A World Without Jesus

 

The world is moving more and more antichrist. One merely has to sample Netflix and other media to see biases against Christ. The fasting growing religion is Satanism, and the younger generations register as Nones, at 60%, meaning not affiliated with any religion, though they do Yoga and Eastern religious ceremonies they know little about. 

The aggressiveness against Christ is foretold throughout Scripture. The apostle Paul says the spirit of lawlessness, and activity of Satan will go before the Antichrist, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7, 9-10). The apocalypse of John tells us the Beast will conquer the world and kill Christians, “Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:7-8). Our Lord Jesus in his own red letter words tells us that in the last days, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:9-13). Even more haunting Jesus says, “I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:8). It is clear the world Christ is coming back to will be nearly Christless, that is Christians will be severely persecuted and all things about Jesus will be hunted down. 

So what will a world without Jesus look like? Well Jesus gives hope, that this life is not all there is, but there is eternal life in Him (John 3:16), so a world without Jesus will be hopeless. Jesus has compassion, even healing the unclean lepers of society, showing that even the hated, dejected, forgotten, and reviled deserve God’s grace, mercy, and love; as well as the love of us Christians. So a world without Christ will be one where compassion passes away and in its place will be castes and cruelty. Jesus taught not to follow blind guides (Matthew 15:14) and traditions of men, “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” (Mark 7:8-9), but to follow Him who is “The Way, The Truth, and Life.” (John 14:6). A world without Christ means more cults, more man-made traditions that enslave, and blind guides who deceive, for Jesus alone is the Truth, which segways into that of if Jesus disappears from the public world, truth will disappear, as well as knowledge and wisdom which are in Him alone, “..Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3). The ability to be moral and bear fruit will fade away with Jesus being booted from our world, for He said “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4). A world without Christ would mean the world will turn to baals (war gods), Mammon (money), and gods that emphasize the most inhuman natures of mankind, turning the other cheek and loving your enemy and neighbor will fade away into selfishness. 

A world without Jesus will be severe. It will look like the worst chapters of Revelation. A world that kicks Christ out will become what the apostle Paul foretold via the Holy Spirit, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy (considering nothing sacred), heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). 

Jesus will never leave us, “behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).  Jesus reigns over all at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21). He will return and rule this world (Revelation 19:16-21, Revelation 20:4). As long as Christians live, Christ is present in the world because He lives in us, and we live in Him  “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him,” (John 14:23), “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27)  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.,” (Romans 8:1), and “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God” (1 John 4:15). What I mean by this post is a shifting when the world, culture, society, and communities turn on Christ, and it becomes difficult to express our faith. That day is promised (Revelation 13:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:1–11), but we are called to endure even when others fall away and turn on us (Matthew 24:9-13). 

Jesus’ name will never disappear. His name is above all names, and ever knee shall bow to it, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11), and “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:20-23). Times are coming and are already here where following Jesus is not popular, and even will incur enmity; where visibly sharing your love for Jesus will receive antagonism. Stand firm in your faith in Jesus, and keep the faith! Amen.