What to Do in the Last Days

 

You have probably heard the term “Last Days.” It is the time from Jesus’s ascension into heaven to His return to earth. The Last Days started 2,000 years ago, but as we observe our world today, we see that Jesus’s return is growing nearer. We don’t know the exact moment Jesus will return, but we know the season by the signs (Matthew 25:13; 2 Peter 3:10-12). These signs include natural catastrophes, disease, wars, lawlessness, religious persecution, immorality, and people claiming to be the Christ (Matthew 24:3-14; 2 Timothy 3:1-13). Though it is a challenging time, God’s Word doesn’t leave us helpless. It gives us instruction about what’s going to happen and what to do in the middle of it all.

The following are what we should and shouldn’t do during the Last Days. These instructions are taken straight from Scripture referring to the Last Days specifically. As you take time to read the full chapters, let God reassure and direct you!

Don’t Be Troubled or Afraid

This is probably one of the biggest challenges we will face. But it’s not impossible to stay peaceful when we have our eyes focused on Jesus and His Word. Our town, country, and world might turn grossly immoral and violent, but none if it takes God by surprise. He has overcome it all (John 16:33)! We have no reason to be troubled and afraid when He’s on our side and the promised result is Heaven for eternity!

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:1, 24).

Watch

In a culture of business and challenges, it’s easy to get distracted from what matters most. Our relationship with God should be our highest priority. And if He is the Lord of our lives, we should be eagerly awaiting His return. To be prepared for His return, we must stay alert, watching what’s going on around us so it doesn’t take us by surprise. When we’re not watching, we can start to let our godly priorities, holiness, and love for Jesus slip. As a result, His Second Coming will come upon us like a startling thief rather than like a joyous reunion with family.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37)

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). 

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you” (Revelation 3:3).

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Pray

The Bible makes it clear that prayer is a life necessity. And more than a necessity, it should be motivated by a desire to communicate with our Lord. As we watch, we should pray for the unsaved and for the challenges that will appear in the Last Days. We should also pray that we would stay strong so we can stand before Jesus, confident that we had stayed pure and fulfilled our life’s calling on the earth.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is (Mark 13:33).

Take Heed to Avoid Deception

To “take heed” means to be on guard. God exhorts us to be constantly alert to the truth of God’s Word so that we are not deceived by the lies around us. In the Last Days, the devil will inspire people to lie against the truth so that more people will reject Christ. He wants as many people as possible to perish, but God does not want us to be in that group. If we keep our guard up and refuse to let the lies to penetrate our hearts, we will make it to Heaven and be empowered to share the truth with others so they can go, too.

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:3-4).

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is (Mark 13:32).

And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately” (Luke 21:8, 9).

Be Ready

God tells us to not only to watch, but to be ready. Being ready is a step up from watching in that we’re actively doing something to make the transition. If we are waiting for our flight to leave from an airport, we don’t just sit in the waiting room. We’re ready to leave in that we have first purchased our ticket, checked in, and are seated in the correct terminal with carry-ons in hand. The moment the plane is ready to leave, we have a smooth transition because we have everything ready ahead of time. This is also true of our flight to heaven. God wants us to be ready in that we’ve made our lives right with God, fulfilled our assignment, and our waiting expectantly for Him to call our name!

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:44).

Be Diligent to Stay Pure

In a culture of gross sin and deceit, it can be challenging to stay pure for Jesus. But it’s not impossible. As we watch, pray, and stay ready, falling into sin is less likely. Our focus is so on Jesus and our assignment during the Last Days that sin is repulsive. We can’t stand the thought of marring our relationship with Jesus or jeopardizing our future in Heaven and the rewards to be received there. Diligence in protecting our purity is worth every moment of effort.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen (2 Peter 3:14–18).

Grow

Even in the most challenging times, it is not impossible to grow. Regardless of what is going on around us, the more we pursue Jesus, the more we will grow spiritually. Like an athlete working out under the pressure of weights and exercise, so we can grow as we resist the culture around us with spiritual exercises. We can become more focused, more committed, and more determined than ever before. We just need to be determined enough to make it to the end as a victor and not a victim of deceit.

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Lift Up Your Head

While those around us may be downtrodden by Last Days events, we can confidently lift our heads with joy! We don’t have to be depressed or anxious because we know the joy that’s awaiting us—a face-to-face encounter with Jesus in His paradise! The ultimate “future and a hope” He promised is for eternity. Our fleeting sufferings don’t hold a candle to this!

“Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28, AMP).

 

It’s easy to look at this list of Last Days requirements and feel overwhelmed. But God has not left us helpless in the Last Days. When we were born again, He gave us the ultimate Helper—the Holy Spirit—to guide our every step of the way. He not only is with us, but He is in us, even enabling us to pray (John 14:26, Romans 8:26, Romans 8:11). Depending on His power, and not our own, we can walk through each challenge knowing we win!