Walking Through Dark Times
By Sandra Moats
We are living in the times that the book of Revelation
speaks about. While waiting for the rapture when we meet Jesus in
the air our feet are still on this earthly ground. We must walk on
this ground until that time. There are many concerning paths that
lay before us because we are walking through dark times.
God is still speaking to the nations. The answer is
still fresh and alive, “Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden.”
Mt 11:28. Each one of us was born for this time in history. We
have been equipped to complete this journey. Whether we end up in
Heaven or Hell is our choice. God’s choice is that all be saved. 2
Ti 2:4.
Matthew 24:1-14 gives us a clear view of the birthing
process we are locked into upon earth. It speaks of the birth
pangs getting closer and stronger as we approach the time of
Jesus'' return. The disciples asked Jesus, “Tell us, when shall
these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of
the end of the world.”
Jesus replied, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
There will be a time of great deception. Many people will be
deceived. Recently while praying with some friends several shared
that their families were struggling with grown children who had
turned on them and literally cut them out of their life.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: For nation shall
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:” “see that ye be
not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end
is not yet.” Not only are there threats of war, but they are
Scriptural countries mentioned in End Time Prophecies such as
Russia also known as Gog in the Bible. China is a major part of
their red army of over 200 million. Rev 9:16. “There are more than
40 active conflicts around the world currently.” China is
challenging Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and other nations such as
us.
“And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in
divers’ places.” “On 22 June 2021, the World Food Program warned
that 41 million were on the brink of famine across 43 countries,
while 584,000 were already experiencing famine-like conditions in
Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen. “We have a worldwide
pandemic – Covid 19 and now the Variant form. We have large
earthquakes such as recently hit Haiti.
The Bible says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Folks,
there is more to come. “Then shall they deliver you up to be
afflicted and shall kill you:” Many American Bible teachers have
long taught there will be no persecution for the church in
America. That is not true. We are told in Scripture that we will
be afflicted, and some will be killed for their faith. Our hope
and joy must lay in the arms of Jesus no matter what we are called
to walk through.
“And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name''s sake. There
will be no place where Christians will be thought well of during
the End times. We see what is happening right now in America.
Christians are now branded as terrorists by many in our own
government.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another,
“There will be betrayal as we have never experienced before. Jesus
bore betrayal.
“And shall hate one another” Hate is evil to the core. We
experience hate every day now in one form or another. Hate opens
the door in a person’s life to demonic activity. Some believe that
Christians cannot have demonic activity in their life. When you
invite Jesus Christ into your heart, He has entered the living
room of your life. There are other rooms you may not have let Him
into. A woman came to our church and got saved. She was so excited
about Jesus and truly loved Him. But she hated her husband. He was
a rich and cruel man. She struggled with forgiving his everyday
actions. She became ill with cancer. The night she entered Heaven
I was praying with her as she, at last, was able to truly forgive
him with all her heart.
“And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.” Many
good Christians have been deceived into thinking when they give
their lives to Jesus their problems will be over. That is not
true. The devil is always working to cause Christians to trip or
fall away.
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Endurance is walked into. It does not come without effort and
consistency. We are told we are going to have to be walking in
endurance through these times. There are some steps that will help
us build endurance.
Taking the step of resting in the hands of Jesus will bring you
into the covering of peace that passes all understanding for it
remains with you in unsettled times. Jesus holds out His hands to
us that we might come unto Him so He can give us rest. “Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.” Jo 14:27; Eph 2:14.
If we are in peace, we can walk in wisdom. “See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise but
understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for
all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”Eph 5:15-20.
The third step is to keep awake and put on Christ. It is not
enough to be awake and alert to what is happening around us, but
one must put on Christ. As darkness covers the earth the fruits of
the Spirit will become plain to see in true believers. We will be
known to be a Christian, not by our words, but by the fruit of the
Spirit in our lives. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness,
self-control; against such, there is no law. Gal 5:22,23; 2 Pe 10-
18.
Bending our ears toward Heaven with our eyes set upon the Word of
God the Holy Spirit will guide us through these times until we are
safely home. When our son Nathan was diagnosed with ALS there were
many paths, we knew he would have to walk to get home to Heaven.
Through his remaining time on earth, there were many tears and
struggles, but when he passed from earth, I knew that he was
safely home in Heaven. Though we are walking through dark times
our way is lit by God’s word found in the Bible. It will help you
get safely home.
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