The Last Days’ Disciple

What does it mean to be a disciple in the last days?

It means living in a violent world, “as in the days of Noah” and living with pervasive immorality, “as in the days of Lot.” It means knowing the frustration of our neighbors not enduring sound doctrine, of seeing outrageous injustice, of hearing lawlessness glorified. Within the brotherhood, it means witnessing–or worse, feeling–love growing cold.

What will the Son of Man find when he comes?

He will find faith. His question on that point was surely rhetorical, for he also said that for the sake of the elect the days would be shortened–so there will be faithful elect at the end. But how many? Will I be one of them? That’s the real question Jesus wanted us to think about.

Never have the apostle John’s words been more appropriate than now:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever” (I John 2:15-­17).

Am I going to be part of what’s passing away, or part of what lasts forever? That’s all that really counts, but how many days go by without the question,ever being asked?

What can I do to make sure tomorrow doesn’t go by without thinking about this fundamental issue? Try these:

  1. Write it down: “Am I going to be part of what’s passing away, or part of what lasts forever?” Then stick it to your refrigerator, your front door, the visor in your car–somewhere you can’t miss it. When it gets too familiar in one place, move it.
  2. Open your mouth and tell someone what’s most important to you. Make people you spend time with understand you have a glorious hope. Become a person who stands for something. This is not the work of one day, but it can start tomorrow.
  3. Identify one thing in your life that must go. It’s part of what’s perishing and you don’t want to perish with it! Then, do whatever it takes to get rid of it. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.” This isn’t an exhortation to mutilation! Rather, it’s a clear indication of the need for radical (and probably painful) action. Not half way, not tapering off, not “someday” — amputation, now.
  4. Replace what you cut off with something better: read, pray, study, preach, counsel, do good for others. Pick one and make it part of the daily fabric of your life.

Too hard? Remember: you aren’t in this alone. Your Lord has been given all power in heaven and on earth. “I am with you always, to the close of the age,” he said. And, “I will never fail you or forsake you.” The last days’ disciples who believe him can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.