A quick look at current events can leave us wondering if what we’re experiencing is merely a lead-up to when the last days come and what to expect when the last days come. Are we living in the last days? How much worse can it get? What comes next? What will the last days look like? Many of us struggle with questions about the future.
On the night before He was betrayed, Jesus’ disciples were filled with questions, too. He reminded His disciples of the truth He’d told them several times before. Jesus would die, be buried, and come back to life. He would return to heaven to prepare a home for them and He would one day come back to earth to establish His divine rule.
The disciples expected an earthly kingdom, riches, position, and power. Instead, Jesus was a suffering servant Messiah whose Kingdom reigned in hearts, not on a throne. He offered the power of the Holy Spirit, not the power of a mighty army, and His kingdom riches were stored in Heaven, not on earth.
We can’t answer all the questions about end times in a single blog post, but one thing’s for sure. The end times likely won’t be easy but there will be some good mixed in there, too.
The stark reality of the last days
Isaiah’s prophecy begins with a stark dose of reality. (Leanna paraphrase coming up.) “You’re a bad mess of sin and consequences, Israel. God won’t put up with it much longer, so you’d better change. Pronto. Nothing good’s headed your way if you don’t straighten up.”
Those weren’t his words, of course, but they convey the essence. Isaiah’s actual words leave us reeling. When the last days come, they won’t be full of sunshine and flowers. Instead, public humiliation. Burning. Unquenchable thirst. Thirty-one verses of too-harsh truth paint a dire picture of the future. No one wants any of what Isaiah predicted in his opening chapter.
The next chapter is more of the same, but sandwiched in between a description of crushed sinners and the need to hide under a rock because of God’s judgment to come is a little oasis of words.
One day, hearts will change
“Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways; and that we may walk in His paths.'” Isaiah 2:2,3 nasb
When the last days come, Isaiah tells us, hearts will change. Many people will want to go to God’s house. They won’t be there to be seen or show off their new outfits. It won’t be the “in” thing to do before lunch at the country club. Instead, many people from all over the globe will stream to the house of God because of one very important reason.
They want to learn God’s ways in order to obey.
We don’t always go to the house of God to learn His ways in order to obey now, do we? But one day we will.
What will the last days be like?
One day, the evil one will be defeated and there will be no more weapons, no war, no conflict.
Imagine a time when people everywhere want to learn AND obey God’s ways. The fruit of the Spirit will be in abundance. Can you wrap your mind around a world in which people’s hearts are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23)
That’s quite a change, isn’t it? We long for that day, yet most of us are not quite ready. We’re not yet full to the brim with the fruit of the Spirit. There are days when pride or anger or judgmental, critical spirit raise their ugly heads and speak through our mouths. If we’re honest, most of us probably have a little not-like Jesus in us, but wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of all the old sin so we can be ready for those last days?
How do we prepare for that time when the last days come? Here are two easy steps to make sure we’re ready:
- Diligent Bible study. Open our Bibles and allow God’s words to cleanse and transform us. Learn God’s ways.
- Surrendered obedience. Once we know what God wants, we must choose to obey.
Learn what God expects and do it.
“And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…that He may teach us concerning His ways; and that we may walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:3
Want to know more about how to prepare your heart for the last days and what will the last days look like? Here are a few blog posts you might enjoy:
How to Pray the News and Why We Should
How to Trust God in Hard Times
What Does it Mean to Be Beloved?
What Does it Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus?
Why We Should Choose Humility and Let Go of Pride
Thanks for sharing your time with us today. Before you go…
- Sign up for our twice-a-month newsletter to receive exclusive stories, freebies, and more.
- Leave a comment and share this post on your social media pages or through email.
- Bookmark our website so you can visit us often.
- Take a look at Today’s Encouragement before you go. We add to this every weekday.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you learn God’s ways in order to obey. (It’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you make a purchase, we may make a few cents but it won’t increase the price you pay:
What wa