Terror strikes again. It’s not the first time, and certainly won’t be the last. Of course certain ones are politicizing the issue before the bodies are even cold, spreading alarmist messages and spinning things to their own design.
Who cares what they say? Forget them. Riddle me this: What would Jesus say? What would Jesus have us do? Prayers are being called for and lifted up, and unbelievers and God-haters have lashed out against those prayers with a brazen viciousness seldom seen.
So let’s cut to the chase. Are these the end times? Of course they are. It’s been “the end times” since the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in such a powerful way. But while it stands to reason that the End of Days is getting closer, and this is a terrifying prospect, nevertheless this is not an issue that should make us scared.
Submitted for your approval, this exchange between Jesus and his guys:
Matthew 24:3-14 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
In essence, Jesus told them that the Human Condition, in the fallen world, will continue and when they heard terrible, horrifying news don’t worry about it. He then predicts the terrible persecutions of Rome, and the advent of false prophets (Mohammed et al) and a warning about love gone cold.
But notice this: Jesus said “And this gospel (good news) of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Thanks to the efforts of Pioneer Bible Translators and other good groups like them, there are estimates that every last people group in the whole world will have the gospel in their language by the year 2050. Get ready!
But what about today? Sounds pretty scary out there. Our nation is unraveling from one end to the other. Just how do we of the household of faith react? What are we to say and think when it’s all gone sour, when our nation crumbles and order goes out the window and everyone is packing heat just to get to work?
Rather than feed the hysteria so popular now, how about finding comfort and calm (not to mention courage and faithfulness) in the words of the Holy Bible?
The Apostle Peter writes this:
1 Peter 4:7-10 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
In other words, we keep a cool head, we love deeply and serve our fellow man, using our giftedness to expand God’s grace.
Elsewhere he writes:
2 Peter 3:10-13 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Panic? Far from it. Those of us who are of the household of faith see evil working its terror, and we grieve for victims, and we ourselves are touched and hurt but we also see God working his perfect will and taking the grisly mess mankind creates and making something eternal out of it. The end of the world is a time of unimaginable horror for the world. But for us, it will be the time of our redemption.
So instead of running around like chickens with their heads cut off, we clear our minds, we offer up industrial strength prayers, and we take our unique giftedness and use it to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, meet needs and as we do it give them the way home to God in eternity.
Hey. It’s a lot more sexy to stockpile guns and ammo and furnish bunkers with supplies. I can't say there's really anything wrong with that. But I have a better idea. Let’s reach out to help and lead. Oh, and let us always be mindful of the new heaven and new earth that is our inheritance.
It’s as simple as that. Just as evil increases its efforts, so do we. No, we won’t all survive it as we think of survival. But always remember our momentary difficulties pale in comparison with the glories that await the faithful in a place where will be no mourning, no tears, just eternal bliss and love as we will reach out and touch the face of God.
We have work to do. Let’s get to it!
This is the Voice of One.
Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
