Birth Pains

We're seeing so much activity in the world today as pertaining to prophetic events. The stock market is a mess - everyone is talking about the 'world banking system'. Iran hates Israel and is about to have nuclear capabilities. The eastern powers are buying up all the gold. And amidst all of this, the Godliest nation in the world has become so ungodly that we are seeing increased turmoil within our own borders. It's all so unsettling, isn't it?

Except for some reason, there are a handful of Christians who seem at ease, if not a bit excited. What is up with that? Could it be that the bible really gives insight into all of this?

I went to Jamaica in '02 with a couple of buddies. One a Christian, one a non-Christian, but both great friends. I never see my non-Christian buddy, so our conversations were always a treat. He started talking about the hypocritical evangelicals and how they claim to 'be so good', yet have as many problems as the rest. I said, "You know, I'm one of those evangelicals." He said, "Nah you couldn't be. You're here having fun like everyone else." The conversation that ensued was enlightening to both of us, I'm sure. I told my buddy about the signs of the times and what the bible says concerning them. I also told him I fully expect my Father to return in my lifetime. What he said stuck with me. "Christians believe in the rapture because their lives are so miserable and they want to believe in an escape."

That's the world view of what many of us believe. Christ is our Blessed Hope. Hope for what? Christ was the 'Firstborn of the dead', our 'First fruits'. First Fruits of what? Christ was our 'guarantee', guarantee of what?

I think I proved to my buddy that a person doesn't have to be miserable in order to believe in Christ's return. I'll admit that at the time, my life was a mess, maritally, and that I was a married guy living single. A mess. But I did have joy in my heart. I still do, and God has blessed me immeasurably with my wife and daughters. I'm not an unhappy fellow! But... Yeshua will soon return and EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT WAS HAPPINESS WILL DISSOLVE INTO OBSCURITY. He is our happiness! He is our fullness! He is health! He is laughter! He is wisdom and righteousness and knowledge and LOVE and every fruit of the Spirit is one of HIS characteristics and... He is the one I wait for. Call me an escapist. If I have the winning lottery ticket behind door number one and 5 more years here, or Christ behind door number two right now... I choose door number two. I say this in love, not arrogance. To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Birth pains start early, give many false alarms, and then get more and more frequent. Pretty soon, the false alarms aren't so harmless. Pretty soon, they aren't false at all - the world is alarmed. "Behold, He comes." Mal 3:1