So much of Christian band-width gets preoccupied with eschatology and world events these days. Most agree that the end times have arrived. The lion’s share of trending conversations emphasize the rapture, the antichrist and the Great Tribulation while serving the “least of these” often gets pushed outside of the frequency and lost in the static. Servitude isn’t sexy and surrender seldom stimulates viral popularity.
It has become all too easy to become distracted by the ways of the world and lose our focus upon Christ. When Jesus walked on the water, the disciples were frightened and thought He was a ghost. “But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s You,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:27-30). Peter took his eyes off Christ and doubted his purpose in that moment.
When we forget our focus is Jesus and become distracted by what is happening all around us, it is easy to lose perspective and become remiss in our resolve. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
Sharing the love of Christ isn’t an ambiguous suggestion. It is something we believers are commanded to do. It encompasses compassion for the vulnerable, empathy for the downtrodden, kindness for strangers, and intentionality in servitude. We are called to maintain that mindset.
ESCHATOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHIES
It is easy to become bogged down in eschatological philosophies that interfere with our stewardship of the gospel. Topics such as premillennialism vs postmillennialism or a pre-tribulation vs mid tribulation vs post tribulation rapture get sensationalized on social media, in literature and in movies. They have even become the denominational doctrine of certain “Christian” cults. When we set our sights on the hypothetical timing of future prophetic fulfillment it is easy to lose the palpability of what surrounds us and the precedence of servanthood.
Present world events have heightened our sensitivity to the frailty of society and the interconnectedness of civilization. The war in the Middle East has driven the cost of oil skyward, increased the cost of living and revealed the propensity of man for iniquity. Currently humanity’s innate tendency to prioritize self, personal gain and fleshly desires over our collective wellbeing is playing out in real time.
Idealistic fanaticism has driven an escalation of evil throughout the globe as today’s culture struggles to find meaning in the midst of fluid and drifting moral relativism, apprehension over climate change and eroding personal freedoms. Additionally, the uncertainty of AI regarding human job loss and ultimately surpassing human intelligence to the point of replacing biological life with digital life threatens the future of the human race.
Existential questions such as “Is the eradication of humanity inevitable?” and “Is the determinism that drives the race to profit from the annihilation of civilization reasonable since it is going to happen anyway?” become fundamental talking points in daily conversations. As of January 27, 2026 the doomsday clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, a full month before the Iran war began. Every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.
The Christian response to these developments has been all over the map, with renewed interest in end time prophesies. Discussions about rapture, the Great Tribulation and whether the antichrist is already here are prevalent in Christian circles. Even the secular perspective has shifted to entertain the thought of biblical implications being credible interpretations of how history is unfolding. Where do we turn for clarity and how do we rationalize our particular role in the middle of this chaos?
When Jesus was asked by the disciples what the signs would be of His return and the end of the age, He replied, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24: 6-7a).
While the signs of the times indicate that we are indeed living in the last days, we must oppose the temptation to hit the brakes and pause serving the Lord in anticipation of the rapture or a major catastrophe. Paul admonished the congregation at Thessalonica to remain engaged in the work of the Lord and not sit idle while waiting for Christ to return (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13).
Believers must resist hitting the panic button and shouting “The end is coming!” from the rooftops and “Every man for himself!” while forgetting the weak, the meek and the vulnerable. Additionally, there is the risk society becomes desensitized to world events and is oblivious to the writing on the wall, just as it was in the days of Noah. No one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36-39).
THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT
Christians must resolve to be about the King’s business when He returns. In Matthew 24:45-47, Jesus explains, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It would be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
It is incumbent upon for the church to remain fully engaged in serving Christ. This obligation extends beyond preaching, teaching and fellowshipping to helping the needy and less fortunate including those who are being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus.
Christ reminds us of the importance of this servitude in Matthew 25:31-46, where He discloses His judgement of the nations. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-40). Jesus never mentions theological debates, doctrinal disputes, catechism contention or winning arguments with atheists. Nor does He allude to religious ritual, ceremony or following church tradition.
NURTURING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
We grow the kingdom of God by nurturing the children of God. In Matthew 5:3-10, Jesus proclaimed: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who morn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Those who celebrate the destruction of their enemies will not be blessed. Those who praise the proud and idolize the wealthy have already received their reward. Those who profit at the expense of the less fortunate will not receive an inheritance that is imperishable. And those who boast in their religious accomplishments have misunderstood the compassion of Christ. Further, in the west, Christian nationalism has become an ideology that is a misaligned allegiance to a worldly system that is destined to perish. James 4:1-5 warns against friendship with worldly aspirations.
Paul exhorts believers to, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:3-8).
By washing the disciples’ feet in the face of His impending crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated that love drives out fear (1 John 4:18) and He prioritized others above Himself. Recalibrating our mindset from focusing on distant prophetic fulfillment to the imminent needs of the underprivileged and vulnerable of society transcends theoretic theology and activates our faith in pragmatic and efficacious ways. Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
