“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom and kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:7-8
What a week this has been! I thought I had each day planned carefully, then, very rapidly everything changed! Our city is in lockdown, everyone, especially those over 65 are to remain in their homes until our government leaders say it’s safe to go about our business. At first, I was dismayed! What? Now, I have to call or text every person the change of plans, how annoying! But thinking it over, I decided it might not be a bad situation after all! Our powerful God had shut down the business of the entire world because of a little virus that originated in a city I had never heard of, Wuhan, China!
We live in perilous times! Never in my lifetime have I been quarantined to my house! I had plans to go on a tour of Israel in May! Now the Prime Minister is telling all Americans they are not welcome until the virus is contained! Again, the Lord is changing my plans! Should I be worried? No, because I know the Sovereign Lord is in control and nothing is a surprise to Him. We can combat fear with faith! Trust God – He will take care of us! Jesus described the signs of the end of the age in Matthew 24: “watch out that no one deceives you”…. “many will claim, ‘I am the Christ’”….“wars and rumors of wars.” “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold……” But, do not be alarmed, the end is still to come!
That seems to be an apt description of our country and the world today. We are being deceived by some of the greatest minds in our universities, the world’s seat of knowledge. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.'” 1 Cor. 3:19-20. Some very intelligent people in one of our respected universities have come up with over 700 different genders! Yet our DNA proves there are only 2 as God created, a man and a woman. The thoughts of the ‘wise’ are futile!
How often in the news do we hear about wars? It seems like every country in the Middle East is going to war with another! And what about persecution? Open Doors, USA published some statistics on Christian persecution last year. In 2019, there were 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution.
- 2,983 Christians killed for their faith.
- 9,488 churches and Christian buildings attacked
- 3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned for their faith.
Our brothers and sisters in India, North Korean, China, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and the list goes on, are living in fear of beatings, kidnappings and imprisonment. Even in my own country with its “religious freedom,” how long until our freedoms are taken because of the name of Jesus? But, we are children of the “Day!” “Let us put on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!” 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9.
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus! 1 Thess. 5:16-18. Praise God! We’re on the winning side!!
Your friend, Jean