We need to live out each day in a balanced perspective and “do business” until He comes for us!
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 24:
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Jesus also spoke in Luke chapter 19:
11 Now as they heard these things, Jesus spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the Kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: “A certain Nobleman went into a far country to receive for Himself a Kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
We are not to sit around in a passive state waiting to be harpazo’d. Instead, we are to utilize our individual resources to further the Kingdom in any area we can impact. This is exactly why Servias is helping the Kids In Need on a consistent, continual basis.
It is vital that you don’t move to one of two extremes: Rapture paralysis or Date Setters.
Those who are paralyzed by thinking the Rapture will occur right away end up doing nothing now or plan for the future. They are not “occupying” or doing business with their callings.
The other extreme focuses on the date setters. I have heard my share of end-time prophets who had us departing at various and sundry times. All they really did was to extract and divert resources and attention away from true ministry. When their predicted time passed, some added the Hezekiah factor of 15 years to rationalize their failed attempts. How many times can one of these people be wrong before people finally realize that the person is misguided and move on.
Why focus on an undisclosed time when you can be productive and produce Heavenly rewards?
14 But His citizens Hated him, and sent a delegation after Him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when He returned, having received the Kingdom, He then commanded these servants, to whom He had given the money, to be called to Him, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, Your mina has earned ten minas.’
17 And He said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, Your mina has earned five minas.’
19 Likewise He said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is Your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.
21 For I feared You, because You are an austere Man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what You did not sow.’
22 And He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.
23 Why then did you not put My money in the bank, that at My coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)
26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'”
The first two servants knew Jesus and willingly increased His Kingdom. They were rewarded for their efforts and were given greater responsibilities in His future Kingdom on earth.
The third servant did not know the Heart of Our Lord and walked in fear of loss. He hoarded what was given to him and did nothing with his resources that would further the Kingdom. His loss was great.
It’s never too late to occupy till He comes!