Stand

     Did you know the prophecies about the end of the age include an increase in knowledge, an increase in evil, an increase in earthquakes and an increase in wars? Our Savior tells us:

Nation wil rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Matthew 24:7-8

He continues:

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm in the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  Matthew 7:12-14

   “but, the one who stands firm in the end will be saved.” Stand firm. Fits in with our week doesn’t it? The world is shaking. God sees the end from the beginning. The Bible is clear. We have ample warning. Watch. Beware. Encourage one another. Keep the love of Christ as a flame. Stand firm.

The author of Hebrews talks a bit more about the shaking of the earth.

At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “Once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12;26-28

     When God created the earth and everything in it, He saw that it was good, but He gave us free will. He gave us choices. And He knew He had to make a plan. He saw how evil would seep in and eventually destroy much of His creation. So He gives us an out. He gives us a second chance. He finds a way. He offers The Way. He offers a new beginning. He offers us Himself. God saw the damage evil will do, the damage to the earth, the crash of the human spirit, the rising up of violence and drugs. He saw it all. What did He do?

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

     Stand firm and be saved. The kingdom of God cannot be shaken. The fallen world is crumbling around us. We shouldn’t be surprised. The authors of the Bible spoke of it thousands of years ago. Our foundation is secure. We cannot be moved. Stand firm.

Dear Father,

We thank you for Your Words. Continue to teach us and guide us even as the world is beginning to shake. We encourage one another with the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, the kingdom of forever.

In Jesus name,

Amen