Fearing God and Keeping His Commandments

Everyone is so preoccupied with end-time events, whether it be Bible prophecies or just overt worldly intrigue with sensational predictions of terrible things being projected. I've seen this going on for the entire thirty two years that I have been in Christ, and I have seen that it is wrong. All of this intrigue and speculation about things to come only serves as a decoy to distract from the one task at hand, which is to "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for THIS is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). The truth of the matter is, the only people to whom God is going to reveal the reality of things to come, will be those who are focusing daily on "purifying [themselves] even as he [Jesus] is pure" (I Jn. 3:3). A lot of folks need to consider and heed the very wise words of the Savior, who told us; "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Mat. 6:34). While frantically looking and seeking to uncover the mystery of things that are to come, many have made themselves easy prey for the spirits of evil that are constantly on the prowl to devour those who are not "keeping [their] hearts with all diligence" with steadfastness (I Pet. 5:8; Prov. 4:23). Rather than be obsessed with end-time events, we should "be sober, [and] be vigilant" about our own now-time events; which is to say, "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." In all reality, even if you could know exactly what is coming and when, if you're heart has not been kept free from sin with all diligence, you would fail the test when push comes to shove.

So am I saying that we should not read and study the Bible about the things that are foretold? Of course not. It is there FOR us to study, and I have done so extensively for many years. But there is a huge difference between studying these things as a part of seeking God diligently in all things, and just being obsessed with the whole mystique about the end-time, and thereby missing the whole point of the gospel, which is to "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (II Pet. 3:14). For those who are faithful to the true calling of holiness, everything that needs to be known will be made known in due time. It is certain that God, "the Judge of all the earth," will not "slay the righteous with the wicked" (Gen. 18:25). It is in fact fear that motivates the obsession I am talking about, and [worldly] fear is of the devil. The scripture says that "perfect love casts out fear," and perfect love is what dwells in a heart that is kept purified from sin (I Jn. 4:18; I Pet. 1:22). So in conclusion just allow me to exhort one and all to keep our lives "hid with Christ in God," and we will surely be kept "quiet from the fear of evil" (Col. 3:3) As it is written; "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Prov. 27:12). Amen.