I think you will agree with me when I say that we live in a gravely dangerous time. Nothing seems to be the way it should. In America, we have a surge of illegal border crossings with a real concern that some of the “refugees” are fighting-aged men who may commit acts of terrorism in the US. Our political parties are so divided that they are like street gangs fueled by hatred and incapable of recognizing any good on the other side. In some states, large groups of thieves help themselves to thousands of dollars worth of merchandise seemingly without consequence, and some cities have a homeless, drug-infested crisis on their hands. There is political unrest in Europe as immigrants run riot through the streets of its greatest cities, and all across the West, there are debates as to what constitutes a certain gender and who may or may not compete in gendered sports programs.
There is a war raging between Russia and Ukraine, with tens of thousands injured, hundreds of thousands dead, and millions of displaced citizens. Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a new conflict, and the death toll is steadily rising on both sides. We also have a looming conflict between China and Taiwan and an uneasy peace between India and Pakistan. There are also numerous smaller conflicts around the globe, and domestic unrest seems to be rampant in almost every country in the world. As tensions, both nationally and internationally, continue to rise at an unprecedented rate, one is left wondering what lies ahead for us. In light of the above, we are left wondering if we are standing on the precipice of the end of time, with one foot precariously dangling over the abyss of nuclear annihilation and the other straining under the ever-increasing weight of hatred and conflict. Are we one event, one button press away from a global catastrophe that spells, at best, a return to the stone age or, at worst, the end of mankind?
Some say it is the end of the world, and some Christians claim to have the evidence that attests to it. When pressed to prove their assertion, they point to Luke 21:24, “They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Others believe that the drying up of the Nile and Euphrates rivers are prophesies of the end time found in Isaiah 19:5-6 and Revelation 16:12, respectively. Add all the weather-related disasters like floods, hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes, and things look pretty grim. These “end timers,” as we will fondly refer to them, wrap up their beliefs with the words of Matthew 24:7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
Whether we agree with them or not, everything that is happening in the world is making Christians and non-Christians alike nervous, maybe even fearful. However, Christians can rest assured that no matter what happens, our final destination is secure. The words of James 1:12 should comfort us, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” We cannot control the motives or actions of others, but we can make sure that we are prepared no matter the outcome. James’ words should encourage us to stop being alarmed at the “prophets” and calmly face the future with faith and expectant hope. After all, Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
We should also remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:36, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only,” and of Paul the Apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Instead of worrying when the world will end, prepare yourself in case your end comes sooner. Be sober-minded and aware, but don’t allow the happenings in the world to steal the joy of God from your hearts. Don’t let the devil rent space in your head. Recite the words of 2 Timothy 1:7, “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” And remember, all things work together for the good for those who love the Lord. No matter how much it seems like evil is prospering, it will only be a short time before it is vanquished again. Don’t worry about a single battle because the final victory has already been written in the annals of time, and we are on the right side. You are God’s child, so you will be victorious.
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