Where's the Power?

I am always intrigued when I read the gospel accounts of what many call the "end times."  What fascinates me is that the simple fact the Jesus seems to know most everything that will happen except the "day or that hour." I don't know whether that is because, as some commentators would say, he is limited by his man nature and not able to exercise his divine nature. Which seems odd, when he clearly seems to be exercising his divine nature to discuss everything up to that point. Nevertheless...

What I am noodling is this...if there were no "end times" as we often here it discussed and preached today, would the gospel still have saving power? If preachers stripped away the threat of the second coming and being caught asleep when Christ returns, would the simple gospel of justification by grace still have power?

Many of you may recall, or may still experience, that evangelistic question, "If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?" That is the lead in for many an evangelist when presenting the gospel. But what value does that have? Yes, I know it has value from the standpoint of heaven and hell, but what value does that have for someone to believe the gospel? Is the good news simply a safety net?

If Christ has not returned for almost two thousand years now, is there really any reason for me to believe that he will return today or tomorrow, or next week? Shouldn't my motive be to live in relationship to Christ because of grace, abundant living, joy, thankfulness and a reconciling peace with God NOW? I suspect in some regard, that is why the "prosperity gospel" has so much success, because it offers incentive for living in the now, not the then.

If you have made it this far, let me say clearly, the second coming of Christ is a part of my belief system. My question lies simply in this "where's the power" of the Gospel?

I believe the power of the Gospel is in the glorious news of justification by grace, through faith. That salvation is grace and peace, joy and the desire to fulfill and flesh-out the wonderful truth that God is one, there is no other, and to love my neighbor. Both of which I am incapable of doing on my own, it is only through Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit. If that puts me in good stead for the second coming of Christ, thank God!