Putting Our Focus On the More Important Things

                I love to preach about the end times. I have preached through the book of Revelation in three different churches. Preaching about the end times easily leads to a focus on evangelism. We want everyone to be ready for the return of Christ. So we encourage people to be saved and Christians to win souls and made disciples. For we don’t want anyone to have to face the antichrist. How terrible for those left behind to face the wrath to come!
                  "Then I saw Him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky separated like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the military commanders, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of Their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?'" (Revelation 6:12–17, HCSB)
                I have heard of a lot of preachers who would not preach from the book of Revelation either because they didn’t know how to interpret it or they thought it was too controversial.  That is sad because there is a special blessing for those who read and hear the book of Revelation: “The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near!”, (Revelation 1:3, HCSB)
                If there is something in the book of Revelation you don’t understand, don’t worry about it. God will reveal all things in it’s time. It is far more important to take to heart, take encouragement, and act on what we do understand. There is so much instruction and encouragement for Christians in those sacred pages.
                There is so much good in Revelation and enough instruction and encouragement that we should focus on those things rather than useless speculation, especially when it puffs up with pride because we think we have special knowledge. As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy:
          "Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don't understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on."  (vs. 5-7, HCSB)
                All of the important things to do and believe are made very clear in the scriptures. Let us focus on them. We have more than enough truth made clear to us over which to be thankful, and much work to do to follow the instructions that are clear in God’s word. Let us not be distracted by disputes and controversial interpretations. Let us focus on what God has made abundantly clear to us in His precious scriptures.
 
Pastor Pat