Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
We’re in some very scary times, but they have little to do with Halloween other than changing how we’re celebrating it this year. Hopefully, that’ll be temporary and the effects of COVID-19 won’t last much longer because many people are living in fear of their economic future.
The outcome of the current election is even more scary because it’ll have a much longer influence on our country’s future. So, if you haven’t already done so, without regard to your political views, it’s imperative you express your preferences by voting to have any hope of seeing them come about.
Terrible times call for and often lead to increased hope for those desiring a brighter future. That is, whenever things look bad, we often consider ourselves to have hit rock-bottom (although, that’s the best foundation upon which to build our future) and things can only get better (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 15:11-20). The sad truth is things will continue to get worse, and Christians will be persecuted while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse (Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 12-13). Things will be perfect when Jesus comes back, though, because Christians who remain faithful until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:23-24, 12-13; Revelation 2:10).
When it mentions imposters, 2 Timothy 3:12-13 isn’t about children dressed as scary creatures on Halloween. It’s referring to those who appear to be Christians but are deceivers who, rather than dressing to be scary, they’re disguised to look very good and conceal their true scariness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Matthew 7:15-20). These passages could equally well have been referring to politicians who tell people what they want to hear so they (the politicians) can get elected and bring about their evil intent (Jude 1:12, 16).
In either case, like children dressed in scary costumes who say thank you after receiving a treat given to prevent the threatened trick, the wolves in sheep’s clothing (false teachers or deceitful politicians) will be unmasked by the inconsistencies in their speech and actions. We must pay careful attention to what they say and study our Bibles for ourselves to find those inconsistencies in (Acts 17:11).
Personal Bible study enabling us to recognize the false teachings might not prevent the scary times, but it will provide the hope we need to see past them. God’s plan gives us a bright hope for the future and Jesus’ promise to us is that, despite the troubles we’ll face in this world, he’s overcome the world because he’s greater than Satan who’s in the world causing all the troubles (Jeremiah 29:11; John 16:33; 1 John 4:4; 5:13). Personal Bible study teaches us how to take every negative (evil or scary) thought captive because we’ll be reminded that, as Christians, we’re more than conquerors who’ll never be separated from God’s love (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 8:31-39; John 10:27-30).
Have you placed your hope in Jesus to carry you through these scary times? He’s faithful to do that (Romans 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9).
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]