“… And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” – Matthew 24:6-8
Jesus was talking to His disciples about the second coming – when the Messiah returns for His Bride, the Church. I have heard many Christians suggesting that the end is near – that Jesus’ return is on the horizon. They say this, I think, out of an awareness that the world is shrouded in darkness. All of our technology and medical advancements have not changed the fundamental problem in this world – sin. Man’s efforts will always fall short of being the solution for peace and prosperity. It doesn’t matter what governmental system is put in place, what societal norms are embraced – sin will always mess it up. John Lennon sang a song with the words, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” The peace that the world is looking for is only found in hearts devoted to God by faith in His Son. Peace is a spiritual reality … not merely the absence of wars but the absence of hate which is to say the presence of love – the love that comes from God. So – if the world is not reconciled to God then it will not know the love of God and so will not have the peace of God.
Today we see wars raging – rumors of new wars starting – famine – pestilence or plagues or pandemics – earthquakes. We are in the middle of all of that! But “these are the beginning of sorrows.” A number of people have been asking me about how to respond to the earthquake in Haiti – how can they help. The catalyst for our going to Haiti was the earthquake in 2010. This is an unedited message I receive from Jeanne Pierre, a Haitian woman who served as a teacher and director in the school we helped launch in Bossier just outside of Jacmel. Jeanne was just married and moved to Les Anglaise with her husband to enter into ministry there.
“It’s where i am living after my weeding [wedding] with my husband now we are slipping [sleeping] in the yard because a lot of house are down and the les anglais church too. [Les Anglaise is on the Western tip of the Southwest peninsula of Haiti – not far from the epicenter of the earthquake] There are some children who are died it is so sad for the comity [community]of les anglais. Some families are criying. Parents and children together are died. It’s sadness where I just arrive two weeks about. Where we are preparing for les anglais ministries. I am from Jacmel but now in the ministry I leave Jacmel to go to live les anglais.”
That is a tragic story – please pray for Jeanne Pierre Amady and her husband, Thony Amady. They are part of Lemuel Ministries, https://www.lemuelministries.org/, [a Haitian ministry] in an area that may very likely be overlooked because it is not a population center like Les Cayes. My point in sharing this story is that what Jesus was talking about is more than hyperbole or mere words. It is about the struggles that people face. A tropical storm is bearing down on Haiti and many people are sleeping outside afraid to be in buildings.
So what does this have to do with you and me? As Christians we are to be salt and light in the midst of the rumors of new wars starting – famine – pestilence or plagues or pandemics – earthquakes (an other natural disasters). We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is too easy to read a post on Facebook, like it, and move on to the next post. Or to watch a news story and feel sorry for the people who are in the midst of it and then wonder “What’s for supper?” like the man in the mirror, forgetting what you just say. Are you your brother’s keeper? The answer is “yes”.
“ ... I [God] looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one...” — Ezekiel 22:30
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it –
Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His
Glory Alone
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