After reading numerous opinion piece articles during the first two days following the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, I decided to stop reading news on it for a while. I had come away so depressed! Not because I believed the future was bleak, but because that’s all that the mainline media establishments offered in their analysis.
It wasn’t until I sat down in my lounge room in reflection, that I regained hope. I reminded myself that, no matter what happens, God is still in control. It is He that “removes kings, and sets up kings” (Dan 2:21). He permits nothing to happen in a nation’s history or in our lives individually that He has not already foreseen. So however bleak the future may appear to us, we don’t need to worry. It is God who holds the future in His hands. Whatever comes our way, He has already made provision for us to meet. While I know that He is just and will hold both nations and individuals to account, He is also a God of love. As His child, I just need to trust Him and His Word, rather than the bleak forecasts of a faithless media.
But I am not blind to what lies ahead. The Bible reminds me that Jesus is coming soon! I know too, that great trials await God’s people in this world. Bible prophecy tells me, the whole world will follow the USA’s lead in oppressing the commandment-keeping people of God. These things are certain. However, many things appear so uncertain.
Who could have imagined the changes in the political world during the last 12 months. Great Britain voting to leave the E.U. took many pundits by surprise. The election of Donald Trump as U.S. President left many more pundits dumbfounded. These recent international events seem to suggest that globalism, and its one-world agenda, has hit a speed bump. The rise in nationalism throughout Europe and elsewhere threatens to halt the globalisation of the last thirty years. China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea, while the USA ends multilateral trade partnerships and signals a refocus of priorities in international affairs, brings another dimension to the uncertainty we live in. On top of it all, the warfare on terror becomes more terrible as time goes on, with no certain end to the conflict in sight.
Considering where we are in earth’s history, such uncertainty should not undermine our hope. Jesus’ words relating to the last days, points to the reality that these things are to be expected.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…” Luke 21:25-26 (KJV)
In fact, we can take heart that through these things, God is giving us a wakeup call–a call to reconsecrate ourselves to Him, and go and finish the work He has commissioned us to do. Preach the everlasting gospel to “every nation kindred tongue and people”.
So let’s start right in our homes. Let’s start with ourselves and our families. Let’s shake off the stupor of indifference to spiritual things and reconsecrate our hearts to Jesus. Then filled with His love, and with a new found zeal and commitment to live for Him and Him alone, let’s share the message of the gospel–of Jesus and His love–and of His soon coming in judgment–to the world around us. Carpe Diem!
Yours in the Blessed Hope,
~ Paul Chapman, Editor.