All of humanity is living in a time of great strife and struggle. A monumental battle is ongoing in many of the nations of the world today for the minds, hearts and souls of their respective populations. A battle for control by forces of good against evil and freedom as opposed to oppression. Corrupt political powers striving to assert control through all manner of cunning lies and deceit contending for the approval of a populace unaware of the nefarious intentions of the end game, total control and domination. Marxist socialism has raised it’s ugly head in nations where free enterprise has prospered. Democrat Progressives versus Conservative Republicans struggle on one hand as Islamic Jihadists murder Jews and Christians in an attempt to conquer the world and assert their demonic beliefs on others. We are living in troubling times!
The apostle John was banished by Rome to the Greek Isle of Patmos for preaching the word of God and the testimony of Jesus when the risen Christ appeared to him and said; “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. John was then given revelations concerning future events, this is allegorically written and but a part that which speaks of what is currently happening:
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:7-12)
Jesus ransomed the world positionally by means of His death and resurrection and will claim it and all who call on Him as Lord and Savior at the time of His return. Meanwhile it has been the will of God to let Satan and his demons remain until that time to test mankind with a choice of either serving Satan through sin and death or of serving the Lord by receiving salvation and eternal life. As this becomes clear to us, we begin to understand the underlying reasons for all that is going on in the world around us today. It can be extremely overwhelming if we focus on all of the horrific world events each day, the following two events on storm tossed waters gives us an example on how to deal with the stress of life and where to set our focus.
And when he (Jesus) got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:23-27)
And yet at another time after a day of preaching to a large crowd…
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:27-33)
There in those two remarkable passages we have the answer to all our anxiety, doubts and fears. Instead of focusing continually on the storm set your focus on Jesus, acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord, and repent, that is turn away from that which causes you to sin and cling to Jesus because all of our future lives depend on it.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12)
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