Dear friends,
If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ll know that the world seems to be growing more unsettled by the day. Wars, rising tensions between nations, missiles being fired, threats being exchanged; it can all feel quite overwhelming.
But you know, when I see these things unfolding, my mind immediately goes back to what our Lord Jesus told His disciples many years ago.
In Matthew 24, Jesus said:
"You will hear of wars and rumours of wars… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."
See, Jesus did not say these things so that His followers would panic or live in fear. Quite the opposite. He told us these things so that we would not be surprised.
My friends, none of this has caught God off guard. Remember, He sees the end from the beginning - He already knew the course of history long before it unfolded. What we are witnessing today - the unrest, the conflicts, the uncertainty – these are the very kinds of signs Jesus said would happen in the days leading up to His return.
But here is the bit that really excites me:
In Luke 21:28, Jesus said something remarkable:
"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Did you catch that? He did not say hang your heads in despair. He said lift up your heads.
Why? Because these things remind us that God’s plan is moving forward exactly as He said it would.
Now of course, I’m not saying that we should be indifferent to suffering. Wars bring real pain to real people. Families are torn apart, lives are lost, and nations grieve. As Christians, we should always pray for peace and for God’s mercy upon the world.
But at the same time, we remember that history is not spiralling out of control, it’s moving toward a divine appointment.
Our Lord Jesus is coming again. And that truth should cause us not to fear, but to reflect.
You see, the real question is not when these things will happen - the real question is are we ready for His return?
Sometimes we can become so caught up with the busyness of life that we slowly drift away from the very One who saved us. Our prayer life becomes quieter, our time in the Word becomes shorter, and before we realise it, our hearts have grown a little distant.
But the wonderful thing about God is this: His mercies are new every morning.
If you feel like you have drifted a little, today is a beautiful day to come back to the heart of it all - back to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but giving people time to turn to Him. What amazing grace that is!
So rather than allowing the headlines of the world to fill us with anxiety, let them remind us of something far greater!
“Our King, our Redeemer is coming”
And until that day arrives, our calling remains the same - to love God, to love others, to live faithfully, and to share the hope we have in Christ with a world that desperately needs Him.
My friends, these are not days for fear but days for faith.
So, keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay close to Him. Walk with Him daily.
And remember the beautiful promise He left us with, "Surely I am coming soon."
Let’s close with a prayer:
Heavenly Father,
In a world that often feels uncertain and shaken, we thank You that You are still on the throne. Nothing that happens in this world is outside Your knowledge or Your control.
Help us, Lord, not to live in fear but in faith. Keep our hearts anchored in Your Word and our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Where we have drifted, draw us back to You. Where we have grown weary, renew our strength. And where our faith has weakened, strengthen us again.
Prepare our hearts for the day when Christ will return, and help us to live each day ready to meet Him.
May our lives shine as a light in this world until that glorious day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Love you guys!
