This has been a strange and difficult year so far. In 2024, we have seen and will see over 60 presidential elections held worldwide. I can’t imagine the total amount of money spent on these campaigns. At the first of the year, there was an earthquake in Japan measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. This is nothing new for Japan. I was surprised to learn that Japan experiences roughly 1,500 earthquakes per year. And most recently, the Atlantic hurricane season has brought death and destruction to the Southeast USA.
The hurricane season is, for us, personal because many of our family and friends live in Florida. The most recent hurricane, Milton, traveled through the center of the state. Milton came two weeks after another hurricane, Helene. Milton was massive, it enveloped the entire state and picked up destroying where Helene left off. Lives were lost and many thousands lost their homes. Floridians are a strong bunch, but this year has tested even the most stout-hearted among them.
It’s a strange and difficult time for sure.
88 Reasons?
I’m no one special in the world of Bible prophecy. Nor am I one who follows trends. I steer clear of those proclaiming they know what is happening. I remember a book entitled, “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988.” Obviously that did not happen. Jesus said the only One Who knows when this will happen is the Father (see Matt. 24:36). Why do we try to know when those things are above our pay grade? We are on a strictly need to know basis. And since the Father is the only One Who knows, we don’t need to.
At the same time, I can see that the world is going sideways. Jesus said it would so we shouldn’t be surprised. We are given instruction how to interpret these strange and difficult times. I’ll give you a hint how to interpret them by saying what we’re not to do. We’re not to waste our time in anger, fear, and worry. This is a time of opportunity if we dare to seize it.
Few see trouble as an opportunity. Instead of seeing the complicated world we are living in giving us opportunity to shine, we question God’s goodness. Is He really good when so much bad is happening? The short answer to this question is yes. Corrie Ten Boom, who lived unimaginable horrors during her imprisonment in World War 2 said:
Our perception in strange and difficult times
God’s goodness isn’t determined by our perception of world events. God’s goodness is as real today as it was when things were before the storms, earthquakes, and elections. These times do, however, point to what Jesus said:
“There will be earth-shattering events—the heavens themselves will seem to be shaken with signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. And across the earth the outsider nations will feel powerless and terrified in the face of a roaring flood of fear and foreboding, crashing like tidal waves upon them. ‘What’s happening to the world?’ people will wonder. The cosmic order will be destabilized. And then, at that point, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory. So when the troubles begin, don’t be afraid. Look up—raise your head high, because the truth is that your liberation is fast approaching.”
Luke 21:25-28 Voice
We spend far too much time in wasted anger, worry, and fear. I believe God’s heart is grieved when His people become unrecognizable. What do I mean? They become unrecognizable as believers because they behave like the world. Fearful of destruction, fearful that their person won’t be voted in, fearful of the unknown. I encourage you today in these strange and difficult times to pull back. See the days we are living in as an opportunity for witness.
Search and rescue in strange storms
We aren’t in this world for physical blessing. Yes, God blesses us with things to enjoy. He’s our Father, He loves to take care of us (see Luke 12:32). But, we are here on earth to bring the lost children home to the Father. Like the rescuers in natural disasters, we are part of a search and rescue team for heaven.
“I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you.“
John 20:21 Voice
Jesus, Who faced incredible hardship in His mission to rescue the world, somehow managed to keep His peace. This peace is His gift to us in these strange and difficult times. We now have opportunity for witness and to live in peace while the world is turned on its ear.
Come with me. Let’s join the search and rescue team together and fly high above the storms. We’ll only descend into the mess to pull someone from the grip of the strange storms.
