Peace in a Troubled World
Troubles are rocking our world on every side. The news is filled with pictures of fighting, wars, flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes, earthquakes, murders, mudslides, rising prices, and so much more. We experienced the attack on our World Trade Center; Hurricane Katrina; the India tsunami; the Haiti earthquake; the fighting in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and many other areas; the troubles in Israel; and the devastation in Japan. What does Scripture tell us?
Jesus tells us in Luke 21:9-11, “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. …Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers (various) places, and famines, and pestilences; …” Jesus told us that these events would come to pass, but He said “Be not terrified” or do not allow these things to cause you to fall or fly away. Jesus said in John 16:33 that if we were in Him, we would have peace. He says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus said in Luke 21:25 that there would be “distress of nations, with perplexity (emotional and mental poverty); the sea and the waves roaring.” Certainly, we all watched our television screens watching such a thing in Japan. We read in Romans 8:21 & 22, “Because the creature (God’s creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” The earth is groaning and travailing, and it is intensifying. I wept when I saw the faces of the Japanese people in such despair. Verse 26 says, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…” Jesus talks about the second coming in verse 27 but look at verse 28. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Church, it is time to lift up our heads. Jesus is coming very soon.
Hebrews 10:37 says, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." Verses 38 & 39 read, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (becomes terrified), my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (ruin and damnation); but of them that believe to the saving (preserving) of the soul.” The soul (the mind, will, and intellect) can focus on this world and become fearful, but Jesus said in John 14:27, “…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In other words, “Don’t you allow your heart to be troubled or fearful; believe in me” (v. 1). Finally, back to Luke 21:19, Jesus said, “In your patience, possess ye your souls.” We are to remain single-minded on the Word, and we (by the Spirit) will be able to “keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6&7). “For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Child of God, our Lord has called you and me to overcome by placing our trust in Him and His promises. Remember, our Lord is coming; He is our deliverer, our ark in the flood.