No matter where you may look across the continents, you can see man in all of his selfish, self-centred ambitions, wanting to rule from his or her little throne of power, and subdue the populations in front of his feet. It is happening right now in Ukraine, in Myanmar, in Cambodia, in China, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
America, like Britain, has completely lost its way, and from its grand Christian heritage has become a godless and spiritually bankrupt nation. The power and authority that both our nations once knew and exercised has been massively diminished by our choices to refuse the ways of God and sneer at his word, despising his commandments.
Our world hovers on the edge of catastrophe, the people have been terrorized by a virus that nobody has even seen, the nations are readying for war on every front, and evil increases rampant throughout the earth.
'The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up filth and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.' (Isaiah 57:20-21)
The Bible says, 'The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.' (Psalm 9:17)
The situation increases by the day, and it seems that there is little hope of any long-lasting remedy or peace coming over the horizon.
God is calling out to his people everywhere, to turn around and seek his face; to call for local, national, and personal prayer; to repent of our sin and worldliness, and to restore our promise to serve him and follow him. (Chronicles 7:14)
The kingdoms and the people on earth will rage and fight and rise up like the waves of the sea in a mighty storm. They have no sense, and just like their master, they will steal, and kill, and destroy, just for the sheer hell of it.
The days we live in are days of trouble and worldwide distress, but as a believer in the power of a name that is higher than any other name in heaven, on earth, and in hell, we can take to the skies like an eagle, and see from God's perspective the madness of mankind. It is then that we understand that God himself is in control of all things, and man is but on a very short leash, driven like a simpleton by his unseen master the devil.
Then we come to the knowledge that we have no need to fear, even if the earth shake and the mountains crash down in front of our feet. (Psalm 46. Read it, and read it, until you know it!)
God is in the midst of his people who know him. We have come unto Mount Zion, the city of the living God, to the whole church of the first-born (both here on earth, and in the presence of God), to an uncountable number of angels, and to Jesus Christ the mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 11:22-24)
We can stand by God's side and live in the full assurance that he who called us to this time knows very well why we were chosen to be here. It is no mistake or accident, but for a purpose and a calling, to proclaim his goodness and mercy to an unregenerate world, and to call men and women to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
That is why we are here.
We are not here to simply enjoy ourselves or indulge in all the passing fads and passions of this world. We are not here to build our cathedrals or make a name-plate to show off our prowess to everyone. And we are not here just to 'survive'.
As the darkness seeks to overwhelm the people, we are here to stand as the light of the world, for Christ said, 'You are the light of the world!' (Matthew 5:14). If we do not bring the light, then who will?
Singing a song that says, 'Shine Jesus, shine,' is quite nonsensical. Jesus is not a lightbulb. It is us who have to shine in this dark hour, and shine in full demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, declaring the kingdom of God is at hand; and calling everyone everywhere to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38-39)
This is not a time to cringe and be concerned about what is happening all around us, but to stand up and reign and rule in the midst of the darkness as priests and kings unto our God.
JGM 2020
