T he world seems to be getting more and more dangerous, near the tipping point of World War Three, so why can Christians have peace about the state of the world?
The Sovereign God
[1]The world seems to be getting more and more dangerous, near the tipping point of World War Three, so why can Christians have peace about the state of the world? Christians should understand that God is sovereign and nothing in the world is “out of control” because God knows the beginning and the end and all things are working toward His purpose and ours (Rom 8:28). Even the bad things are used for good by God (Gen 50:20; John 3:16), so believers should be at peace, knowing God is still on His throne and nothing will catch Him by surprise, even if it does us. Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God? He’s always been all-knowing (omniscient), so trust in God. He has the power to pluck up kingdoms and plant them (Jer 1:10; Dan 2:21), so nothing is too hard for Him.
The Peace of God
Christian’s do not fear death like unbelievers do, because we know where we’re going after we die, and unbelievers have no peace about what happens after death. To begin with, we are at peace with God because of our trust or faith in Christ. You cannot have the peace of God until you’ve made peace with God, but for believers, we know “we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). Jesus leaves us the peace He left the disciples, and this peace is everlasting (John 14:27). The peace of God will comfort and protect your heart, or as the Apostle Paul said, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). God’s peace guards our hearts and minds enough that no matter what happens, we are at peace about things and at peace with God. We understand God’s promise that nothing in the universe…no one in the universe, can separate us from our God and His loving grace (Rom 8:37-39).
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Wars and Rumors of Wars
The Lord, Jesus Christ gave the disciples a warning about the end times, saying that “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matt 24:6). Right now, we’re not only hearing about wars, we’re experiencing them around the globe, and even more foreboding, we’re hearing about a larger, world-wide war (World War Three) that threatens our lives, and the public is very worried. Jesus says in the Gospel of Mark, that “when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet” (Mark 13:7). Notice that Jesus said, don’t be alarmed (worried) because these wars “must take place.” It’s part of God’s end-times plan. Even today, Jesus’ words ring true as they did 2,000 years ago, just as fresh as if they were off the TV news, saying that, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:10). My friends, this is already happening right now, and yet, why should we worry? God is in complete control.
End Times Violence
[3]The Apostle Paul, shortly before his beheading, warned the young pastor Timothy, “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (2 Tim 3:1). Jesus said it will be just as bad…just as much violence, as in the days of Noah, when God’s judgment would come and only 8 souls were be saved. That seems to match where Jesus said, many are called, but few are chosen (Matt 22:14). Jesus warned that the end times, basically before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD (the end times for Jerusalem), that it will be like “those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark” (Matt 24:38). So just like it was before the fall of Jerusalem, it will be business as usual in the last days before the coming of the Son of Man. Things will be going on as normal as can be, day after day, when suddenly God’s judgement will come like it did in Noah’s day, catching most everyone by surprise. They had heard Noah, day after day, and yet refused to believe. Today, most people reject Christ, time after time. Someday, it will be too late for people to repent. That’s why God calls today the best day of all to be saved (2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Summary
What is the worst thing that can happen on this earth to believers? We can die in an attack from another country, but how bad is that really? After death, we’re suddenly in the presence of God (2 Cor 5:8). We’re in heaven! That’s what I am in hope of….seeing the risen Lord and falling at His feet. Nothing today can compare with that day (Rom 8:18), so we have no fear of death but only a fear of God. Whoever fears God has nothing else to fear. Fearing God means having a holy, reverential respect and awe of Him and His Word, the Bible. We can have peace about the state of the world today because we know that what is over our head, is under His feet.
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Conclusion
I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About End Times: 22 Revealing Scriptures [5]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.