With the current state of our world, many are thinking this is the beginning of the end. While Scripture tells in Matthew 4:8, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” What does that really mean?
Unfortunately, this world is not getting better. People are inherently selfish and evil without God. The Bible tells us this.
I saw a video with Chinese nurses, doctors, patients, and dead in Chinese hospitals. (I am not sure when these videos were filmed, it may have been at the height of the epidemic). It was heartbreaking!
It’s so easy for us to see China as the enemy, or a place filled with godless, evil people. But, these are people under extreme stress, crying, wailing, and begging for help. Nurses watching people die before their eyes, while working 15-18 hours or more everyday–overwhelmed.
These people are tired and hopeless. They need our prayers and they need a Savior.
The truth is there is a growing, thriving, underground church in China. When people are denied human rights for their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, hopelessness escalates. But, when they search for hope they will find Jesus. And they are!
How long will it take for our country to become this hopeless? We are already on our way. But, are we so bad that we are searching for Jesus? Are we willing to surrender our will, pride, materialism, and desires to be wholehearted, all-in, followers of Jesus, yet? What will it take?
How bad does it have to become?
Persecution grew the early church. Laziness and apathy stunt its growth.
Would we be willing to go against our government and meet in underground churches in the cover of night for hours, feeding on the Word of God and mouthing songs of praise? No, we don’t have to live this way, thank God!
But can you imagine your neighbors, or you or your family doing this?
The United States is becoming more and more godless. Some churches forego teaching holiness for a feel-good, do-as-you-please-God-will-still-love-you gospel.
God is Holy. He tells us to be holy as He is holy.
God is also LOVE. He is the very embodiment of love. He calls us to Himself. The Father disciplines us in this lifetime, so He does not have to punish us in the next.
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:26-28
We need not be hopeless! Neither do we need to let fear overcome us. The almighty, all-powerful Creator loves us.
God can right all wrongs with a thought or eradicate a pandemic with a word.
So, why doesn’t He?
Did God create this virus? I don’t believe so. But whether man created it or it was the result of eating animals we were never meant to eat, we have free will.
God will not take our free will away even if we use it to kill ourselves and those around us.
The Father uses all things to bring glory to Himself and for our good. If God cannot use it for good, then He will not allow it to happen.
This is not the end of the world.
Could this virus be a wake-up call? Can it change the way we have been living? I hope so.
I believe God will and is using this virus to open people’s eyes and hearts.
We are fragile. A microscopic, non-living organism has brought some parts of this world to its knees. Did this catch God by surprise? No.
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We have a non-fragile God who can help us in our time of need.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
This is God’s promise.
We love to quote these promises. But there is more to these verses….
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” Jeremiah 29:12-14
This is our part…
I’ve studied Revelation. It’s gonna get much worse than this.
Birth pains tell us something is getting ready to happen–new life is on its way. This present time may or may not be birth pains. Only God knows.
That is not meant to cause fear, but to encourage us to live a life for Jesus. He is on the winning side. We need to take that seriously.
There will be New Life–God has promised that for all who love and follow Him.
There is Hope.
His name is Jesus.
Amen. We are the light of the world, and light becomes more discernible the deeper the darkness. The light of the righteous shines bright like a trumpet sounds from a mountaintop. Some lights will dim by succumbing to the fear from without which calls to the fear from within. Other lights, who walk by faith and not by sight will not; as there is no spirit of fear within, only power, love and a sound mind. In the end, there will be leaders, followers and those who have fallen by the wayside. Leaders through the dark will have truly joined their spirits with the Lord and strength will come from within to overcome all adversity from without:
Ezekiel 14:19-20 19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: 20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
“We are the light of the world, and light becomes more discernible the deeper the darkness.”–so true and so good. Thank you!
I agree my friend. This is frightening, but not the end of the world. It is yet another clarion call that the time is drawing near. This means it is time for all Christians (true or supposed) to search their hearts and prayerfully seek God’s will in their lives. This is not the time to be self-righteous, but the time to be selfless. Selfless in our devotion to honoring Christ’s teaching and presence in our lives. God’s blessings ma’am.
So many people come tothe realization that they need God more when troubled times come. We saw it after Sept. 11th. I saw it recently in my own church when a member got cancer and his daughter, who was wayward, said she would come to church every Sunday if it meant her dad would be spared. She made it two Sundays in a row and then haven’t seen her since.We are a feel-good church in the USA for the most part. If we feel good, we don’t go to church. If things are tough some go to church, but most just blame God for the problems and moved further away.
The Christian church in China and Iran are praying for persecution of the American church so that they would truly come to know Jesus and be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. If that’s what it takes, then we should be prepared for it and expect it. ~ Ben Cooper
Thank you, Ben. You are right, we are a feel-good church. I love how you put that, but unfortunately it’s true. I have heard it said, as well, that China is praying for the American church to come under persecution…It’s a shame that is what it will take to wake us up. Thank you for your comments.
Jesus loves us and wants us to go to heaven with Him. So he is calling us. Will we listen….now? If not when? So we have free will to decide. If now, then you have the peace that passes all understanding, in times of worry. You have His arms to shelter you from the storm. We can publicly announce our faith! None of us know what later may hold. He is waiting.
Thank you, Carla. Good words!
Amen, Stephanie. This is a great perspective full of reminders of how we need to look at our present circumstances. God is still God, in control and on His throne. Nothing surprises Him. Times like these are all part of living in a fallen world. Thankful for the hope we have in Jesus Christ that all things will be made new again…one day!
Thank you, Karen. Hope is so important in this world. I am thankful we have hope in Jesus, too.
I agree, Stephanie. Someone sent me a text last week and asked, “Is this the end of life?” My response was, “No. That will be much worse!” Our hope in the Lord will carry us through! Thank you for your post!
You are welcome! I was hesitant to post this message, but after asking a few people to preview it, I decided to post it. I am glad I did. I had someone from China see it.