By Chuck Bentley

A recent poll by the Ventura, California-based Barna Group found 4 in 10 Americans—and 77 percent of evangelical Christians—believe the “world is now living in the biblical end times.”

With the rise of ISIS, America’s tepid support of Israel, the moral decay of our nation and most of Western society, and threats of economic collapse, there are many reasons to be fully alert to the possibility.

Of course, nobody knows the time or date that Christ will return and certainly I do not. I do know this: Christ will return and we always need to live in a state of readiness but remain focused on the long term.

Wayne Grudem, the author of Systematic Theology gives this practical advice:

“Certainly we should commit ourselves to long term activities. It is precisely for this reason that Jesus does not allow us to know the actual time of His return; He wants us to be engaged in obedience to Him, no matter what our walk of life, up until the very moment of His return. To ‘be ready’ for Christ’s return (Matt 24:44) is to be faithfully obeying Him in the present, actively engaged in whatever work He has called us to.”  

I like that advice. But I am also concerned with how we prepare our hearts for the great delusion—a time when even some of the elect will be deceived.

It is important that we get rid of our love for position, power, and possessions. To be ready to meet Christ is to be dead to the world…As Paul said, “to be crucified to the world.”

I’m watchful, I’m staying ready, and while I remain focused on my long-term calling, my heart says with yours, “Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly!”

Originally posted 3/25/2015.