My Heart Will Not Faint

     

If you turn on the news today you find story after story that will not bring hope, but will instead bring discouragement, fear, and hopelessness. Israel is in a war that doesn't seem to be coming to an end any time soon. People are dying and a line has been drawn down the middle demanding that you pick a side. The news depicts Israel as ruthless, killing innocent people, involved in genocide. In my country there are protests and I would say that the majority are crying for the Palestinian state to be delivered. Antisemitism is increasing. Russia is at war with Ukraine and the nations that surround Israel are increasingly becoming a growing threat to any chance of Peace. Tensions are increasing and it appears that things will only get worse. It appears that more wars will arise, more lives will be taken and the idea of Peace and Prosperity is at stake.

    To add to all this we see in our generation that the love of many people is growing cold and the world is becoming more and more Godless. Our political leaders are increasingly demanding the celebration of rebellion towards God. People parade declaring and celebrating sexual immorality and even pushing the agenda to deceive our children. There is an outcry for the justification of murdering babies. Violence is increasing and week after week we see fights breaking out at sports events, businesses being looted and destroyed, and cities overtaken by drugs. Selfishness is increasing and even taught and encouraged to individuals to make sure they get what they are entitled to and deserve, neglecting the need to have a heart that seeks to serve and love others before themselves. For many financial struggles are ever present and there seems to be no way out of it. God warned us this would happen in His word. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us  "But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" Indeed we are in perilous times.

    If you don't know Jesus there is no answer to the increasing problems our world is facing. Instead of Jesus, many put their hopes in the political leaders, entertainers, drugs, alcohol, relationships, calling of spirits, looking into self for empowerment, and the many other false insecurities that this world offers. All these things will only leave you breathless, broken, and without hope in the end. They will not bring nor be the answer no matter how how hard you try. 

   I want to bring encouragement to you in this. Through the chaos that increasingly surrounds us every day, God loves us so much that he has provided his plan of salvation through all this darkness. To begin, since the book of Genesis God has provided us through his word of his plan through his Son Jesus Christ to save us from this fallen, depraved, sinful world. But that's not it. You see before God destroyed the earth through the account of the flood, God was merciful to spare Noah and his family. Noah loved and followed God. Just like we see the evil days ahead of us today, Noah was going through the same thing. The world was full of violence, lovers of pleasure instead of God, violent, worshipers of idols, and denied God. But God gave Noah his plan. All Noah had to do was believe. As Noah built his ark and delivered the message of the flood to come, the wicked mocked him, laughed, and continued to indulge in sin. They thought there was no flood coming.

    Believe it or not, he has given his saints and church a plan as well. All the things we see today are already revealed in scripture. Our Father in Heaven has already informed us that these things will take place. And the best part of it all is He has a plan. The bad news folks is these things are coming soon. The rise of the antichrist kingdom is happening and the antichrist will arise. He will make his war on the saints. The Church will be under attack and the saints will be persecuted. But if we remain faithful to him and endure, taking up the name of Jesus and living for him we will be spared from the eternal death that the world will be judged for. Just like Noah knew the flood was coming, we know that horrific things are on the way. How do we prepare? Noah built the Ark preached of the coming flood and gave those who didn't believe a chance to repent. In the same way, it is imperative that we not shy away from the gospel but tell as many as we can of the things to come. Jesus is coming soon for his Church, real soon. And many now are mocking the return of Jesus declaring "Where is this Jesus who is supposed to return!" So many are lost and need to hear the good news of what Jesus has done on the cross. With prophecy literally being fulfilled before our very eyes we need to warn those who don't know the Lord of the coming judgment that's about to take place.

    With all this said, through the increasing darkness, our world continually spirals down into, my heart will not faint. The world is headed towards hell. I know I'm going to heaven to be with my Lord and Savior. Whatever comes my way whatever I must endure while I am here on this earth, my God is with me. Just as God delivered Noah from the flood, the Jews out of Egypt, and Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah my God will deliver me and his children. Now more than ever press into God through his word and prayer. When times seem dark and scary he will give you the strength, joy, and hope to overcome it all. I will praise the name of Jesus through every circumstance. Church let's all rise together and proclaim the name of Jesus.

    We don't want to be asleep when our Lord and Savior return. Revelation 3:10 says "Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Brother and sister press onto Jesus now is the time more than ever. May your heart not be faint but instead be filled with the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ who loves us so much. He is coming for his bride, the Church. He is faithful in his Word and we have every reason to live out these dark days ahead of us with hope and joy in Him.