I Am Living in My Last Days

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

In 1979 when I was 14, I received a letter from the Tulsa Roughnecks major league soccer (football) team, asking me to renew my season tickets for the 1980 season. I could not believe my eyes. There it was – “1980” in print! Growing up Seventh-day Adventist, I was told we were in the “last days.” The fuel crisis was going to bring an economic disaster, which would cause a national Sunday law. I never imagined the world lasting beyond the 70’s. Hence it shocked me to see “1980” in print. I was sure the world would not last all the way until 1980.

But it did.

Now we are well into the 21st century. (By the way I love telling kids stories about growing up back in the nineteen hundreds. But I digress.)

Meanwhile I have grieved the deaths of several loved ones, who I was sure would still be alive when Jesus returned. Back in the 1960’s and 70’s an Adventist child needn’t worry about parents growing old and dying, since we were always told Jesus would be coming back within the next five years.

Now I am closer to retirement than I am my high school graduation. Funny, in grade school we thought it would be forever until we graduated. Now its been forever since we graduated!

Still my faith in Jesus’ return has never wavered. I don’t feel Jesus has let me down, as He never promised to come back within the next five years. And Jesus never told my pastors and Bible teachers to tell me He was coming back within five years. That’s all on them. Bless their hearts, they meant well!

Even though I always imagined myself hiding in the mountains during the time of trouble when Jesus comes, I am now faced with the probability of my own death. I may be one of those resurrected when Jesus comes. People tell me I am still young, but I have done the math. If I live as long as my mother lived, I have 28 years left. I am not even promised that long, but based on life expectancy, my time on earth is probably less than 30 years. I am living in my last days!

whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 NKJV

Regardless if Jesus comes in the next 5 years or 200 years, I am looking at 30 years max that I have to endure this old earth. When I die, my wait will be over. The next thing I know Jesus will becoming! 30 years is nothing! I am living in my last days!

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NKJV

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I Am Living in My Last Days — 14 Comments

Ronald Ashley on April 18, 2018 at 11:14 pm said:

William, I have somewhat similar story. In 1975 I was 13 years old and going to school in 1st form. A boy and I had a fight. I came out the looser because the boy hit me in one eye (you can see that I wasn't a good fighter) and I had to go to the doctor. He recommended me to a specialist in the City. Now living in the Caribbean things was not as easy then as in the United States.
Therefore seeing a ophthalmologist one would have to wait at least 1 year to a year and one half with an appointment. But I quickly suggested to the doctor that I would opt out on this appointment (of wish I did). Because by then Jesus would have come and my eyes would have been fixed by Him.
Since then it has been 42 years and Jesus had not come! Oh man have I glad that He has not come yet? You bet! Growing up Seventh-day Adventist, I was told we were in the “last days.” Of which I firmly believe.

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Paul Blanke on April 18, 2018 at 11:19 pm said:

William, I identify with most of what you have written about. I remember when I had hoped that I will reach age 40. And like us you and I, are much wiser now with different goals. I thank God for every new day. What ever God provides is an undeserved blessing. To speculate on what the last days will be or how near they are doesn't absorb a great deal of my time. I am not monitoring the signs from the news media. Some were sure those signs are here and it is time to sell possessions and property. Of course we could look at our own church history and the great disappointment. We only can live one day at a time. That is what I look forward to. My prayer is for the help that I need. Not to get ready, but be ready.

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Raymond Hickman Sr. on April 19, 2018 at 5:50 pm said:

When I was born in 1921, Jesus was coming soon. When I married in 1940, Jesus was coming soon. When Betty died in 1990, Jesus was coming soon. When Joan my second love, died in 2016, Jesus was coming soon. I am nearly 97 years old, and it is like my wait is almost over, time passes swiftly while in the grave. Betty has waited 28 years but it will be like soon to her. How soon is soon for each of us, who knows, but it will be sooner than later.

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- Ronald Ashley on April 19, 2018 at 8:31 pm said:
  
  Just hold on a little longer until your waiting is over and should it be that you have to rest like those who are resting your time will be just the right time. Because He that will come! Will come! And will not tarry. God bless our wait.
  
