Eschatology vs. The Matchless Charms of Jesus

A hurdler who focuses on the obstacle instead of the execution of stride length, timing, lead leg and body position, trail leg recovery and breathing, likely will not only lose the race but may collect the object of their focus as they go down in a heap before crossing the finish line.

As I study to understand our church's position on Christ's Righteousness, Justification and Righteousness by grace through faith, I continue to discover camps and staked out positions that create division and stress among the faithful. Last Generation Theology is one of those narratives that engenders passion. It is legitimized not through formal church doctrine but by the weight of adherents, like Herbert Douglass, Joe Crews and GC president, Ted Wilson.

Leaving aside the ubiquitous Ellen White, whose writings have blessed me greatly but who by virtue of the sheer volume of her work has been used to support and deny the Trinity, to support the pre-fall nature of Christ's human nature as well as the post-fall nature of Jesus' humanity, to predict 911 and the Miami Heat repeat, what does a focus on eschatology produce?

Once the hurdler understands the dimensions of the hurdle, height, width, mass, structure, spacing, etc., should they watch film of the stationary object, become obsessed with the color, construction, materials and craftsmanship of the hurdle or should they work on stamina, speed, strength, timing, breathing, technique, etc?

The Last Generation Theology adherents may be accurate in their eschatology, perfectly so, in fact. I can't argue that the bible makes it plain that there will be a witness to vindicate God as overcomers. Their logic that it's possible for justification and sanctification to be so thorough as to produce believers who are completely free from sin is unimpeachable. They may have painted the perfect picture of the hurdle.

But the prophet Jeremiah asks one of the most critical questions recorded in the bible:

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23 KJV)

How do we run this race? Can we perfect ourselves or help God in the effort? Should that be the objective or even a casual thought? I take no issue with descriptions and accurate prophesies regarding end-time events, it is a crucial part of the landscape. However, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus'  name. On Christ The Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Besides, John tells me that in addition to the 144,000, there is a multitude that no man can number who cross the line to victory. As my wife might say, I ain't studyin' no hurdle!