BIBLICAL BRIEFS 24
If you as a believer does not have enlightened eyes of the mind (Eph. 1:18), you will – like Eph. 4:14 says – be tossed like a wave and driven back and forth by every wind of doctrine, being brought by deceivers in fear and ignorance, causing you to get side-tracked. This happens if you set your focus on earthly events, and fail to see God’s greater plan, resulting in you eventually becoming alarmistic and fearful of all world events. In principle, never follow or give room to these artfully concocted fables (2 Pet. 1:16). One of the most important implications found when believers who most eagerly await the so-called rapture or the return of Jesus and therefore start preparing themselves for the imaginary happenings that are to take place before then, is that their futuristic focus does not allow them to live in today as the day of His appearance, “Today, if you hear his voice …” (Heb. 3: 7). Jesus was absolutely adamant in this regard, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow …” (Matt. 6:34). Indeed, “The Lord’s mercies … are new every morning” (Lam. 3: 22-23). We must remind and exhort one another in this regard “as long as it is still called ‘Today,'” (Heb. 3:13), otherwise, you and I will not be part of God’s glorious, unfolding plan for the earth. Luke 21:26 warns that people’s hearts will fail from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the inhabited earth. But this must never be like this with us who are able to discern between the things happening around us (Phil. 1:10). We should be able – like the sons of Issachar- to discern the times and seasons with knowledgeable insight. Let not your heart be troubled, says Jesus (John 14: 1). “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33), and: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32). Internalise Jer. 29:11 in these undeniably turbulent times of the birth pains of a new dispensation: “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'”
Dr. Tom Gouws
