Distracted By Things We Can’t Know

It seems that every few years there’s a new best-selling Christian book that creatively fits the latest news headlines into Scripture, specifically the book of Revelation. These authors find hints and clues throughout Scripture that fit together in a way that tells us that Christ’s coming is near. Although none of these books have proven true, we can’t stop buying them thinking the next one might be real.

Does God intend for us to spend so much time and energy trying to guess the second coming? Would knowing such things be edifying and beneficial, or merely a distraction to our spiritual growth and our mission?

Not For You To Know

After Jesus’ Resurrection, he gathered with his disciples before his Ascension. They asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

We can understand the disciples curiosity about God’s plan because we often wonder about such things as well. However, rather than satisfy their curiosity, Jesus redirects them to keep focused on the mission. I wonder if he would tell us the same thing: “It’s not for you to know the times or seasons, but receive the power of the Holy Spirit and be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”

Could it be that some believers are so distracted trying to figure out when Christ will return that they have lost sight of actually following him? After all, Jesus told us “concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matt. 24:36). It seems the repeated teaching of Scripture focuses on growing closer to Christ everyday and fulfilling our mission to glorify him and share him with others, yet many itching ears want to hear something more sensational.

Loss Of Credibility

Trying to predict the return of Christ, which the Bible says we can’t know, not only distracts us from our mission, but it can even cause our message to lose credibility.

Imagine a friend owed you money. At the beginning of the month, they promise to pay you back and because they sound convincing, you believe them. But, the month comes and goes and they don’t pay you back. You ask them about it the next month, and they try to convince you that THIS will be the month they pay you back…but again the month goes by and they don’t pay you back. After a while, you won’t believe them anymore. They’ve said over and over that it will be this month, but over and over that’s proven to be false.

If every year a new “Christian” book comes out predicting the end of the world, how many false alarms will people hear before they start to tune out everything we say?

When someone tells you three things and you find out two of those things are verifiably false, you will be apt to assume that the third one isn’t true either.

If our message to the world is that Christ is coming back to judge all, there’s hope in Christ if we repent and trust in him, and he’s coming back next September, then what happens when he doesn’t come back next September? What we have said is demonstrably false. Those who have heard our message will likely question the other two points as well.

Focus On The True Message

We don’t know when Christ will return. Rather than spending our time and energy trying to figure it out, let’s focus on what Jesus tells us to focus on. Rather than trying to tell the world WHEN Christ will return, let’s focus on the truth that we know…he IS coming! Let’s spend our days growing closer to him, building up our churches, evangelizing the lost, and getting the gospel to the nations. Our mission is to make disciples.

Whether Christ comes back this year or 3000 years from now, it doesn’t change our message. Whether he comes back tomorrow or next year, our goal should be to live each day that he gives us for his glory! Don’t be distracted by things we can’t know!