The turmoil around the world today gives me the sense that the earth is groaning.
There is war and there are rumours of wars. Holy war seems to be burning within some Muslims bringing fear across the globe.
Nature has been groaning for years — evidenced by an increase in earthquakes, flooding, and other natural disasters.
As climate protest accelerates, it has recently been reported that a part of the South Pole ice shelf is now damaged beyond any hope of restoration.
I could go on. But the message is clear: the earth and the people in it are being pushed beyond the limit of peace.
How close is the End?
In Matthew 24:6-8 Jesus says,
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
So is this just the beginning?; is it the beginning of the End?! When Yeshua does come again, this will spark a shift in the earth like no other.
We must not fear
The enemy of love is fear. We must not fear, not give in to fear, not worry, not be anxious. We must overcome any temptation to collapse emotionally or spiritually in these times of “groaning”. We must endure until the end. (Revelation 2 and 3)
How do we do this? Only through the power of Holy Spirit. If the earth groans, so too can we groan,
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)
Endurance
The word endurance can be read two ways:
- to keep going until the end of the race and
- to tolerate, put up with pain and suffering.
We may need to endure in both ways as turbulence rises in the earth. But this promise is sure,
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:7)
Hallelujah! We always have the opportunity to pray… and perhaps more than ever, we need to do just that.