The Apostle Paul had gleaned a great deal from the message of Jesus, making many connections to the writings of the Old Testament, of which he was a scholar. Yet he, too, confessed, “for now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror,” (I Cor. 13:12). He had come to peace with life’s unknowings, trusting God’s faithfulness, His love, His promises, His choice to place us in tandem with Himself. (We eventually must do the same).
But we live 168 hours/week in the natural, making the supernatural feel ‘out there,’ as in fanciful, the stuff of daydreamers. We sing along with the song lyrics, “I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won,” and we continue singing, “I don’t know what You’re doing, but I know what You’ve done.” This is all lovely and good. Accepting, and surrendering to, his Lordship and living in His promised peace 24/7, is, to be honest, arrived at through struggle, through doubts, through disturbed dreams.
The latest Middle East atrocity to have flashed across newsfeeds, and occupied much of televised newscasts may have shaken our soul’s serenity. It is one more senseless conflict unleashing terror on innocent civilians, as if the horrors in Myanmar and Ukraine weren’t enough. As if the other 30 or so wars around the globe weren’t reason enough to be shaken. At this point, I hear the oft-repeated words of Eleanor Mumford: “What do the Scriptures say?”
[the disciples] “ . . . what supernatural sign should we expect to signal your coming and the completion of this age?”
[Jesus] “You will hear of wars nearby and revolutions on every side, with rumors of wars to come. Don’t panic or give in to your fears, for the breaking apart of the world’s systems is destined to happen. But it won’t yet be the end: it will still be unfolding.
Nations will go to war against each other and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be terrible earthquakes – seismic events of epic proportion, horrible epidemics and famines in place after place. This is how the first contractions and birth pains of the new age will begin!” (from Matthew 24, TPT).
I’ve underlined one key phrase in the middle of the disturbing news Jesus was delivering because it is pertinent in today’s political climate. What reassurance! From Jesus himself! All these things were foreseen as the age would begin the final leg of the journey to its end, where Jesus is already waiting, victorious and smiling, to welcome us home! PD
