The End Times: Three Reasons I'm not Scared

Have you ever been scared of when people talk about prophecies being fulfilled? I mean, besides the prophetic book of Revelation being a bit confusing at times, the text also talks about some pretty scary things. Which is probably why we don't ever want to think about it. We tend to push it aside and would rather be frightened of horror movies, because well, they aren't real. Though the Bible does talk about real horrors that will happen right before Jesus comes, here are three reasons to not be afraid. 

1. It's really about the fight against fear

One reason why you might be scared is Revelation 13. This chapter is one of the prophecies that points to the a religious system using the symbolism of a beast. This corrupt system, put in place by the dragon himself, A.K.A Satan (Rev. 12:9;13:4), will be used to persecute God's people. It makes sense why this scares people, because who wants to be tortured and killed because they are right? However, even if you just skim through the rest of Revelation up until chapter 20, the book actually talks about how Jesus will defeat both the evil beast and Satan. That scary beast takes up about a chapter in Revelation. Jesus' battles over this beast takes up 6 chapters, which is almost a quarter of the book. In other words, Revelation is less about the persecution of God's people than it is about God fighting for His people. 

2. Ending is sometimes a good thing
Should the world end and Jesus comes back, do you know what this means? We will be in a world with "no more death, nor, sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3,4). We won't have WW3. Donald Trump won't be president. Pollution is going to stop. No more planning for retirement. No one is going to steal your stuff. You will never have to bury your dead. There will be no suicides, no rapes, no one will be homeless, everyone will be fed. God is really wanting to end this suffering, for He takes no pleasure in death or in our dying (Ezekiel 18:32).

3.  The Way of escape

1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you will be able to bear it."

If we are going to be persecuted for following Jesus, you bet the temptation to ditch Him would be great. But the awesome thing about this verse is that it reminds us that God won't even bring this time of trouble until His people are able to overcome. If you really believe that these prophecies are coming true, then guess what? God's people are continuing to escape temptation through The Way. We are learning to turn to Him in every needing moment in our lives. To put this in perspective, Jesus says in Luke 15 that there is joy in heaven when someone turns back to Him!

You see in reality, if you honestly believe this earth is coming to the end because of the Bible, the comfort of not being scared is not the only thing you have. You also have immense joy knowing God is fighting for you, preparing a place for you, and ultimately drawing you and your friends closer to Him.

Thoughts to Bear

My body tethered down
By view of what life should be like
Living within my own passion
If never I turn from this dreadful direction
The thought too hard to begin to bear

Is there One who's called Redemption?
The Hope of one day being somewhere
To a place we call perfection
The thought He cherished and longed to bear

Who bears great drops of sweat?
Is this my Creator, my LORD?
Letting my cause cost His own breath
Enduring my shame unto agonizing death
This thought too hard to begin to bear

Is this One who's called Resurrection?
The Hope of one day being somewhere
To a place we call perfection
The thought He cherished and longed to bear

What hope have I as this?
Have my life commit suicide
Nail my hands on crucifixion
I desire myself dead by asphyxiation
The only thought I'm able to bear

Yet there's One who's called Re-Creation
The Hope of one day being somewhere
To a place we call perfection
The thought He cherished and longed to bear

The angels wondered what He was doing there
The demons shrieked in awe and terror
As a Baby lay in a manger
And in my mind appeared my Savior

Because One who's called the Connection
Searched for me as I was lost somewhere
So He could bring me salvation
It's me He cherished and longed to bear

Peru Recollections: Take Me Back

"Take me back!"

