For the last several weeks we have been talking about Navigating Through Life's Troubled Waters. Yesterday we wrapped up the series as we discussed Navigating Through the Last Days.
The question of the morning was: Do you believe we are living in the last days? Some people and ministries have prophesied about the last days, but it is all written in speculation. When people read through Revelation, often times they can come away from it confused. On Sunday we were challenged to take a different approach to the end times. Here are a few tips:

• We must be able to recognize the figurative use of symbolism and metaphor. Do not get hung up on the image, but focus on the spiritual truth behind it.
• When reading through The book of Revelation you should always start by asking yourself: What would John ( the author of Revelation) expect his readers to understand when they read this material?
• Since we do live in the last days, we should take care to live holy lives worthy of Christ.

Some of the most relevant words to explaining the last days are in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

For all who follow Jesus, these days are not really the end at all. It is going to be a day of rejoicing and happiness, for the wedding of the lamb has come and  his bride has made herself ready. So the challenge is to not get preoccupied with talk about the "End Times" but to be more concerned with our own hearts.