The world can be
a dangerous and a puzzling place to live. It was
a mark of the tribe of Issachar that they ‘had
understanding of the times’ (1 Chronicles
12:32), and that is something which all
Christians need to have. It is no indication of
spiritual maturity if we have no idea what’s
going on, cannot make sense of what God is
doing, or are unable to give a cogent answer to
any who ask us ‘what is the world coming to?’.
There is a very great deal that we do not and
cannot know, but we have no excuse for knowing
nothing.
In his teaching recorded for us in Mark 13, the
Lord Jesus Christ addresses this vital question
of ‘the times’. Central to this is what we often
refer to as ‘the signs of the times’. It is very
gracious of the Lord that he tells us all of
this, so that we are not left in ignorance.
There are troubles warned of here on every side.
In
the
religious
sphere, there will be false teachers
seeking to lead us astray, people claiming to
come in Christ’s name when they are doing
nothing of the sort, and much confusion
resulting in both the church and the nations. In
the political
sphere there will be ‘wars and rumours
of wars’, with nations and kingdoms rising up
against one another. Christians will be falsely
spoken of and persecuted in all sorts of ways.
In
the
natural sphere we are told to expect
earthquakes and famines. And in
the
family sphere, families themselves will
fall apart and there will be attacks on the
things of the family from outside.
Without any question
all
of these things are in evidence right
now. Every news bulletin contains at least some
of them. Yet even so, says Jesus, ‘These are but
the beginning of the birth pains’. So how are we
to respond? Or, in the words of the psalmist,
‘if the foundations are destroyed, what can the
righteous do?’ (Psalm 11:3).
Here are three brief counsels to keep us on the
right lines:
- Whatever happens, and however grim or
bleak things appear, do not be surprised. We
have been warned in advance that these
things will be so. The Lord reigns.
- Remember that Jesus makes clear not only
the factors we have mentioned above, but
certain encouragements as well – in
particular that the gospel will be
proclaimed to all nations, help will be
given us from the Holy Spirit when we have
to give account of ourselves before men, and
‘the one who endures to the end will be
saved’.
- While we are told not to attempt to ‘date’
the return of Christ at the end of the
age, and that ‘the last days’ extend from
his first coming until his second, yet
clearly the longer time goes on the nearer
the end must be. This should make us urgent
in at least two areas: to make our own
calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10),
and to ‘shine as lights in the world’
(Philippians 2:15).
