January 23, 2023
The price of eggsā¦ a Mall of America security guard threatening the wearer of a āJesus savesā t-shirtā¦ attacks on the US power gridā¦ a worldwide obsession with pornographyā¦ another wave of nuclear threats coming out of Russiaā¦ a universal weakening of democratic institutionsā¦ a global reshuffling of leadersā¦ threats of ācivil warā in Israelā¦ corruption in the highest levels of government across the worldā¦ weaponized Artificial Intelligenceā¦ deep fake audio and video enabling previously unimagined levels of deceptionā¦ global economic chaosā¦ and on and on.
What do these and hundreds of other things like them have in common? They are signs of the soon coming of Jesus. Planet earth is in the throes of the birth of a new world. Itās difficult ā even excruciating ā but it is also thrilling. We are entering the days foreseen by the prophets.
In this end-times world, we are increasingly surrounded by foolishness, rage against God, arrogance, and by people who devise and delight in evil. Itās important for us, our loved ones, our churches, and our communities that Christians respond well. So, how does God say to respond?
First, letās look at how not to respond. Jesus taught us not to respond in kind. We are not to spew expletive-saturated vitriol at perceived enemies over social media. We are not to become fearful or violent. Fear and rage go hand in hand. Extreme anger often comes as a result of feeling afraid or threatened. Thatās why it is so important for Christians to walk in faith. How can you win people to Christ while living in fear of them and feeling unrelenting anger toward them?
In Mark 11:22, Jesus gave us the answer in only four words ā āHave faith in God.ā
If your faith is in your own strength or the strength of your political associations or in a particular leader, you will naturally be afraid. You will be outraged by every potential threat. But faith in God allows you to exhibit and grow the fruit of the Spirit ā ālove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.ā (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB)
Donāt pass over that list too quickly. Consider each word. Donāt you want that? Doesnāt the world need that? Those words represent light in an ever-darkening age ā āloveā¦ joyā¦ peaceā¦ patienceā¦ kindnessā¦ goodnessā¦ faithfulnessā¦ gentlenessā¦ self-control.ā
Proverbs 24:19 says, āDo not fret because of evildoers.ā Social media and cable news networks teach us just the opposite. They want us to do nothing but fret over the actions and attitudes of others. If your concern is only for your own worldly well-being, then you will be obsessed with what evildoers are up to. But if you take Godās perspective, you wonāt agonize because of evildoers, but over the future of evildoers. The next verse, Proverbs 24:20, says, āFor there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.ā
For that reason, verse 19 and many other scriptures admonish us not to envy evil men. They may be flying in lush private jets to conferences about the terrors of climate change. They may have celebrity and power. But unless they turn to Christ, eternity will not be a happy place for them. Meanwhile, the lowliest (by the worldās standards) man or woman in Christ will live in an eternity full of love, joy, and peace.
And we who have faith in God, can live in the same heavenly love, joy, and peace ā now.
