For years the world has enjoyed the success of advancements in many areas. In countless ways we are much better off than our forefathers. Even I can remember horse-drawn milk delivery wagons, ice boxes to keep food from spoiling and scrub boards to wash clothes. But – has all our advancement been good?
In a lot of ways, we have taken gigantic steps forward. Yet in others, we have lost significant ground. Morality is certainly one of those areas. Having tried to eradicate everything that has to do with the name of Christ and value system of God, society finds itself on a moral landslide. We have become a grossly permissive and a morally bankrupt generation.
It is neither naive nor pessimistic to acknowledge these facts. The days of Sodom and Gomorrah and the days of Noah are repeating themselves! (Luke 17:26-30) In the days of Noah before the flood, people were eating and drinking and living their careless and loose lives “… up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:30-39)
Paul gave young Timothy a jarring wake-up call in his inspired letter when he said, “Don’t be naïve. There are difficult times coming! As the end approaches, people are going to be self absorbed, money hungry, self promoting, stuck up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They will make a show of religion, but behind they’re criminals. Stay clear of these people.”
(2 Timothy 3:1-5 The Message)
In 1947 a group of atomic scientists created the concept of the Doomsday Clock. Its purpose was to help alert the world to the immanency of a man-made global catastrophe. On January 23, 2020, in an official ceremony, the clock was moved to 100 seconds before midnight. Never has it been so close to the stroke of midnight! Mankind is inching toward disaster the likes of which has never been seen. (Revelation 16-18)
The years leading up to Christ’s return are going to be extremely difficult. Jesus said, “…there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again,” adding…“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Matt.24:21-22
Isaiah asked: “Have you ever heard of a woman who gave birth to a child before having labor pains?” (Isa. 66:7) Similarly, “global labor pains” in the human and cosmic universe, will happen before Jesus comes again!
Today I join with Paul to clearly sound a word of warning! Let us not be complacent! Difficult times are coming! We need to prepare ourselves! Stand our ground! Stay ready! And let our roots go deep into the love and promises of God. We must not allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep or buy in to Satan’s lies that everything will continue just fine. They will not! We have got to keep our heads in the game! If we do, when the evil days do come and others are running around confused and terrified, we will not be shaken. We will discover that the Lord has already prepared us.
“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. …put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10, 13 NIV) “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus said. “My peace I give unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Thankfully God has given us a glimpse into the final chapter. And we win! (Rev. 22:17-21)
