Most of us have big colorful television sets in prominent places in our homes and advanced computers in our pockets. It’s a mixed blessing at times like this. We have all watched in horror the evil acts against people in Israel last week. What the Bible says in true. Humans are capable of demonic evil. It’s being streamed around the world. Demonic hatred for the Jews is on world-wide display again as the Scriptures repeatedly warn us will be the case all the way to the end-times. You can read about it clearly in Revelation 12. Satan hates Israel and inspires people to despise them. In fulfillment of Scripture Israel has been regathered to its rightful land though most have not yet trusted in Jesus as Messiah.
Now Israel has vowed to mete out justice to those who committed the atrocities. The vile terrorists are hiding behind innocent women and children. The suffering of the innocents deepens our grief and confirms what God said would happen. Around the world Jews and Gentiles are taking sides and demonstrating in the streets. The whole world today is boiling with hatred and anger.
The Antichrist?
This could be the perfect atmosphere for someone to rise to popularity by promising a peaceful solution. The Scriptures teach that one day the Man of Sin will rise up in supernatural power and broker a peace agreement between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Shortly after that the Man of Sin—the Antichrist—will betray God’s people, Israel. We don’t know when that will happen, but this is the exact atmosphere that would make the whole world vulnerable to it.
Over the last few years more and more the Jews have been gathering to pray on the Temple Mount and this has stirred Islamic militants with deep hatred. The Jews would love to rebuild a Third Temple. Preparations are being made for it. This will happen one day because the scriptures say the Man of Sin will desecrate the temple when he breaks his promise to Israel.
Jesus is Coming!
We who love the Lord and long for his return are reminded of the promise of Christ’s return. This should make us want to study our Bibles and be well-informed about about End Times events.
When Jesus first came he expected his disciples to know what the Old Testament said about his first coming. He has given us his Word and he expects his people to know what it says about his second coming. We may not see every detail clearly until it gets closer but we should study to be aware of what devout students of scripture have written even when they differ, so that when the time comes we will be ready and aware. There are things about Jesus return that all genuine Christians agree on and there are areas where godly people with a high view of Scripture differ, but we should know what the major positions are so we will clearly know what is happening as events unfold.
What Are You Thinking About?
In other words, as devout believers we should not leave large tracts of scripture unstudied and spend hours of time filling our heads and schedules with things that really will make no difference in eternity. Remember what we tell our children in AWANA is still true… Approved Workers Are Not Ashamed—why because they “…study to show themselves approved unto God rightly dividing the Word of God.” If you do not accurately handle the Word of God you should be ashamed… I didn’t say it, Paul did.
What do we love? There is an easy way to tell. What do you talk about? What do you spend time on? What do you spend money on? What do you get excited about? What makes you angry? These things betray the truth about the content of our affections.
When events in Israel spill out and they capture the attention of the whole world, it should be a reminder to us that God has promised to reward those who love his appearing… who love him at his appearing when the love of many is growing cold.
People who love God and love this appearing pray with fervency.
People who love God give to fund good works.
People who love God sow the seed of truth wherever they can.
People who love God live holy lives.
We should elect honorable representatives. We should try to pass laws that reflect the law of God. When we see evil intensify we should rest deeply in Christ who holds everything together and we should intensify our fidelity and obedience to him.
And at the end of the day, we need to get up in the morning and go to work and as representatives of Christ in a world where the love of many is growing cold. But we should never go out into the world without a keen awareness that we have a calling and commission from Christ. We are children of the Living God and we are tasked to represent him to our world and make him known. We don’t just go off to work to make a living. We see our work as worship. We see our work as service to others. We see our work as a way to show God’s love in a world of hate… or indifference. We see our work as a way to fund his cause. We see our work as a way to witness. It is a mission field. And our work is a place of simple obedience to God.
One day St. Francis of Assisi was out hoeing a row of beans when a passerby asked, “What would you be doing right now if you knew this was the last day of your earthly life?” He replied, “I would finish hoeing this row of beans.”
Prayer: “God help us to be faithful to you in the row of beans you have given us to hoe.”
Bittersweet Farm | October 14, 2023
