affliction

The unimaginable happened at the beginning of 2020. World-systems came to a halt. As believers, we know our God is our Protector, Healer, and Provider. No matter what happens, we are covered by our God. The Israelites in Goshen did not suffer seven out of the ten plagues of Egypt. Similarly, the blood of Jesus covers and protects us. The question is, “Do we have rock-solid faith?’

Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.”

Warnings in the Word

Jesus warned us about perilous times. In Matthew 24:7-8 He said, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish].” Jesus calls it the beginning of the birth pangs. We have already seen these signs.

There are many more signs that are visible to discerning believers who study the Word of God. God shared these secrets for a reason. He wants to prepare us, so we can face the situations ahead. He has shared prophecy after prophecy and revelations so that His children won’t be caught unaware.

Make your Faith rock-solid

Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” We need to strengthen our faith muscles and buckle up. This is not a time to take things lightly. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).” We need to fill ourselves with His Word and strengthen our faith so it is rock-solid.

We are going to see more unimaginable things. Matthew 24:29 says, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” God is preparing us. Just like we could never imagine how the world would come to a standstill and it really happened, these things that we cannot imagine now will happen someday in reality. Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” So, we need to buckle up and get ready for the time that is coming. 

Obey God’s Word and Be Safe

Jesus said in Luke 6:47-49, “For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house were great.”

We need to take the Word of God seriously so we can tide through these difficult times. If we scoff at the prophecies, we stand to lose everything, even our soul. Jesus wants us to be like the five wise virgins who were prepared with oil and ready. Be ready. We will suffer. Those who hate Jesus will hate us. Let us run our race such that we can overcome and receive a crown that will last forever. Become rock-solid.