Truth To Wonder: conversation for christ

According to news reports coming out from the Pacific, China is assembling a massive flotilla of navy vessels along with the possibility of repurposing civilian cargo ships and ferries ready to launch an invasion of Taiwan. Many will be all too aware of China’s intentions of claiming this independent island, and so such news whilst troubling in a sense, it should not come as a surprise.

However, it should be of even less surprise to the Bible believer. God has been so good to His children in that He has prepared us, as any good and loving father does, with awareness of what will take place in the closing days before Christ Jesus’ return. For in Matthew 24:6, Christ warns us that in the latter days we ‘shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.’ Now if the verse ended there, we would be alerted to the fast approaching and troubling developments that fill our news feeds each day, but we would still be very much left without any sense of hope beyond these frightening words.

Revealing the goodness of God towards those who heed His words though, Christ continued the verse by stating, ‘see that ye are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’ Herein we are gifted tremendous hope, for by the comforting of God we are assured that all these events must take place, all in accordance with the will of God. This divine will emboldens us to look beyond these prescribed events, and instead look towards what all these things are leading to, Our Lord’s glorious return! 

How worthy of praise and worship is the Lord Jesus! He does not apply sweet but deceptive words of false hope that seeks to dismiss the hard realities of what is to come in the furthering descent of mankind into evil and darkness. No, instead He seeks to prepare us for them, as the Good Captain of our hearts He moves to ensure His own are ready to serve in battle. Then as our mighty leader, He lifts the eyes of we His soldiers, to look beyond the temporary tests and trials of this life, and see the victory that He has claimed and will lead us with all certainty into the gracious sharing of His eternal inheritance!

So let us greet such news with ready hearts and look up, preparing ourselves for Christs’ return through humble service of His will and Word. All so that when He does return for us, we are not found in shame of laziness of faith and idleness of spirit. Instead, let’s be bold for the Gospel, and redeem the time remaining so that others may await His return with the same joyful longing that we hold, all to the glory of God. Amen.