Labor Pains
First of all, please know that this is addressed to my fellow Christians. Feel free to read or skip if you do not share the same faith but to those who are carrying the Name of Jesus Christ, I hope you would take the time to read.
I will speak of labor pains though I know nothing yet of how it feels. All I know is that my mother has gone through it and that the pain is excruciating that you would just want it to end.
Day in, day out, we hear of natural disasters such as earthquakes, forest fires, disappearing icebergs, to name a few. And in a seemingly uncontrollable speed, we are witnessing the rise of wars against nations, hunger, famine, lawlessness, betrayal, hate, love growing cold, people turning away from their faith, depression and suicide, counterfeit spiritual experiences and whatnot.
The world has been and is still being bombarded with what we call "labor pains" for the longest time. Some days when you wake up to such news, don't you just wish that Jesus would come back today?
The first time I heard of the content of Matthew 24 was EXACTLY 18 years ago when I was peacefully sitting in class and the news broke of the terrorist attack at the US World Trade Center twin towers - what we now casually remember as the 9-11 attack.
As a child, it brought me so much fear but our teacher then told us to open our Bibles and read this section of Matthew 24:
However, it is comforting to know that after these labor pains, HOPE was also promised:
P. S.
Allow me to go all out on this. I put these things into writing after hearing about the death of a wonderful pastor whose works I follow because of his mental health advocacy. Pastor Jarrid Wilson committed suicide - I woke up to this utterly heartbreaking news. I am deeply affected knowing that even a champion of mental health had succumbed to the pain. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family (though this might not even reach them). May his life's work be the spark of a movement of love among the church and beyond.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; - when people are going through tough times, may we be sensitive enough to know when to preach and when to just sit beside them and mourn. People listen to those who take the time to listen to them. People need and want to be heard. We have all the means and avenues to share what we know. But let us learn to cherish the times when silence is the most precious message that we can offer.
I will speak of labor pains though I know nothing yet of how it feels. All I know is that my mother has gone through it and that the pain is excruciating that you would just want it to end.
Day in, day out, we hear of natural disasters such as earthquakes, forest fires, disappearing icebergs, to name a few. And in a seemingly uncontrollable speed, we are witnessing the rise of wars against nations, hunger, famine, lawlessness, betrayal, hate, love growing cold, people turning away from their faith, depression and suicide, counterfeit spiritual experiences and whatnot.
The world has been and is still being bombarded with what we call "labor pains" for the longest time. Some days when you wake up to such news, don't you just wish that Jesus would come back today?
The first time I heard of the content of Matthew 24 was EXACTLY 18 years ago when I was peacefully sitting in class and the news broke of the terrorist attack at the US World Trade Center twin towers - what we now casually remember as the 9-11 attack.
As a child, it brought me so much fear but our teacher then told us to open our Bibles and read this section of Matthew 24:
'And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray."It is saddening to know that these things MUST take place. Every time I hear of bad news, these verses come to mind. IT MUST HAPPEN. As fatalistic as it may sound, it is what Jesus said in His Word. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, you cannot take this out of the picture.
Matthew 24:4-12
However, it is comforting to know that after these labor pains, HOPE was also promised:
'But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'To my fellow Christians, I am but a humble and flawed servant, but may this be a wakeup call for us to invest our time in what truly matters. The world will grow worse. We can only do so much in trying to solve the world's problems. In this accord, do what you are capable of doing. One person at a time. Go all out, by all means! But above all, never ever lose sight of what we are ultimately called to do. IT'S ABOUT DOING THE GREAT COMMISSION BY FOLLOWING THE LORD'S GREAT COMMANDMENT.
Matthew 24:13-14
This is my commandment, that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I have loved you.We don't want to be caught having the time of our lives while the people around us are craving for the kind of love that flows out of our relationship with Christ. Be the first person to break the barrier - do not allow them to look for love in other places. Get real with the Lord and get out of yourself. There is no greater love this world can ever experience than what Jesus has in and through us.
John 15:12
P. S.
Allow me to go all out on this. I put these things into writing after hearing about the death of a wonderful pastor whose works I follow because of his mental health advocacy. Pastor Jarrid Wilson committed suicide - I woke up to this utterly heartbreaking news. I am deeply affected knowing that even a champion of mental health had succumbed to the pain. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family (though this might not even reach them). May his life's work be the spark of a movement of love among the church and beyond.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; - when people are going through tough times, may we be sensitive enough to know when to preach and when to just sit beside them and mourn. People listen to those who take the time to listen to them. People need and want to be heard. We have all the means and avenues to share what we know. But let us learn to cherish the times when silence is the most precious message that we can offer.
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