In the gospels, Jesus warns that people’s hearts will fail them in the last days because of fear over what they witness in the skies.
Leading up to that, we are promised a great deal of calamity – false teachers leading Christians astray, heavy persecution, wars, earthquakes, famines and disease. A multitude of tempests will toss the sea and a world powers will tumble (Luke 21). As darkness escalates, there may be nothing tangible left in this world to offer anyone comfort.
Knowing that this will be a stressful time and that His people will be on the Earth waiting for his return, Jesus gave many instructions on how to deal with the threat of these fears on our hearts.
In John’s gospel, He tells us to “let not your hearts be troubled.” This passage seems to indicate that we have a choice in the matter. But how do we ease our troubling hearts when the world is falling apart? Believe in God and in Him, Jesus says.
At the end of His warnings about how the last days will look, Jesus lets us know the source of our ultimate hope: He is coming back to get us. As the world crumbles down around us, we are not supposed to cower with fear. He says, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
We are not to be fearful, but rather hopeful, because though many in the world will be entering a time of great suffering, God’s chosen children will be about to realize their ultimate redemption in Christ, a reward well worth the wait.
Read Get Out of Your Head, a best-selling book by Christian author Jennie Allen to help you gain control of negative thinking.
The world rapidly unraveling around us is, in a way, good news for those of us who truly believe in Jesus. We are going to be home with our saviour. The end of pain and suffering on the Earth is finally coming, after millennia of children being abused, mothers being widowed, cancer ravaging human life, and every atrocity that rends at the heart. As the world accelerates towards darkness, our hope as Christians should rise knowing that permanent relief is on its way for us.
For those who don’t already believe, it’s a call to wake up to the reality that everyone will ultimately bow to the name of Jesus, either willingly now or forcefully after Jesus arrives to claim his throne as King of the earth.
Until His glorious return to the Earth, Jesus left us a present to prevent terror from paralyzing us.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
We are waiting, but as King David prophesied, those of us who believe in Jesus, who hope in Him, will receive strength into our hearts from God:
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24
