Afraid?
Just the thought of feeling fear is often enough to strike terror in the hearts of many of us. Have you ever really been afraid? If you have, then you would understand what I am saying. Someone once said in so many words or less, that there is no greater fear than fear itself.
Today more than ever, as we watch the news and read the papers, we are seeing prophesy of the end times, as written in the bible, come to fulfillment before our very eyes. You may say, "Yeah, but bad things have always been happening." and I would agree with you, except for one thing. The bible states that as the end of time as we know it becomes closer and the return of our Lord nears, these difficult times will increase in rapidity. The Bible likens this in Matthew, chapter 24:8 and Mark 13:8, as "birth pangs", and anyone that knows anything about giving birth knows that as the baby comes closer to being born, those birth pangs become more frequent, more rapid and more intense until the child is born. So it is with the end time events as we live in these last days.
The question now is this. When the many catastrophic things that are even now taking place begin to hit closer to home, what will be your reaction? Will it be one of fear and panic or one of a trust and faith in Jesus Christ that brings assurance and peace? We are living in those times now, so lets read and compare both positions of fear and of peace as contrasted in the Bible. What does the Bible say about the times we are living in now? What will those who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ feel and experience? What assurances are there, on the other hand, for those of us who do know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Luke 21:26 - "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
Those who do not know the lord...yes, the majority in the world today, will literally have heart attacks because of the fear and terror of things that are to come. Read Matthew 24 and we see that the end time will be marked with apocalyptic disasters. Even those who have lived a life in denial of the truth and validity of the Bible and of Jesus Christ himself will have to look up and admit that this earth is in a state of supernatural chaos. We now see and will increasingly experience super storms hitting various countries and coastlines; we will see almost every nation in the world at war or in a threat of war; we will experience earthquakes so intense that they literally change the rotation of the earth! Birth pangs! Birth pangs! Birth pangs!
Yet for the Christian, there is a wonderful promise from God in the Holy Scriptures that offers us peace and no fear during the times that God allows judgment to go forth on an unbelieving and unrepentful world that has for the most part rejected Jesus Christ and the way of the cross. Read as follows:
Proverbs 3:24-26 - "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
I like the above passage of scripture, but I love the portion where it says, "Do not be afraid of sudden fear". It is true that there is no greater fear than fear itself. Yet, if you have a true relationship with Jesus Christ, there is no need to be afraid. God has everything under control! He has a timetable for the events taking place before us even right now. And if your life is in Christ and you read the Bible, there is no need to fear because you know the "end of the Book".... how the story ends. It is one of glory, beauty, hope, promise and victory. It is one where life does not end but continues through eternity with Jesus Christ. There is no need to fear anything...even death.... if you know Christ and understand that life continues beyond what we know and experience on this earth!
Ask the Lord into your life today. You no longer need to live in fear and anxiety.
May the Lord bless this devotion to your heart.
Evangelist Mischa S. Safdie’
MISCHA SAFDIE' MINISTRIES
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