In what feels like the blink of an eye, the
world as we know it has changed. It is no longer a place of relative safety,
where we luxuriate in comfort, routine and excess, but it has all too quickly
become a perilous place, where men’s hearts are failing them for fear.
Mankind has come to recognise that we cannot
control world events. Day by day each news report brings another tidal wave of
uncertainty. Leaders of countries are changing policies as quickly as they made
them. Hospitals, banks, businesses, shops and families are struggling to keep
up with events.
In amongst the chaos, we begin to wonder, will we ever find the calm?
Perhaps we ought to use this time of isolation to stop, reflect and search for the answers from a power greater than ourselves.
In the Bible, God tells us “that in the
last days perilous times will come.” Are we not certainly living in
perilous times? The chapter carries on to tell us, “For men shall be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money and boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving unforgiving, slanders,
without self control, brutal, dispisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3 v 1-4)
All this is sadly true of the world around us.
God made a promise to King Solomon, that he would always be with him, but only as long as Solomon walked in the ways of the Lord, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send an epidemic among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7 v 13-14)
So we may ask ourselves what is the answer for
us today?
The Bible in the book of Ecclesiasties gives us the answer, it is very simple: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” (Ecclesiastes 12 v 13) This is all God has ever asked for, it’s quite simple really, but for thousands of years people have turned their back on Him.
We are getting close to the time when He will
send His son back to the earth. In the book of Matthew we are told,
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in
heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they shall see the
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
(Matthew 24 v 29-30)
What does that mean for you?
Don’t stress about what tomorrow will bring, as Jesus tells us in Matthew, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” Tomorrow is another day, worrying about it will not change things. Rather turn to God and seek his coming kingdom, when goodness and mercy will prevail,”Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take 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 v 31-34)
If we do this we have nothing to fear.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)