Serious Times

When the United States announced it would enter World War II, Americans knew that life was going to change and circumstances would be difficult.

But for those living in Europe or Asia —in the places where the flames of war burned fiercest— people prepared as much as they could for a time they knew would be indescribably difficult. They knew bad times were ahead. The Bible makes clear this planet is headed for difficult times. God’s Word assures us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12), and Daniel pointed forward to a coming “time of trouble, such as never was” (Daniel 12:1).

Though it isn’t possible to know what exactly that time is going to be like, it is clear that the faith of God’s people will be severely tested.

Revelation 13:8 says, “all who dwell on the earth will worship” an end-time spiritual counterfeit, with the exception of a group of people whose names are “written in the Book of Life of the Lamb.” The coming conflict involving every inhabitant of earth will be great. What will it take to honor God at a time when the world at large is doing exactly the opposite? Consider what God says in Joel 2:12.

In calling His people to repentance, God says, “Turn to me.” While no one needs to live in fear of the future, God points out that anyone planning to depart this world and dwell one day in the world to come must make a radical commitment to Him. This is no time to take faith lightly. Only those who allow God to be their everything will experience the power of God to carry them through a time of difficult trial.

We face tomorrow knowing Jesus is with us, and an eternity of security and peace is just ahead.