True Comfort :: By Edwin Tan
There is no letup in the slew of negative news that spews from print media, cyberspace, the airwaves and the “Telly” as the pandemic shows modest signs of easing. Tossing aside misinformation plus misinterpretation, the factual material is more than capable of severely straining multitudes of mentally exhausted souls to the point of a major freak-out!
Perhaps there are a fair number of similarities if there is a comparison with that which happened in the Somme and the Ardennes forest. Soldiers and civilians found no respite from incessant shelling plus seemingly never-ending rounds of bullets. Not quite different when the various media sources portray a grim reality almost 24/7. One could mount a temporary escapade by maybe the Tube or MP3, but the tenacious cognizance of the unavoidable still rattles many veins.
In places like New York or London, the ever-present nature of the sullen truth is even much harder to shake off. The ominous screech emanating from an emergency service vehicle which could be interspersed with loud chatter about mass burials cannot be shrugged off as just another bad dream. Finding respite in these hard-hit epicenters of the corona virus would sound more like a luxury.
For the frontline folks in the thick of the action, reality is more like getting involved in a furious firefight. The seemingly unending toll numbers in the form of seriously ill cases is quite like a ceaseless barrage in unison with fusillades of a smaller caliber. Outcomes are not very distant from the aftermath of an epic battle. Colleagues succumb, some to the point of mortality. Burnout which can lead to almost irreparable psychological damage is almost a certainty as coping capacities diminish in the face of mounting pressures!
While a significant proportion of the above-mentioned crowd could be walking in circles as they ponder and try to make sense of the malaise they are in, there are some who question the relevance of the Living Word in the light of the prevailing black hole. Cynicism could then cloud some minds as desperation seeps in. For those with a smattering where Scriptural knowledge goes, that urge to throw in the towel and totally give up hope appears to be the sole option.
No fault of theirs because nobody told them what they needed to know about hanging tough. Worst of all, misinformation in league with warped interpretations of the Truth probably placed them in this parlous position – the next step could be depression and even suicide!
Maybe their church skipped it because they were not comfortable with it or it crossed the mind which was in a state of disbelief, but here is the comforting Truth:
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1Thess 4:14-18, English Standard Version).
It is in the New Testament and very easy to understand, but how many really believe that it will happen – let alone in their immediate lifetime! It even gets better; all that we witness currently points to the nearness of this great and wonderful happening. Luke 21:28 (quoting again from the English Standard Version) states this: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Amidst the torrent of gloom and likely doom, there is a genuine hope. The only issue here is whether there is wholehearted belief. If the parting of the Red Sea and the feeding of the thousands took place, would it not be fair to say that the Rapture of the church is going to happen?
It is therefore straight and simple, the prospect of it being around the corner is real. A lot of individuals do not know it because they turned their back on Bible Prophecy. Knowledge makes a critical difference between a sound and resilient mind versus a psyche bent on self-destruction. In the past, there was this thing about Bible Prophecy being confusing and difficult to comprehend. Many have turned their backs on the book of Revelation, equating it with a horrific blockbuster!
Take a look at the current situation, which is much more frightening. The book of Revelation plus the prophetic sections of the Bible give hope versus the newsfeeds and the deteriorating nature of things.
All for His Coming Kingdom,
Edwin