It’s been a while since I’ve written, and over the last year as we’ve all watched the world seemingly, if not unravel, at least start to fray a bit I found it difficult to put my thoughts into words. I literally have a notebook with pages of topics I’ve started writing about, but for some reason I couldn’t move past the first few lines. I’m not sure what changed in me now, but I’m pretty sure it’s a cross between prayer and the need to stand up. I actually started this piece by writing the title first which was provoked as I was driving in my car listening to a mix of news reports, podcasts and different YouTube videos (traffic sucks) and I found myself saying out loud how everyone needs to relax. Looking back I guess that initial topic statement, especially in light of the world right now I could’ve been talking about it several different things.
Covid.
Politics.
Religion.
Anyone who’s read any of my work in the past knows that I’m here to talk about my Faith, although the other two are important topics, faith will always take precedence. Now what is sparking this conversation, amusingly, is a conversation that I wasn’t even part of! I overheard two people discussing the antichrist, and how he’s here on earth right now. Believe me when I say I know these are trying times. These are scary times.But these are not the end times. In the Bible they talk about certain things when discussing the antichrist, like how there will be more than one antichrist (1 John 2:18), he will display miraculous powers (Rev 13:13), and he will desecrate God’s Temple (Matt 24:15-21) to name a few. One thing that will link to them all is that the anti-Christ will deny that Christ is our savior. Throughout history that’s happened several times on a large and/or publicized scale between the leaders of other religions, Roman emperors, and of course radical atheist “celebrities”. That’s not what we have going on right now, right now we just have a lot of lost sheep. Additionally, the last I checked there’s been no loud booming voice yet (1Thes4:16), which is a good thing because that means there’s still time. And that’s where the “stand up” part comes in.
We’ve become a society where the idea of kindness and respect is not the norm, and where someone offering to do a good deed is looked at with thoughts of conspiracy. Being slow to think and quick to react has driven us far from where Christ wants us to be. And to make it worse we’ve developed such an ego that we don’t see our own faults. We, like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son, only see the wrong in others actions. Ignoring the fact that our judgment of others sins is just as bad as the sins themselves. When in doubt always look to Christ. He was known to hang out with not just the Apostles, but with tax collectors, criminals, and Romans and was mocked for it. But you can’t fix something from a distance, you can’t teach people by ignoring them, and you don’t save people by condemning them. So as bad as things may seem, take a breath and relax…a little. And when you’re ready stand up and start living like we’re supposed to. Just because this isn’t the end doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do. As always you know that I’m always praying for you. Remember to live the Faith. God Bless.
Faith like Water 