Sister
Grace at the convent opened a letter from home and found a $100 bill from her
parents. She smiled at the gesture. As she read the letter by the window, she noticed a shabbily dressed stranger leaning against the
lamp post below. Quickly, she wrote, "Don't despair. Sister Grace" on
a piece of paper, wrapped the $100 bill in it
and tossed it out the window. The stranger picked it up and read the note. He
tipped his hat to Sister Grace and hurried away.
The
next day, Sister Grace was told that a man was asking to see her. She
went down and found the stranger waiting. Without a word, he handed her a
huge wad of $100 bills. "What's this?" she asked. "That's your
$8,000, Sister," he replied. "'Don't Despair' paid 80-to-1."
If
you read the headlines, it seems the
moral and ethical fiber of our nation continues to spiral out of control. We are entering a period in our country where Christian morals and values are
being marginalized; you and I are rapidly becoming the minority. It can be quite discouraging. How will the Church survive in a nation no
longer receptive to our beliefs? What
does the future hold for Christians or for humanity? Christ warned us that in the last days, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold”[1] (Matthew
24:12). Should the Church continue to
fight against evil or should it quietly and peacefully roll over and die? Has Christianity lost its ability to
influence this world? Is there any hope
for a revival?
Don’t
despair. Revelation chapter 15 informs
us that all is not lost. Even up to the
very end, some people will still turn to God.
(Revelation 15:1-8) Then I saw in heaven another marvelous
event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues,
which would bring God’s wrath to completion. 2 I saw before me
what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people
who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number
representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3 And
they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just
and true are your ways, O King of the nations. 4 Who will not
fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will
come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
5 Then I looked and saw
that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 6 The
seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They
were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. 7 Then
one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl
filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 The
Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the
Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.[2]
It will be a dark and wicked time
in the days when the world is ruled by the Antichrist; evil and treachery will
fill the land. Yet, gathered on this
glassy sea are those who refused to bow down to Satan and his demonic
influence. And despite all the disasters
and hardships caused by the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets, they continued to
worship the Lord God. In those dark
days, the righteous will shine, and the darkness will not be able to extinguish
their light.
The words of Paul ring true; “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”[3]
(Romans 5:20).
I am encouraged by this. Not every person will cave under
pressure. The Antichrist and the False
Prophet will not subdue all of humanity; they will not wrestle everyone into
submission. In some of the darkest times
on earth, many people remain steadfast in their faith. Isn’t that amazing? It gives me hope for today.
If people can be victorious over
the world in that day, shouldn’t we be even more victorious today? Today is a day of salvation. Today the Holy Spirit is present among us. Today, the hand of God is restraining evil
and the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6). If those under severe persecution can shine
brightly in the dark days to come, certainly
you and I should be able to persevere today.
But how do we accomplish
this? How do we thrive in today’s culture?
If the Man of Lawlessness is being restrained, how can we continue to
impact this world for Jesus? The Lord
has pointed out that, “the one who endures to the end will be saved”[4]
(Matthew 24:13). So, how do we endure?
The Apostle Paul, a first-century evangelist, shares some
instructions on how to live as lights in this dark world.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his
dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the
example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a
pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual
immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s
people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these
are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You
can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom
of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things
of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those
who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey
him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For
once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live
as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only
what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what
pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of
evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even
to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But
their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for
the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you
live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make
the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act
thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t
be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with
the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And
give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ [5] (Ephesians 5:1-20)
In the dark days ahead, not
everyone will be lost. Some will resist
the Antichrist and the false prophet.
And I am encouraged by this. If
men and women can resist evil in those days, surely we can resist in these
days… these days while the Spirit is still working among us. In fact, John the Apostle says it is the
presence of God’s Spirit within us that enables us to overcome the sins of this
world. “You are from God, little children, and have
overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world”[6]
(I John 4:4). Kind of makes you want to
sing, doesn’t it?
If there is one thing that has
remained consistent over time it is the human heart; the spirit and the soul of
men and women are the same today as it
was yesterday. Throughout history, some people worshiped the darkness,
but in those dark days, there were some
who went searching for the light. It is
the same today. In a land that is
amoral, we will find people here and there who are searching for love and
meaning; people who know deep in their heart that there must be something more
to life. As long as people thirst for
Truth, the message of Jesus will remain.
Regardless of what happens in the world, the Church will always find a
way to reach the lost with God’s offer of grace.
[1] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 24:12). Carol Stream,
IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Re 15:1–8). Carol
Stream, IL.
[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ro 5:20). La
Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 24:13). Carol Stream,
IL.
[5] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 5:1–20). Carol Stream,
IL.
[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (1 Jn 4:4). La
Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
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