Be Not Surprised, Nor Alarmed

​With so much happening in the world, it seems we are always surprised by the next thing.  The next shooting, the next aggression of one country to another.  The next low America finds a way to sink to.  The next natural disaster that shows up on the horizon and leaves a path of destruction in its wake.  As the world struggles to gasp for air as these moments occur, there is a voice reminding us these things will take place.  That voice is found in Matthew 24:6-13:
 
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.  “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
 
These words of Jesus, spoken over two thousand years ago, provide a stinging truth of our reality.  These things must be.  And so, the next time someone speaks to you of these catastrophic events, show them these words in the Bible, and tell them of the One who spoke them.
 
Blessings!
Lamar