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Drucella Gayle Shinstine on April 20, 2018 at 7:35 am said:

I too felt all my life that it was the last days, but since there has been no Sunday law passed yet, I think there will still be more "days". Come soon Lord Jesus! We are waiting for you!

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Yvonne [Surname?] on April 21, 2018 at 12:12 am said:

Pray for Jesus to come soon. I have seen my parents and grand parents live and died with the hope. And now I can see He is closer now than ever before. Pray, pray...

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William Earnhardt on April 21, 2018 at 4:16 am said:

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. Happy Sabbath!

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Jim Williams on April 21, 2018 at 6:50 am said:

The older I get the more I get this sense William is expressing. I am turning 60 in a few weeks and 90 is about it in our family as well. We should have this expectation that these are our last days as our Heavenly Father waits patiently for the rest of our heavenly family.

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Marilyn Malabanan on April 21, 2018 at 2:24 pm said:

My beatiful husband Jerry passed away just 1 year and a bit ago. I was so devastated that the coming of Jesus is so real. I prayed and still praying so hard as if i havent prayed before for His soon return so i can see the Man who gave me hope to see my Jerry again and Jerry himself. Oh Lord Jesus, please come very soon but help me to be patient as You have been so patient to me.

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- William Earnhardt on April 22, 2018 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  Marilyn I am very sorry to read of the loss of your husband. I thank God for the times you had together, and praying Jesus returns soon so we all can be together.
  
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Karen Lyon on April 21, 2018 at 4:59 pm said:

Several years ago, the pastor at a local SDA church spoke at end times. He started by asking how many of the congregation had grandparents and parents who had been Adventist. There were a large number of the congregation who put up their hands in response. Then he asked them to keep their hands up if those grandparents had expected to see Jesus' return. All those hands stayed straight up. When he asked if their parents were sure they would see Jesus come back for us, several put their hands down, but many still had their hands up. Finally he asked them to keep their hands up if THEY were sure they would live to the Second Coming. A lot of hands went down. Not from a lack of faith! To prove that point, Pastor asked us to put up our hands if we believed Jesus was going to come back for us, as the Bible promises us -- and all of us put our hands up then. But, as Pastor pointed out in his sermon, we have been living in the End Times since Jesus went back to His Father. When he returns is up to God, not us!

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Raymond Hickman Sr. on April 22, 2018 at 6:12 pm said:

We all want Jesus to come, soon. Another thought, not too soon. I have beloved family members and friends who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior. If He comes right now, or very soon, to all appearances they are lost. I'll wait a while, if waiting will give them another chance to listen to the Holy Spirit. His coming will not be put off forever, but I would patiently wait a little, if by waiting it could mean their salvation.

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joelex orora on April 23, 2018 at 3:25 am said:

This end time was seen by Paul as very soon! Look at what he says in IThessalonian 4:15-For this we sayunto you by the word of the Lord ,that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall notprevent them which are asleep' Paul had the conviction that Jesus'return was to be very soon so much he himself will see him. But count how many years have passed since that time!

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Leola Roach Haynes on April 23, 2018 at 6:07 am said:

Matt. 24:34: Is the idea that "the generation in which all these things will come to pass, will be the generation in which I will return" a correct interpretation? What about Rom. 9:28 - cutting the work short in righteousness? Are we settling into truth when we no longer look for a calendar date but totally trust the life-giver and His life-giving power to "whenever He chooses". We have the satisfaction of knowing His promises never fail, yet it is troubling to blank out the question "How long"? We seem to be hard-wired to expect that no earth-shaking event will occur without further revelation or at least deeply significant reminder. (Joel 2:28). What was Phillip really asking for in John 14:9? A selfie with Jesus and His Father? If according to Nicole Lampe Digital Strategy Director at Resource Media, "picture processing is an ability we were all born with" was not Phillip's question legitimate?
Leola Roach Haynes

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I Am Living in My Last Days — 14 Comments

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