AN-ARTICLE-I-WROTE-ON-CURRENT-EVENTS-2020

An article I wrote which may shed light to you on the meaning of today’s recent world events, based on scriptural inspiration. I pray that we be full of the mind of Christ and the Spirit to discern the right applications of the meaning/s presented. You may use this as a devotional reading in your personal, group devotionals or bible study.  Blessings to all!

 

 GOD IS GETTING OUR ATTENTION!

“At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” (Hebrews 12:26)

 

An Unexpected Event

Taal Volcano erupted in Batangas, Philippines on January 12, 2020. Social media and the news showed a fearsome sight of a thick black smoke rising from the crater creating a mushroom like cloud with sights of white lightning and thunder sounds with the rumbling of the earth, creating fear and panic among people living in the nearby areas. Its main crater spewed ashes to the provinces of Cavite Laguna, Batangas, Quezon) Metro Manila, some parts of Central Luzon, and Pangasinan resulting in the suspension of classes, work schedules, and flights. This event is something unexpected. Me and my wife, our newly wed son Tishri with his wife Kelly and my brother and sis. in law, Jun and Mel Suliguin was scheduled to leave on the 13th of January to go to the Philippines for a vacation and our church anniversary. With the news we thought our trip will not push through but deep inside my spirit I knew we will go so I checked Philippine airlines flights. All were cancelled except ours but just delayed for four hours and so we went. When we landed in manila the news was the volcano quieted down and there was no more ash fall. Thank God! Hallelujah! We don’t need to use Mask! The news was a big surprise and totally unexpected! Then a new surprise came! The World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the coronavirus from China a global health emergency! Then, Another surprise was our dear Kobe Bryant passing away at age 41 through a helicopter accident. A very sad day for millions of his fans.

Beloved, the world we live in are full of unexpected events that are sudden and unpredictable and comes one after another. What is next? I have a clue but the greater truth is God is surely shaking things and getting our attention!

 

A COMMON QUESTION ANSWERED:

 

How do we interpret these world shocking events? What is God doing?  Is God responsible for these events?

 

The answer to the above questions is based first, on the knowledge and understanding that God holds the highest authority in heaven and earth! He is the only true and rightful King being the First before everything was ever made. (Revelation 1:8) All creatures must bow to Him! Second, as Creator, He is all powerful; all knowing, wise and just God! Nothing happens in heaven and earth that He doesn’t know. He knows everything!

Now, if God is love and knows everything why could He not stop wars, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, evil doers, sicknesses, diseases and death to prevent or deliver man from all his mortal sufferings? The answer is yes! He did stop in the past; is still stopping today and will permanently stop it in the future!  He designed a brilliant plan and put it in season and time to carry it out. His simplistic strategy is through His Son Jesus Christ. His death, resurrection and second coming! Through Christ therefore all men can be free from pain and suffering in this life more so in the next life and for all eternity. He didn’t choose the way of magic where most of us would be free from pain and suffering in an instant where patience and waiting is not needed anymore to get relief or provision on what we cry out to God for. This is the way of men not of God as the scripture says. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

 Now who caused the suffering? Surely it is not God. For in the Origin of Man through Adam and Eve God was so loving as to give them an image better than angels for they were created in the image and likeness of God with a gift of freedom to choose and not mechanical robots that obey by automation. Men are intelligent rational creatures that can choose! Plus, God gave them dominion over the whole earth and everything on it. He was given a garden to manage at the beginning and they knew no suffering or death. However, God gave them one rule to obey “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for the moment you eat it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16) Now, what do you call these gifts God gave Adam and Eve? Is it not the evidence of God’s love like a father to his son? Is there something wrong when a father gives a rule to his Son not to eat spoiled food, poison berries or rat poison and explaining it could kill them? Of course not, the rules are His way of protecting his son and teaching them to distinguish what is rewarding when a rule is obeyed and what is suffering when a rule is disobeyed. However, our sad history is that our first parent chose to eat the forbidden fruit and thus came sin, suffering and death to all the children of Adam till now. This answers the question. Where did all the suffering came from? It is none other than Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, the first parent of humankind. From that time on all the children of Adam inherited their sinful nature inclined to reject God and His ways. Now sinful, rebellious man who rejects God and Christ is second to be blamed after Adam. Again, let me just reiterate this truth, God is not to be blamed! Man is! Now, this separation from God disabled man from totally controlling nature like storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, fire, volcanic eruption where instead of benefitting man it is now a destructive enemy of man. However, the good news is God sent the Second Adam Jesus Christ to save and deliver us from sin, suffering and death! Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ defeated sin and death! Now the paradise of Eden can be restored! Now we look to Christ redemptive work of salvation for preventing and or delivering us from the sting of natural and man-made calamities but we look to Christ for His second coming for a permanent and eternal restoration of paradise through a new and transformed heaven and earth. Also, we look forward to the day of the Lord where our bodies will be transformed from being mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible! At last No more struggle with sin, suffering and death forevermore! (1Corinthians 15: 52-54) Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

