Are You Ready?
When all of the news about COVID 19 began to stream in in early March followed by the mandates to close non-essential businesses causing millions to lose their livelihoods, which then precipitated the extreme drop in the stock market where millions of people have their retirement funds, my first thoughts went to Scripture.
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mat 24:36-44, ESV)
More than two thousand years ago, Jesus warned us that we were to remain sober and focused on the things of God. The warning was meant to help the faithful make sense out of the events that would eventually unfold in the last days. This whole experience reminds me of the story of the Tower of Babel. The westernized civilizations have slowly pushed any focus of God off of the public platform over the past 175- 270 years, and have made themselves the rulers and authorities of their own lives and over those of others. Humanity is being shaken with this tragic worldwide event. As a people on this planet, this should be an awakening and a realization of where our core values truly are. There have always been deadly plagues, but none like this.
This global pandemic came as a complete surprise to the majority of the world. These things are bound to happen, because we live in a world that is naturally decaying. There may be some who will use this occasion to curse God and taunt those who believe in his sovereignty. Be reminded that His crown of creation (Gen. 1-2) made the decision to walk away from his protected Paradise from the very start (Gen 3). I firmly believe that based on the character and nature of God, that this is a wake-up call for everyone. His grace seems to be allowing us to pull our act together. Many of us have become too cozy and comfortable in this world. It was over two thousand years ago that Jesus proclaimed to his disciples the coming of disaster.
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:32 ESV)
Although their trauma was different from ours today, it shook all of them to their core. This is a tragedy for all of us in some way or another and it is shaking many of us to our core. If you are a professing Christian, today is the day to share the TRUTH of the Gospel of Christ to those who are living in fear and in the reality of despair, not truly knowing the Creator. It is only in Christ that we hold the keys to eternal salvation and shalom. God knew long ago that you would be alive in this time, in this place. Declare to the world – Take heart – Jesus has overcome the world – Praise His mighty name!
It’s time to stick out our necks for TRUTH…Notice the signs... (Matthew 10).