayers may become the kind that moves heaven and earth, bringing Him back to earth!
A Prayer for Our Times
These are special times in both positive and negative ways. Technological advances have improved life, yet society grows darker, and people become more anxious, bitter, and colder. But praise the Lord! As it says in Romans 14:8, “For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
May our prayer be: “Lord Jesus, come back and establish Your kingdom on earth. May this world be filled with Your light, righteousness, and love. Amen.”
