Sounds of alarm; What to do?
Jesus foretold that we would hear these sounds all around us. What are we called to do?
“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Jesus was not an alarmist, but a true prophet. He specifically told his followers, which could be anyone who desires to be free from worry and fear, to “Take heed that no one deceives you” and “see that you are not troubled.” In other words, know God and do not be afraid.
When the seemingly authoritative media sources tells you, whether implicitly or explicitly to be afraid, what will you and I do? We have a choice: to either surrender to the directions of Jesus or to follow the alarms of the world.
I believe if we surrender to God, we can be prepared for the greater troubles and to obey Jesus’ next plan of action. What was that next direction?
In this series of alarming descriptions, Jesus’ next command was,
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
History tells us that when Jerusalem was under siege, Christians were able to escape the impending destruction. So, what is the way of escape when the entire planet is under siege by a multitude of voices urging everyone to prepare for war? How do you get out?
In the context of this prophecy, Jesus commanded —
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
A widely loved (and sadly in some cases hated) author penned these words —
“Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence.
The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.” — Steps to Christ, p.94.1-2
While the voices all around us seek to pull us apart into a multitude of directions, or make us feel as though we are closed in with no way of escape, prayer both unites and protects.
Jesus was in the depths of a mob arrayed against Him, even among people who were supposed to be His own. Yet He gave His followers an example by staying in communion with His Father until the very end.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Luke 23:34