The world gets more evil every day. It seems to spin faster and faster to destruction with every story and news cycle. Despair and hopelessness fill lives as money disappears, homes are nearly impossible to buy, and livelihoods are threatened. Fear runs as an unseen undercurrent in the background of people’s minds as the horror of the Spirit of the Age ramps up his attack on God’s greatest creation.
The Bible explicitly says, “as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the last days,”. Do I know for sure we are in the end times? No! But I do know that each day brings us that much closer to the return of Christ. What we see around us are a sign of that. We have seen the removal of God in countries all around the world and now in our own. Something will always rule…so is it any surprise that when God is removed from that position the old gods (demons) should replace him?
We are seeing a rise in wickedness that we would not have believed possible just a few generations before. The rulers and principalities know their time is short and they are taking full advantage. They HATE us because we are made in the image of the one who is going to judge them. God creates good things, and they can only make counterfeit.
How do we not fall into the pit of despair that the Prince of Darkness has set out for us? By remembering God’s promises. He didn’t promise that life on earth would be easy, instead he promises Heaven and to be with us no matter what. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” Jesus said. So memorize the promises! Praise the God who is your creator. Look at a sunrise, listen to the joy of the birds singing, marvel at the change of seasons, see His grand design in friends smile.
Ask God to walk with you, for his angels to lift your heart. Count your blessings. Even King David in his deepest hurt turned to God and praised him. God promised to leave a remnant of Christians even when the persecution is severe. We need to cling to that. To never forget that to be with Him is the greatest joy we can look forward to.
As Sam Gamgee put it, “There is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for,”. ***
***Quote from the Lord of the Rings the Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien movie adaptation