"Hey guys, let's go back to Peru"

"Do you remember in Peru when-"
"And then _______ (insert person) did __________ (insert action most likely dumb)"
"Macchu Picchu was amazing!"
"Peru, take me back"
I would hear this often. In fact, many times I'd be the person saying those words. There was a lot to remember from that tropical paradise, yet one memory always stands out to me.
~
Pastor Troy calls me over one morning after a delicious breakfast. The guy seems very serious. Though experiencing a little fear that I was in trouble, I knew it wasn't likely since I did a lot of supervising for him during The trip.
"Do you remember a specific time when you met Jesus?" he inquired of me.
I gave PT (Pastor Troy) a yes, along with a silent sigh of relief.
"Great! You can share that for VBS (Vacation Bible School) tomorrow!" the soon-to-be-father responded enthusiastically.

Too soon to sigh for relief. It's not that I didn't want to do it, I'm actually quite comfortable up front, and I love to talk of my Savior. It's just that if you know me and what I write, a lot of it isn't ever really lighthearted or kiddy, especially at this time (to see what I wrote at that time, look through my January to March 2015 posts). I mean it's appropriate, it's just kids would probably get bored because it's supposed to be deep.

The little pink community center and our bumpy bus

Photobombing Kenyo (I mean paying attention)

You see,the first night of VBS went extremely well. The kids paid attention, maybe were a bit sheepish, but as the week went on, the kids started to open up their shell. We were struggling to get them to pay attention, and they became so loud they could barely hear our efforts. Then it came to the point where we were struggling to pay attention ourselves. The worst part was that my testimony was to be shared the last night, resulting in the kids going out of control. The language barrier didn't help at all, and neither did the games, as it just encouraged their hyper-active kid behaviors. And yes, Mrs. Z was probably the only one who tried to keep the peace. 

The next day was the night where I would share for VBS. PT and I were talking to one of the translators, whose name was Kenyo, and told him how the next day was planned to play out.

I asked him, "Are you going to be my translator tomorrow?"
The young Peruvian informed us that he  wasn't going to be there the following night, as he needed to leave to somewhere else the next day.

As we were leaving to VBS the next day, I was surprised to bump into Kenyo again. He tells me that he is my translator today. So I think nothing of it and eventually we get to the community center, where we held the VBS meetings. People are trying to give me tips, and some asked me if I was nervous, etc. Some people actually helped though, and Bruce and Karen were willing to video tape it for me.
Eventually, it was my time to get up and start talking. But as I opened my mouth to speak, I felt... strange, almost like a trance.

So I finish with prayer, and the kids disperse trying to play a game with our students. Emphasis on trying. Kenyo was still translating and the kids aren't listening. I noticed that Kenyo was crying. I thought he sobbed because the kids were too much (I mean I cried when I went door-to-door, there were a few really rude people), and I couldn't help but empathize for Kenyo. I mean, the whole time I was upfront talking, I was thinking, Man these kids. If only they'd listen. Perhaps Kenyo felt the same.

~
"Peru, take me back"

I got home, plopped on my bed and thought I wonder how that testimony went. I open my IPad to the Google drive app, and tap the file entitled "VBSsermon.mp4".

I observe myself opening and reading from my Bible to the kids in Iquitos
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matt13:44-46)

I'm watching myself act it out, using my body to illustrate the words. I hear myself stress that God gave up everything in the world for them, that everything He had was the value that He put on those kids in Peru.
"Wait hold up Jesus, You can't mean me" I start pleading in front of the children.
I'm messed up. I'm gross. I hurt people. I'm not worth that. Jesus you can't mean me."

I took note that I repeated some of these phrases, because Kenyo had stopped translating. This time, I realized that he was already choking on his tears. I told those in that community center, over all the noise by those kids, that Jesus was saying to us, "You are worth everything to Me"... and the beautiful thing is Jesus knows just how messed up I am"
No he wasn't crying because of the rowdy kids, I thought to myself. The young Peruvian almost missed the opportunity. The opportunity of clearly hearing Jesus saying "I love you. And I'll never stop."

Last night of VBS

I remember the first time I found out how much Jesus valued me. My eyes watered in the same way my translator's eyes had. There is much worth remembering from our exotic two week excursion away from our academics. Throughout any part of you life, I hope you keep those precious memories with you, when you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was present with you.