Matthew 24:13 …. he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Last week’s massive earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria is one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. One of the news channels that I am watching just described it as a nightmare situation, and even that is an understatement. The tragic number of deaths and serious injuries, the level of suffering and the scale of the destruction is very hard to come to terms with, especially in light of the fact that it has happened very close to where we live on Mt.Carmel. Israel was also hit by 3 minor shakes last week, which has come as a wake up call to the government and emergency organisations, to upgrade building safety regulations, and to improve the level of preparation for the consequences of a major war or catastrophic natural disaster, such as a serious earthquake or tsuanami caused by an earthquake in the region. The media in Israel has been warning about being prepared for several years now but very few people, including our family, have done anything about it.
I have written this a number of times before, but I am feeling prompted by what I am seeing on the news to repeat it. If we truly are getting close to Messiah Yeshua’s return, as many of us believe, and we have definitely entered into the times of sorrows that we read about in Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21, then things are not going to get better. In Matthew 24:6 – 8 we are warned of wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes in various places, and we are also warned in verse 9 of extreme persecution for our faith. In verse 13 we read that whoever endures to the end will be saved. The key word in that verse is endures. And the key question that we should be asking ourselves is are we sure that we are prepared to be able to endure to the end ?
The scale of what has just happened in Turkey and Syria, has governments and large, experienced organisations struggling to save lives and improve the situation on the ground, and it is just 2 countries that have been hit. What will it be like when disasters strike How will the World cope with the disastrous scenarios that are prophecied to happen in the final period of time before the Lord returns to take control and bring things back into order ? The events of Revelation 6:12 and 8:12 include a great earthquake and the light from the sun and the moon being reduced by a third. Imagine the affects when that happens on the weather and the crops all around the world. Could this be what Luke is referring to here in Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for looking upon those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
I am not writing this comment to create fear, but to encourage all of our precious brothers and sisters in the nations, and myself, to take the Biblical warnings seriously, and as best we can prepare ourselves, our families and the people precious to endure what the Bible tells us will happen before the returns to Jerusalem. We should all heed this wake up call and remember Failing to prepare is preparation to fail. We need to prepare in advance of these things beginning to happen.
Some of the most important ways that we can prepare are as follows …….
1/. Physically – have some degree of fitness as we may have to run or walk a long way to save our lives or the lives of our family.
2/. Emotionally – we need to be mentally prepared for major upheaval and change in our lives.
3/. Spiritually – most importantly we need to be spiritually strong and close to GOD – to be led in all that we do by the Holy Spirit.
It is also important to have an escape plan, a way to communicate with family and friends if the system stops working, emergency supply of medicine, water, long-life food and clothing prepared for the days ahead. I will ask brother Peter Robertson who has experience in emergency preparation to write with more information for next weeks comment.
If you are feeling challenged and unsettled after reading what I have written this week, I pray that this closing verse will restore your joy Luke 21:26 – 27 26 Men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for looking upon those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And always remember … Failing to prepare is preparation to fail.