What next, Lord?

You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:6-8.NIV)

The hurricane YASI which hit Queensland, Australia, and has caused widespread damage, has attracted much attention. It is another of the disasters the earth is experiencing, and we are inclined to ask, “What next, Lord?”

It is not only the earth shattering news that challenges our minds, but what is happening in our personal orbits.

There are the individual disasters, with families being wrenched apart by various escalating problems birthed by modernism. Parents are hurting because of rebellious children succumbing to peer pressure, often caused by promotion of “new world” standards. Promiscuity, “alternative life style” teachings, promotion in the entertainment industry of occultism and the encouragement to turn away from the values that earlier generations were taught to embrace; all lead to a degeneration of society.

Parents, so entrenched in the money-making demands of keeping up with the Joneses, or being the Jones, that family concerns are no longer their priority. Fraud and violence permeate our society, and we need only read the first chapter of Romans, verses 18-32 and on into chapter 2, to see what the Lord’s view is of modern society. History repeats itself, but His judgment is inevitable.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents, and have them put to death. (Matthew 10:21)

 Jesus speaks of persecution of those who proclaim His teachings, and in Matthew 24:12-14 He says, Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Do you think I should be walking the streets like the cartoons of a placard bearing eccentric proclaiming REPENT. THE END IS NEAR?

I would, if it would help, but meantime I entreat that we all examine our beliefs, check what the Bible says, and be prepared, for we are living in the End Times. We are of the generation that is seeing the fulfilment of the final prophecies.

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28