Isaiah 8:12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.

If all the news channels are to be believed, the world is on the brink of multiple disasters ready to show up in a neighbourhood near you. The Middle East is about to enter full nuclear war, and the climate is about to collapse because every weather system is changing the atmosphere into toxic air. The financial system has lost all its value, and now our lifetime accumulation of wealth is dissolved. Our food has become so genetically modified that plastic is the main ingredient in all meals. The medical system has failed and is on life support, and no one knows how to bring it back from the dead. The school system causes our children to believe in nothing, and they have lost their ability to learn.

Did I miss anything? Oh yes, there is too much traffic congestion and unsafe potholes that pock the roads. There are multiple border disputes and illegal immigration, plus the ocean levels are rising, leaving Island villages swamped and covered with tons of plastic waste. It sounds like many disaster movies all rolled into one cinematic mess that is being reported by fearmongers who are shouting out that the world is on the brink of imploding, and there is no help from anything or anyone in our universe. Is that all? No! There are claims that there is a worldwide conspiracy to automate all our brains so that we accept living in a mindless existence.

The word says we are not to dread what we see happening around the world. Isa. 8:12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. The word also tells us not to be frightened and reactionary by reports of evil. Prov. 3:25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 26 For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. We are asked to be confident in the Lord and to pray for God’s solutions for what we see taking place because the Lord’s hand is still at work worldwide. The enemy of our soul wants us to focus on all that is wrong so that we become paralyzed and not able to do anything constructive, thus allowing fear to manage everyone’s thoughts. 2Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of self-control. I am not saying that we do not have legitimate concerns about world conditions, but we are not on the brink of losing our souls, nor are we going to have the anointing God gave us taken away by world events.

The question does present itself. “Are we in the end times?” I have no idea if we are there yet, or if the multiple catastrophes we see daily are the birth pains Jesus talked about that everyone would see when these terrible events become commonplace. Matt. 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matt. 24:8 And all these are the beginning of birth pains. I know that we are more than conquerors in Christ and that we have been given the armour of God to withstand the onslaught of the enemy of our soul and overcome the difficulties of living in the world.

I also know that we are not to dread the times but to look up to the Lord and understand that His time is near and He will be returning for His people. Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Therefore, what do we do in the meantime? We are to be friends to the world, but we are not to be friends with the world. By keeping this distinction, we will be able to bring the love of God to those whom the Holy Spirit is drawing toward the heart of God. The disruptions in the world do not dictate the calling that God has placed upon our lives to carry out His plans for gathering the souls of men to Himself. Acts 2:17 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

This is a wonderful thing that the world will be filled with the glory of God, and there will be manifestations of God’s grace and goodness taking place all over the world. This is something to rejoice about, that there will be a worldwide revival that has never been seen throughout history. This is why Jesus said to rejoice, because He had overcome the world and overcome the Prince of darkness that is in operation in this world. John 16:33 I have spoken these things to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world. No saints, we are not on the brink of disaster and mayhem. We are on the brink of the greatest blessing ever seen in operation on this earth since the day of the crucifixion and resurrection of our Saviour.

Let us live our lives with great expectation of God’s goodness and with our hands lifted to the heavens, ready to greet our coming Lord. Yes, even so, Lord Jesus, come. Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Praise the Lord, this is what we are on the brink of.