Ahead of this world lies darker days. Yeah. I know. Hardly an upbeat topic, but one of which I have been all too aware was coming. Even the lost are watching what is going on in the world and I have heard say, “This world can’t last much longer.” It is a time that has been long prophesied but often poo-poohed as so far in the future that it is not worthy of consideration. Usually followed in a self-righteous tone by “no one knows the day or the hour.” True. But we know the seasons. (Matthew 24:32-34). Unfortunately, that time is upon us and God’s people seem ill-prepared to face it. For too long the walk of many of the saved in the US has been casual and only semi-committed. As I have traveled through other countries I found those who are less well off are more committed than the affluent. Jesus’ statement about rich men proves true, and of course, as a nation, almost all Americans are wealthy on world economy terms. But we don’t have to fall into the lukewarm category. We can choose.
I am fond of a verse in Psalms that goes; The wicked strut about [in pompous self-importance] on every side, As vileness is exalted and baseness is prized among the sons of men. (Amp) How accurately it describes what we see in the world today. We watch the abnormal in life become normal and what is righteous is considered wrong. Those who stand up for righteousness, the bible says will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. I encourage all you saints to stand up for righteousness anyway. A light in a basket is not much light. One thing about darkness. It can’t squelch the light and the darker it is the more bright is a candle so we should let our light shine. Ahead lies days when our kingdom (the kingdom of God) will shine brightly in the darkness around us. But not in a basket.
Though this topic may seem heavy I encourage you. You will not be alone. Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. Romans 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So let us “gird up our loins” as the saying goes, and run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1). Ahead lies a body of believers who will do even greater works than Jesus and shine brightly in a dark world. Will you be part of that?
