21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
When we seek Jesus often and strive to order our lives according to His ways and purpose for our lives, our soul (the unique being that is ourselves) finds life. The favor of God will keep us, steering our perceptions of the world so that we can see what is ahead of us.
We will walk safely because He will make all hazards known to us so that we can avoid them—large and small. From sinful thoughts to large-scale schemes and movements of wickedness wrapped in a guise of goodness, the Lord will not allow us to be deceived. We might go through periods of darkness so that we can gain experience and perspective, but our ultimate destination is not one of confusion and destruction, but light and life.
Few things can keep a person awake at night like worry, guilt, and resentments. If our heart is set on the things of God, then our rest will be sweet. Most importantly, in Jesus Christ we have the sabbath of the new covenant which is a spiritual rest given to those who trust in the Lord and do His will. Even if all the churches close and Christianity is considered to be criminal, our rest and gathering together is not forsaken because our Lord lives.
Our livelihood is not bound to physical structures or the permissions of mankind. In-fact, our livelihood flourishes in tribulations and persecutions for many reasons.
Although we do not want to suffer such things, we can find much hope should Christian persecution come full force. The corruptions of Christian culture will fall because Christianity is no longer convenient and profitable. Jesus—the Good Shepard who will not abandon His flock—is made King. We find unity among the brethren where there was once division. Our trust in God is strengthened, and He is glorified by a people who are devoted to His ways and not the ways of this world. The Kingdom is at hand, and our Lord is on His way to avenge and establish His just rule.
I do not rush the Day of the Lord, because it is a terrible and frightening day. However, if that day should come, we can find peace in knowing the good purposes of God.
As the world around us crumbles and gives into delusion, Jesus shows us the way. That does not mean that we do not experience fear and sorrow, but the promises and strength of Jesus underpins everything, thereby keeping us from being consumed by even the grandest of deceptions and social pressures—even that of the false prophet and Mystery Babylon should we live to see that day.
I do not believe that we are in the final “end times,” but there are many “end times” and there are many antichrists. I do believe that we are in a type of “end time” and sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. We should use this time to our advantage so that we can gain insight and grow strong. If the final “end times” should come, we are ready by the grace of God and His wise methods of ordering the world and allowing history to repeat and teach us.
The best way to prepare for the “end times” is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness now. In so doing, we are practiced in every skill that we need in order to withstand that day by the grace of God. These are skills in maintaining ourselves within a corrupt world, trusting the Lord, and patiently serving the Lord as we wait for His return.
How can we grow in these things now? What issues are consuming me and taking my focus off the Lord? How can I find greater peace and rest in Jesus? How can I attach to the world less and trust in the Lord more? I will be thinking on these things today.
Jesus Alone 