Obstacles to faith

Why do many people ignore the fact that Jesus will return or even violently rebel against this claim? Here are some of the reasons:

a) Human mind

The idea that Jesus will visibly come back is inconceivable for most people and therefore cannot be true for them. Even modern theologians try to eliminate the nuisance of Jesus' return by relativizing or spiritualizing the Bible's message. For this reason Paul wrote:

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done."
Romans 1:28 (ESV)

b) Unexpected delay

The first Christians firmly expected Jesus' immediate return. When this was not fulfilled for decades, some believers began to have doubts. Therefore Peter declared that:

"Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”"
2. Peter 3:3+4 (ESV)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed"
2. Peter 3,10 (ESV)

c) False proclamation

In recent years, some pastors have preached too sensationally and applied individual Bible passages about the return of Jesus too much to current events. When their predictions did not come true, many believers turned away from the topic in disappointment. Therefore Paul admonished:

"Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction"
2. Thessalonians 2,3 (ESV)

d) Earthly entanglement

We live in a time of abundance and prosperity. Believers also often allow themselves to be captivated by external appearances. While many of these things are not exactly sinful, if they distract us from the expectation of Jesus' return, they are even more dangerous. This is why Jesus compared the end times to the days of Noah:

"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man"
Matthew 24:38+39 (ESV)

The Lord is coming soon, Hallelujah,
The one who was once a silent lamb
Who bore sins, Alleluia,
And died on the trunk of the cross

Author: Karl-Otto Böhringer
Pictures: https://pixabay.com/de/