Here we are in 2012. As a child I would never have believed I would be alive at this time in world history. As a young convert I couldn’t imagine the world lasting this long without imploding from the weight of sin and corruption; but here we are! If you watch The History Channel or The Discovery Channel on television you’ve heard about Nostradamus, the Mayan Calendar, the Hopi Indian prophecies, and even a computer that tracks and predicts world events. The television programs and magazine articles all say that sometime in December life as we know it will cease. The extreme sensationalists say the world will end and some of the more moderates say it is a time of transition. In his book, The Isaiah Effect, Greg Braden says it is a “time of choice.” I have no idea if these are all true signs of the times, but I know where we are from a biblical point of view, which means it may not be now but Jesus’ return is soon! In Matthew 24 Jesus gives a series of parables about the time of His coming. He talks about how to prepare and about the attitude of marginal believers at that time. In Matthew 24:48 He gives a picture of the overall attitude of the sleeping Church: But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming.’ In this passage you see an interesting paradox that confounds the current liberal teaching about grace. This person is both a servant and wicked! Thayer’s Lexicon defines the word “wicked” as “of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be.” It goes on to say that this person “used a mode of thinking, feeling, acting” that produced that which was contrary to righteousness “as he should be, think and feel.” The behavior described in the following verses is abusive and selfish. Since the resurrection of Jesus and the resulting victory over Satan, selfishness is the primary opposition to God. According to many, selfishness is the truest form of Satanism that exists. Satan doesn’t need for men to serve him to oppose God; he needs for them to serve themselves. As such, living a life of service to God is the primary antidote to the spirit of deception. Again in 2 Peter 3:3-4 the apostle Peter references the attitudes of believers at the time of the end: knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Peter brings to light something that is only subtly reveled in Jesus’ teaching: it is their lusts (selfish desires) that shape the way they interpret the times, not the signs. Always remember this: my perception is the product of what I have chosen to see; in fact, some studies indicate that you CANNOT see what you are not willing to see. It really doesn’t matter what the Bible says, it is “how you read it” that determines what you see in it. (Luke 10:26) People who have not invested their life in a relationship with God will not love His appearing. All they know is the world they experience with their five senses. They want to hold on to this world no matter how bad it is. But the big problem is they read the Bible based on those selfish motives, it shapes their theology, and they become cynical about the second coming. To combat the delusional effects of selfishness Peter goes on to tell us how to be ready: Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. (2 Peter 3:11-12) In a day when “false grace teachers” try to convince us that sin has no real repercussions, the Bible warns of this attitude and offers the true antidote. The truth is, the only reason a person would be willing to believe such a destructive doctrine is to find a way to feed a need that is not being met through fellowship with Jesus. Many times throughout my life I’ve been asked, “If you knew you only had one year left to live, what would you do differently?” The truth is I wouldn’t change anything. (There have been moments I could not have said that.) My good friend and co-laborer in this message, Allen Speegle, Pastor of Family Bible Church in Eustis, Florida, was doing research for a series. In the process he sent a text to several people over 45 years old and asked, “What two things would you change about your life?” As I pondered the question I realized that no matter what I would change there would still be mistakes. I have never deceived myself by thinking if I had it to do over again I would make all the right choices. As I pondered the question I realized that since becoming a believer the majority of my life choices were not that bad; but many times I messed up a good decision by the way I executed it. You may wonder what point I’m making. I’m simply saying that Peter is not telling us we have to live a perfect life, because we won’t. But to combat selfishness and protect my heart I can look at the full body of teaching in the New Covenant and realize that as long as I execute all of my decisions from an attitude of love and service to others I can keep myself from the number one attitude that gives opportunity to the spirit of deception. Today I will leave for Denver, Colorado to be with other dear friends, Dave and Bonnie Duell of Faith Ministries, who have helped take this message to more countries than I could have ever done myself. (Any time I mention Dave and Bonnie I have to include Dennis and Denise Capra who are such an integral part of helping us take this message to the world.) While in Colorado I will be speaking to their church and the services will be streamed to their ministry partners around the world. I will also be speaking to a business group in Colorado Springs. This trip is the beginning of this year’s efforts to fulfill Operation One Billion. This is exactly what I would do if I knew for a fact that December 21st, 2012 was actually the last day of time as we know it. I will love my wife and family, I will preach the Gospel everywhere I can, I will attempt to be a good friend, I will write books, and I will do what you and I have been doing for all these years, not just looking for the return of the Lord but hastening it! The fact that you have partnered with me to change the way the world sees God tells me that you, too, are living today as if it is the end. We are using the time we have as wise stewards. We shall stand before our Lord and hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant…” We may not have done everything “right,” but we did choose to give our life to the better part, the part that is eternal. There are not enough words to thank you for your incredible sacrifices of love and generosity.