Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1273649
Stranger Things Marty Edwards I'll be 65 in December. When I was in grade school in Florida (1962), I remember carrying bleach bottles filled with fresh water to school, to be placed under our "nuclear bomb resistant" wooden desks in case Cuba launched their missiles . In 1965 I watched the Watts riots on television with my dad. In 1969 there was the cold war, the Vietnam war and the "war between the sexes." The 1970's are remembered as an era when women's rights, gay rights and the environmental movements competed with the Watergate scandal, the energy crisis and the ongoing Vietnam War for space on the evening news. I'm an old man now and I've seen a lot of horrible things – but nothing compares to the Summer of 2020. (I thought I would at least be wearing a jet pack by now!) The Son of Sam and Charles Manson terrified people in the 70's . During the 80's I witnessed AIDS, Iran - Contra, Chernobyl, and the Challenger explosion…but at least I learned all we had to do to stop drug abuse was "Just Say No." (Than ks Nancy ! ) Today, we have COVID - 19, radical Muslims in the U.S. Congress, "post - birth" abortions (previously r eferred to as first degree murder), absolute anarchy in streets around the world, renewed talks of a cashless society and one world government, and new sexual lifestyle alternatives that make Bruce/C aitlyn Jenner seem tame . Meanwhile, church services wer e cancelled by the government, but rioting in the street s is still ok, and any hope of returning to church come with the condition that we do not SING – wait, what? I said to my wife, "I feel strange, but what am I feeling? It's not depression. It's not fear or anxiety. What is it?" She answered, "It's a feeling of burden with the anticipation of something about to happen." I'm not a prophet and I have no dreams or predicti ons to report. I do believe , however, the devil is real and has been increasing in power on earth. I believe, " There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to t heir parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving , slanderous, without self - control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited…" and so on. (2Timothy 3) And I believe with all of my heart there are stranger things yet to come. "What's the answer pastor?" I'm glad you asked. We can endure just about anything (even the summer of 2020) i f we have hope and vision to carry on. Let me suggest seven ideas. 1. Live In The Light of His First Coming . Every Christian pray s for the return of Christ, but we must LIVE for Christ until that day comes! We must live like His first coming mattered ! We can't just roll over under the blankets and pray that all this weirdness goes away. It's not going to! We have been called to ENGAGE until He comes! In Luke 19:11 - 27, Jesus told about a nobleman who traveled to a far country. This nobleman called ten of his servants, gave them each a mina ( a coin), and told them: "en gage in my business until I come back" (v. 13). After an unspecified duration of time, the nobleman returned as king and summoned his servants to give an account of their faithfulness . The first two servants had been productive with what was entrusted to t hem . But another servant had done nothing . He simply wrapped his mina in a cloth and hid it. His mistake was that he didn't act on what he professed to believe . Those who profess Christ as Lord and live according to their profession will receive great rewa rd when Jesus returns. Think of it this way : If you are planning for a great vacation two or three months from now, you don't just sit and wait for th at vacation. No! You must keep on working until that time comes . Christ HAS come (the first time) and we HAVE BEEN given instructions, to OCCUPY and ENGAGE and SHARE THE GOSPEL until the day of His return or until He takes us home. Waiting for the next shoe to drop will just drive you crazy! 2. Be Discerning . Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warned His disciples not t o be led astray by false claim s : "Watch out that no one deceives you… false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect" (vv. 5 - 6,21 - 22). Paul warned, "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way" (2 Thess. 2:1 - 3). The warning of Scripture is consistent: use discernment in listening to those who claim to have all the details of the end times figured out, and ignore those who resor t to date setting end time events. Discernment comes with prayer and