Strength for the Days Ahead
By

Nancy Arant Williams

Does it seem like something’s on the horizon that you can feel but you just can’t see? I feel it, too, and it could paralyze us as believers, unless we’re prepared.

I’ve been horrified to learn of the atrocities done to American service men overseas, and have been praying, asking the Lord for wisdom.

It would be easy to hate our enemies after the terrible things they have done. It’s human nature, after all.

But Jesus doesn’t want us living at the level of mere humanity, but has given us a much higher calling.

Unlike our unsaved friends, we who love Christ are already equipped with everything we need, in the power of the Holy Spirit, but it’s up to us to exercise that equipping, living in the power of God’s anointing.

It’s easy to overlook the scripture that says that he who endures to the end shall be saved, which also means that he who does not endure will not be saved. Before the end, things could and probably will be dangerous, even life-threatening, for those who refuse to deny Christ. And if we say we are Christians, then we need to live in light of this truth.

Living in a wealthy, materialistic nation, it’s been easy to be a Christian, easy to ignore the horrors happening in the world outside our warm and cozy cocoon. And yet, Jesus said for us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, which means we are to be informed, not taken unawares, regarding the possibilities.

In Him, we have hope, not simply in escapism, but in His faithfulness. He has proven Himself faithful, and scripture says He will never change.

It’s easy to want to hide our heads in the sand, because--what do we do with the horrific facts when we know them?

In truth, there’s only one thing to do. We must take them to the cross and leave them there, taking up the shield of faith, living like Jesus would, and walking on.

There is, in perilous times, only one hiding place for the true believer in Jesus Christ. The Christian must hide himself in true worship, for God inhabits the praises of His people.

Incredible, isn’t it--that at the moment when everything is blackest, we are to get our eyes off our circumstances, and fix them on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In truth, it’s only as we keep our eyes on Him that we, like in the story of Peter, are able do the impossible, even walking on water. As we walk in the spirit, God will use us in incredible ways. In the New Testament, the disciples healed the sick and raised the dead, boldly and fearlessly preaching the gospel in spite of great danger.

scripture says we have only one assignment—to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. This means we must live everyday as if it were our last best day, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, whether on a Tuesday or a Sunday.

It also means we will lay down our agendas, take our eyes off the glitter of get-rich-quick schemes and prosperity teaching, and decide to get real, setting our affections on things above.

The ironic thing is that those who are killing our service men have already offered their lives to a god of stone, certain that to die for him is great gain.

Do we feel that strongly about Jesus, the One who gave up His life to redeem us back from the clutches of hell?

I read recently that while most of the world is urgently clamoring for Bibles, you can’t give one away in the United States. May God forgive us! Our wealth has deluded us into thinking we have no need of Christ.

Our day of reckoning is coming soon, so we must be warned. Our hearts must be pure, our hands clean, and all bitterness and unforgiveness left at the foot of the cross.

But how do we, who have had it so easy, prepare ourselves for what lies ahead?

We must start shedding our attachments to ‘stuff’, and attach ourselves to Jesus, saying, “Give me more of You, Jesus! Saturate me in Your Word. Let it be life and hope to me. Fill me up, help me stand, and give me a vision. Let me be a clean vessel, submitted and obedient, with no agenda but Yours.”

scripture says that only in Him do we live and move and have our being--that those who love Christ will operate not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.

During whatever time is left then, you and I must drink in the living Word of God, draw near, cleanse our hands, and wait upon the Lord, who will speak to us clearly when we have ears to hear. Let us not give up hope, for we know the end of the story.

Remember the story of Stephen when he was stoned?

I believe from what I have read that there is a supernatural anointing for saints, during moments of great trial, that God runs to the aid of His beloved, wrapping them in peace, indesrc
ibable joy and a vision of God Himself. How else could they love their enemies and praise Him under the circumstances?

Interestingly enough, even unbelievers have a sense that time is running out, that change is just around the corner.

So let us not be taken unawares, with our senses dulled by ‘stuff’ and the pleasures of the world, but let us be watchful, sober and filled with the desire, more than anything, to please the only true and living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. He’s coming soon!