In the first segment of this series exploring the Spiritual Signs of the End Times, we dove into the negative spiritual signs. In the second segment, we addressed the positive spiritual signs. In this final segment, we will reveal the hope Christians possess in living in these dark times.
Persevering Hope
Noted hymnist Horatio Spafford captured the heights of hope we can profess even from the depths of despair. In 1876, while grieving the death of his four daughters during a transatlantic crossing, Spafford wrote these words:
And Lord, haste the day
when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee,
for Thy coming we await,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
I Have Hope — Help Me with My Lack of Hope
Do you look around and see the world’s glass half empty and draining fast? Or do you see it half full and expect it to “make it great again” under current management?
I pray that you see the Spiritual Signs for what they are. Negative and positive alike, they all testify to the accuracy of God’s Word, the power of our God, and the surety of His victory.
They also prove that although Satan is working overtime to thwart God’s plan for the ages, soon and very soon the trumpet will sound, the voice of the archangel will shout, and Jesus Christ will descend from Heaven to collect His Bride. Then, following the Tribulation, we will return with Him when He appears a second time in glory to reign upon the earth with peace, righteousness, and justice.
Do you believe that?
If so, then heed the rest of Peter’s charge to us. I already cited his admonition that we “ought to be in holy conduct and godliness,” but Peter went on to say that we should be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12). What else are we looking for? According to Peter: “We are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation…” (2 Peter 3:13-15).
Are you looking for His coming? Are you hastening the day of God through your prayers, urgent evangelism, and diligence toward holiness?
“Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation'” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
I thank God for your ministry as my knowledge and faith grows in serving our Savior .