So many souls, Christians and non-Christians, live in fear and dread today.
Thousands are without jobs, or barely making a living. Retirement funds have disappeared into the pockets of thieves.
The elderly are wondering how they are going to make it. It’s always been tough for them, but it’s getting worse, much worse. And then there is Obamacare.
Plans for college have been put on hold or forgotten. Those graduating from colleges, universities, trade schools, etc. are shocked to find nothing there for them.
The cost of … well … everything, keeps going up, but the funds that come in the household have remained at the same level, shrunk or vanished. The only ones not feeling the effects are the wealthy and very wealthy.
Nature has turned against man and taken his homes in floods, wildfires and other “natural” disasters. There is too much rain in some areas, and too much drought in others. Winter skipped Spring and went directly to Summer, and Summer is here with a blast. Extreme heat has broken over 4,500 records.
Any crime you care to mention is out of control. Our police agencies are swamped, and our jails and prisons are bursting at the seams.
We may soon be hearing about the largest bank scandal in history. It is alleged that twenty major banks have been fixing interest rates for years. If this is true, it will affect the global financial system, and major Banks could crumble.
Diseases are rampant. New wars are anticipated. Earthquakes are breaking out around the globe. Volcanoes are waking up. Violent storms are moving over the oceans and headed toward land. And I’ve hardly scratched the surface.
Is there anything that could possibly give us hope for a better day? All that is around us is nothing but utter chaos, and is worsening by the day. Suicides are up because people are losing hope. Can there possibly be sunshine at the end of this long tunnel?
“1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:1-4)
“… I come quickly…” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7; 22:12; 22:20)
I’m here to tell you, that if you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your hope is grounded on the Rock (Matthew 16:18), God Himself, and you have nothing to fear. If you don’t know Jesus, you can, and you too can have a hope that surpasses anything you ever imagined.
By the time you have read to this point, some may be thinking, “I thought he was going to talk sense. I want to hear about real hope, not that religious stuff.”
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” (Psalms 39:7)
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” (Psalms 42:5)
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT)
Understand that all you see happening around you is bringing this world to a time of judgment, but if you would come to God through His Son, Jesus, there is comfort for you. There is a promise from God that you will, at His appointed time, be removed from this world to be in Heaven with Him while He pours out the really bad stuff upon a fallen world. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, and He is waiting for you.
Are you going to have relief now from the problems you are suffering? I don’t know, but God knows how much you can take. Even though it may seem that our current problems are more important than anything else, that isn’t true. Our eternal destination is the most important concern in our lives.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Maybe you’re more concerned with finding a job so you can eat, than contemplating a God you cannot see. I understand that, and so does He, but look past the material things and think about that part of you that will live forever, either in Heaven or hell. Am I saying that God doesn’t care if you find a job? Why of course, He cares! But I can’t make you any promises about a job. However, I can make you a promise about a caring God. He will be with you in all you go through. You won’t go through it alone, even though you may feel alone. Come to Him and ask Him to forgive your sins, and save you by the blood and power of His Son, Jesus Christ. He will put a peace in your heart that you have never known.
“30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:30-34)
Yes, the world is in chaos, but there is glory to be had. By the glory and grace of God, we can have happiness in the midst of misery. We can sleep at night in comforting assurance when we’re in His arms. He has promised that as he takes care of the Sparrow, He will take care of us.
“Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalms 37:24 NIV)
This life on earth may seem like a long time, but it is only one grain of sand on the seashores of time. Just as we now look behind us and wonder where time went, we will soon know no end to our existence. In the bowels of hell, each minute of time will be the greatest of agonies for an eternity, but in the glory of Heaven each minute will be another to enjoy in the never ending presence of God.
Will this chaos around us ever go away? Only in Jesus, will it be removed, but if we decide to turn Him down and walk away, it will just worsen and reach a crescendo in an eternal hell. If we will believe, we will have peace and enjoy in a chaotic world by the glory of God’s presence in our heart, and soon, maybe very soon, we will see Him face to face.
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3)
Grant Phillips