Walking Through Dark Times




We are living in the times that the book of Revelation speaks about. While waiting for the rapture when we meet Jesus in the air our feet are still on this earthly ground. We must walk on this ground until that time. There are many concerning paths that lay before us because we are walking through dark times.
God is still speaking to the nations. The answer is still fresh and alive, “Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden.” Mt 11:28. Each one of us was born for this time in history. We have been equipped to complete this journey. Whether we end up in Heaven or Hell is our choice. God’s choice is that all be saved. 2 Ti 2:4.
Matthew 24:1-14 gives us a clear view of the birthing process we are locked into upon earth. It speaks of the birth pangs getting closer and stronger as we approach the time of Jesus'' return. The disciples asked Jesus, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world.”
Jesus replied, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” There will be a time of great deception. Many people will be deceived. Recently while praying with some friends several shared that their families were struggling with grown children who had turned on them and literally cut them out of their life.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:” “see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Not only are there threats of war, but they are Scriptural countries mentioned in End Time Prophecies such as Russia also known as Gog in the Bible. China is a major part of their red army of over 200 million. Rev 9:16. “There are more than 40 active conflicts around the world currently.” China is challenging Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and other nations such as us.
“And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers’ places.” “On 22 June 2021, the World Food Program warned that 41 million were on the brink of famine across 43 countries, while 584,000 were already experiencing famine-like conditions in Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen. “We have a worldwide pandemic – Covid 19 and now the Variant form. We have large earthquakes such as recently hit Haiti.
The Bible says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Folks, there is more to come. “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you:” Many American Bible teachers have long taught there will be no persecution for the church in America. That is not true. We are told in Scripture that we will be afflicted, and some will be killed for their faith. Our hope and joy must lay in the arms of Jesus no matter what we are called to walk through.
“And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name''s sake. There will be no place where Christians will be thought well of during the End times. We see what is happening right now in America. Christians are now branded as terrorists by many in our own government.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, “There will be betrayal as we have never experienced before. Jesus bore betrayal.
“And shall hate one another” Hate is evil to the core. We experience hate every day now in one form or another. Hate opens the door in a person’s life to demonic activity. Some believe that Christians cannot have demonic activity in their life. When you invite Jesus Christ into your heart, He has entered the living room of your life. There are other rooms you may not have let Him into. A woman came to our church and got saved. She was so excited about Jesus and truly loved Him. But she hated her husband. He was a rich and cruel man. She struggled with forgiving his everyday actions. She became ill with cancer. The night she entered Heaven I was praying with her as she, at last, was able to truly forgive him with all her heart.
“And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.” Many good Christians have been deceived into thinking when they give their lives to Jesus their problems will be over. That is not true. The devil is always working to cause Christians to trip or fall away.
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Endurance is walked into. It does not come without effort and consistency. We are told we are going to have to be walking in endurance through these times. There are some steps that will help us build endurance.
Taking the step of resting in the hands of Jesus will bring you into the covering of peace that passes all understanding for it remains with you in unsettled times. Jesus holds out His hands to us that we might come unto Him so He can give us rest. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jo 14:27; Eph 2:14.
If we are in peace, we can walk in wisdom. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Eph 5:15-20.
The third step is to keep awake and put on Christ. It is not enough to be awake and alert to what is happening around us, but one must put on Christ. As darkness covers the earth the fruits of the Spirit will become plain to see in true believers. We will be known to be a Christian, not by our words, but by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control; against such, there is no law. Gal 5:22,23; 2 Pe 10- 18.
Bending our ears toward Heaven with our eyes set upon the Word of God the Holy Spirit will guide us through these times until we are safely home. When our son Nathan was diagnosed with ALS there were many paths, we knew he would have to walk to get home to Heaven. Through his remaining time on earth, there were many tears and struggles, but when he passed from earth, I knew that he was safely home in Heaven. Though we are walking through dark times our way is lit by God’s word found in the Bible. It will help you get safely home.