If ever there was a time when we needed something stable and reliable to hold on to, it is now.
Hard times come and go. In our lifetime alone there has been a great number of unsettling years and dire situations. Looking back over those decades we find extraordinary testimonies of people of faith who held on to God’s Word and remained faithful in prayer. In him they found comfort, guidance and peace as they lived through very dark days.
As we journey through this tumultuous season of instability and wars, we can find rest and peace in our Lord. He is with his people, he is attentive to our prayers, and his Word is the guiding light we need.
The unsettling effects of evil are evident everywhere on Planet Earth.
None of this surprises us. Two millennia ago, Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 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.” — Matthew 24:6-8
This remarkable passage of Scripture has a timeless relevance. Although Jesus was describing the end times specifically, he was also speaking generally of the way things will be until he comes again.
When we live in reliance upon him, we can face the challenges of this life, endure trials, and still be at peace. Jesus gives us a very direct word of instruction: “See to it that you are not alarmed.” We are not to be frightened or surprised, but faithful and steady. Our anchor in life’s storms is the assurance that God is sovereign over all and has ultimate control.
The phrase “see to it” clearly indicates our responsibility. Our task each day is to nourish our faith with his eternal Word of Life. If we tend to our relationship with God in this way, we will experience his abiding peace even in the midst of a storm. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” says Jesus to his disciples, and we can count on this.
The kingdom of God is in conflict with the kingdoms of this world. The struggle between good and evil is strikingly obvious. In the midst of the conflict, many Christians become discouraged or give in to a defeatist mentality. But we must yield to God’s Word and allow it to speak to us.
Rather than try to sort out all the possible political, military, security and economic issues at hand, is there an overall approach that Christians should be taking as we consider the unfolding of God’s great eternal plan for mankind?
I believe our wisest response is to take to heart three specific statements of Jesus in the prophetic words of Matthew 24.
- The first statement is, “See to it that you are not alarmed...”. As mentioned above, nourishing our faith with his Word is immensely help here.
- The second statement of our Lord is “stand firm...”. (verse 13) Jesus is our solid ground. In other words, stand on his sure promises and prophecies of things to come. Rest on the foundation of his truth.
- The third statement of Jesus refers to the proclamation of the gospel. (verse 14) The Bible promises that the gospel shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Until that end does come, our priority is to be occupied with providing the gospel message to all nations to the best of our ability, seizing every opportunity for his glory.
Many EHC workers function under extremely hazardous conditions. They have worked and continue to work in war zones or under the threat of hostile governments or rebel forces. Commonly, their living conditions are unreliable and they are often deprived of what we would consider the most basic essentials. Yet, in the joy and strength of the Lord, they faithfully see to it, stand firm and proclaim the gospel.
History has demonstrated that the hardest of times have often produced the deepest devotion to God and his purposes. As we move closer to the last of the last days, and as we consider the present state of the world, including the threat against religious freedom in Canada, we must make our devotion to God and his mission a priority. Let’s remember that the gospel calls us to see to it, stand firm and proclaim the gospel.
May the Lord help us do this until he comes!
