Phot by Atpit Rastogi on Unsplash

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on” (The Avengers Quotes).

The world is currently in a state of turmoil, and the chaos has affected many Christians. Some believers are so busy star gazing, waiting for the rapture, that they are neglecting the work of our Lord. And others are attempting to isolate themselves from the world. These Christians are contemplating leaving the major metropolitan areas in an attempt to avoid the dangers and confusion of the big cities. Both of these mindsets are unbiblical because they motivate Christians to neglect their ministries; we have work to do.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on” (The Avengers Quotes). This quote is not from the Bible; however, the Bible does also echo this sentiment. Christians are to continue living and ministering until the Lord returns. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,” (2 Timothy 3:12-14 NIV). But why is this important?

Eschatology concerns the study of the end of human history. And many people who study eschatology are convinced that we are living near the end of time. Even the non-theologian often looks at the dreadful current events and believes that the Antichrist is about to be revealed, and our Lord is soon to return. Images of war, famine, pestilence, and natural disasters plague the minds of many believers. Because of this, some Christians have become “frozen” by fear and apprehension because they believe that time is running out. However, as long as we are on this earth, we are to continue with the work that the Lord has called us to do.

“For the Son of Man is like a man leaving on a far journey who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. ‘Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, in the evening, or at midnight, or at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you I say to all: Watch!’” (Mark 13:34-37 MEV). Christians are commanded to watch for the Lords return, and to continue to do his work, but we are never to stop working because of worry about the future. One of the primary functions of the church is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). “All the world” includes the big cities. If Christians leave the cities, who will proclaim the gospel to the unsaved people who live there? This escapist and separatist attitude is often the result of fear and a lack of faith in God. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). God is our protector, and he is more than able to keep us wherever we are. It is disheartening to hear so-called ministers advise Christians to leave the big cities and move to isolated communities where people “love each other”. You cannot escape the problems of this world. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Christians cannot avoid tribulation by changing their addresses. No matter where you go, there you are. The word of God is clear, we only have one choice.

Believers must continue to do the work that the Lord has called them to do. We cannot stop our ministries because of fear and dread, and we cannot leave our work because we want to escape the problems of the world. Christians must be obedient to the call that God has placed on their lives, and they must have faith that God is able to keep and protect them wherever that call would have them to be. As Paul advised Timothy, we are to continue on our eternal mission despite of the chaos and madness that is going on around us.   

Works Cited

“The Avengers Quotes.” Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2020. Web. 19 Aug. 2020. <https://www.quotes.net/mquote/108789>.