 

DOING EXPLOITS IN THE LAST DAYS

 

“…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”(Daniel 11:32) Those who are wise shall shine
“Like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

 

The frequency and intensity of natural calamities from storms, wars, earthquakes, pestilence and volcanic eruptions are getting to be more severe, very deadly and seriously destructive as years go by. The moral climate of this generation has moved from bad to worse to maybe later becoming more monstrous like in the days of Noah affecting the political, religious, economic, social and technological order of the world. Like one day a nation dies and another rises just like leaders. There is no one leader or nation we can look up to now except the King of Heaven and Earth, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ the Perfect One! So through Him we have hope. But everything earthly is unstable, unpredictable ever changing ultimately leading to death or termination of life. A sad but inescapable reality! Passing away as St. John puts it in 1John 2:17.

Are we in the beginning of birth pains before Christ comes the second time? Yes.  He himself said it in (Matthew 24:1-9 ) but God the Father in His Mercies and wisdom may opt to postpone the second coming of His Son for a later time for we know that it is not up to Christ nor the angels to decide when Christ is to be sent again the second time but totally up to the Father (Matthew 24: 36) and maybe based on the church state of union with the head, Jesus Christ. Or the true wife/bride revealed gloriously through her “quiet and total submission with all reverence” to her Husband- Jesus Christ.  With this in view I pray earnestly and in agreement together with the rest of the Bride and the Spirit crying and saying “Maranatha!” Now I look forward to the day that I will be transformed in a twinkling of an eye or be resurrected at the last day just like all the true saints, wife, sheep and branch of Jesus! Hallelujah! However, as we wait for His coming, we need to obey His mandate -To occupy till He comes! (Luke 19:13) Do exploits for God and turn many to righteousness! (Daniel 11:32, 12:3) The Lord of the Harvest is saying “the Harvest is plentiful but the Laborers are few so pray the Lord of the harvest that he sent more laborers into the field” (Luke 10:2)

In view of this command, and with the confidence we have in our secure relationship with Jesus our eternal Life, let’s fill our minds with how to please the Master with the task of spreading and building His kingdom on earth as we wait for Him, occupying lands and the minds of people groups with the knowledge of God and the gospel of truth and grace! 

 

HOW ARE WE TO OCCUPY WHEN FEARFUL EVENTS ARE HAPPENING?

 

PROTECT YOUR HEART FROM FEAR, WORRY AND ANXIETY INSTEAD HAVE FAITH, COURAGE AND BOLDNESS TO OBEY. (ISAIAH 43:1-5; MATTHEW 6: 26-28)

 

RUN TO CHRIST, THE SECRET PLACE OF GOD FOR PROTECTION; HIDE THERE AND STAY. PRAISE, PRAY AND READ THE WORD. (Psalm 91:1-10,121: 1-8)

 

GET RIGHT AND BE RECONCILED WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS IF YOU HURT THEM AND FORGIVE THEM IF THEY HURT YOU SO YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED. (MATTHEW 5:24, 18:15-20; 1 PETER 3:1-7)

 

ESTABLISH A FAMILY ALTAR: A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER (DEUTERONOMY 6:4—7)

 

BE COVENANTED TO YOUR GOD ORDAINED HOME CHURCH FOR KINGDOM SERVICE  (HEBREWS 13:5)

 

FEAR GOD AND LIVE A GODLY LIFE (2Timothy 2 :3)

 

BE WISE AND PRUDENT (Proverbs 6:6-11)

 

OBEY YOUR LEADERS IN THE THINGS OF GOD. (Hebrews 13:17)

 

RESPECT YOUR PARENTS, ELDERS AND ORDER IN GOVERNMENT (Ephesians 6:1-3; Leviticus 19:3,32; ROMANS 13:1-4)

 

SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS ON WISDOM AND PRUDENCE:

WORK ON BEING HEALTHY. (3 John 1:1-3)

 

PREPARE TO HAVE BASIC ITEMS IN THE HOME FOR TEMPORARY EMERGENCIES

GOOD FOR MAYBE A MONTH or 2 LIKE WATER, FOOD, MEDICINES, CARS -FULL TANK, FIRE EXTINGUISHER, MONEY, ETC… (MAKE A CHECKLIST)

 

SUGGESTIONS ON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO AVOID COVIN 19 (many videos found in YouTube)

Sally butler (healthcare professional): take a shower after coming from work to protect your home and leave your shoes outside.

James Robb, MD USC (A Virologist’s Advice For Dodging CoVid19 Infection (YouTube)