Have you noticed the days we live in are so different from what life was like even a few years ago? How are you handling these times? Where do you find yourself looking for answers? What hope are you holding onto?
God has much to say about these days we are living. Jesus took quite a bit of time to talk about these days. He even gave us warning signs to look for as the end of the age draws closer. These are scriptures many avoid out of fear. I challenge you to remember where this kind of fear comes from and ask yourself: “why am I letting fear keep me from reading these words?”
I can tell you within these passages, you can unearth a great treasure. A treasure that will see you through whatever you face here on earth.
I will be taking the next few posts to go through these passages and highlight the treasure within. Let’s start in Matthew 24 (TPT).
As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, his disciples came to him and pointed out the beautiful architecture of the temple. 2And Jesus turned to them and said, “Take a good look at all these things, for I’m telling you, there will not be one stone left upon another. It will all be leveled!”
3Later, when they arrived at the Mount of Olives, his disciples came privately to where he was sitting and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what sign should we expect to signal your coming and the completion of this age?”
4Jesus answered, “At that time deception will run rampant. So beware that you are not fooled! 5For many will appear on the scene claiming my authority or saying about themselves, ‘I am the Anointed One,’ and they will lead many astray.
6“You will hear of wars and revolutions on every side, with more rumors of wars to come. Don’t panic or give in to your fears, for the breaking apart of the world’s systems is destined to happen. But it won’t yet be the end; it will still be unfolding.
7“Nations will go to war against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms. And there will be terrible earthquakes, horrible epidemics, and famines in place after place. 8This is how the birth pains of the new age will begin!”
We are seeing many of these things globally today more than any other time in history. Jesus told us these things are destined to take place, but it will not be the end yet as we see in verse 6. One treasure in this verse firmly states: do not panic or give into fear! We must remember who we are in Christ. We are children of the one true God. We belong to him and he has promised to protect us when we are hidden in Him. Read Psalms 91 or the blog post titled, “In the Storm”.
2 Timothy 1: 7 says, “For I have not given you a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.” You have been given Holy Spirit who is never separated from power for he is God and he lives inside you if you believe and confess Jesus is the son of God.
Let’s continue in verse 9.
9 “You can expect to be persecuted, even killed; for you will be hated by all the nations because of your love for me. 10 Then many will stop following me and fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many lying prophets will arise, deceiving multitudes and leading them away from the path of truth. 12 There will be such an increase of the sin of lawlessness that those whose hearts once burned with passion for God and others will grow cold. 13 But hold your hope firmly to the end and you will experience life and deliverance.
14 “Yet through it all, the good news of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God. And after that the end of this age will arrive.”
I understand that verse 9 alone is frightning. People around the world are being martyred for choosing Jesus. It will not be that way for everyone for when you keep reading the good news of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed and shown through a demonstration of God’s power all over the world.
For the believer, the warning Jesus gives about those who will make decisions by what they see happening around them will cause them to fall away from Christ and stop following him breaks my heart. Christ even says that those whose hearts burned with passion will grow cold is most alarming.
The reality of eternity here is what is at stake. To fall away from faith is to choose to leave the kingdom of heaven and stop obeying Christ. This responsibility is ours as children of God. Jesus tells us in Luke 21: 34-36, “Be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold. Be careful that you are not caught off guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap. Don’t let me come and find you drunk or living carelessly like everyone else. For that day will come as a shocking surprise to all. Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with a clear conscience.”
Be encouraged as we develop our relationship with God, we will be provided for and protected. Look at verse 13 in Matthew, it is our treasure to overcome! “But hold your hope firmly to the end and you will experience life and deliverance.” Notice the word “will”, this is a word that connects to God’s promises. When we read ‘will’ or ‘shall’ in the bible, we can be confident God means what he says. (2 Corinthians 1:20) So in this verse, when we endure and hold onto God and his Word we will experience life and deliverance here on earth and for eternity! God will not let go of us!
To finish strong is to stand before the Lord hearing the words, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant’. To finish strong is to look deep inside and examine your own heart against the Words of our Lord. To finish strong is to humble ourselves here on earth to make things right in our own lives with God. To take responsibility for our thoughts, decisions, and beliefs is what is necessary to finish strong as a child of God.
