LIFE AFTER-MATH

This post is going To delve into some considerations that many will find troubling, but they should invoke three things. First, they should keep us mindful of the times; lest we become overly consumed by this temporary setting. Second, they should cause us to draw closer to the Lord Jesus and set our affections firmly upon things above. To be hearing what the Spirit saith as we venture into times of trying. And finally, they should cause us to be about the issues that have eternal significance; that being, works which shall follow us into eternity. In other words, a fishing trip to the U.P is enjoyable (nothing wrong with it by the way) but termporal. But visiting a prisoner in Jesus name, will be remembered twenty five thousand years from now. It’s imperative that we begin thinking eternally and not allow ourslves to be overcharged by the affairs of this world.

Last Tuesday, after returning from work, I found a presentation on the History channel entitled “After the Apocalypse.” Actually the title is misleading because we know that the apocalypse will be stopped short by the return of Jesus and the setting up of the millenial reign. Nonethtless, the program visited the issue of surviving in the aftermath of a nationwide (or even global) calamity in which all resemblences of twenty first century living have come to a halt. It seems all but unthinkable; even to those who routinely consider prophetic issues and ponder the playing out of such things. Yet we are all aware that the time to preceed the return of Jesus is going to be more astonishing than any other. If we truly believe the word of God and our affections are firmly upon the Lord Jesus, we should not be fearful or caught sleeping by such things.

For over a month, I’ve been semi-camped out in Jeremiah; primarily the first twenty chapters. (Sorry for rambling; this will only take a moment…I hope) It’s astonishing at how “doom-and-gloomish” he must have sounded to the citizens of his day as he was called to expose the rampant sin in the land and fortell of a most astonishing event. One that, not only seemed unlikely, the undiscerning contemporaries would regard him as “speaking contrary to the will of God.” Two passages in Jeremiah stand out as this topic is ventured into:

Jeremiah 17:16 “As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.”

Jeremiah didn’t desire calamity and he certainly didn’t enjoy having to tell of it, but he was obediant unto the Lord. In Jeremiah 7:27, the Lord tells him to speak the words of truth, but to understand that no repentance will result from this. The true prophets will generally not fill stadiums and be held in high esteem by many. Their words will only be received by those whose eyes the Lord has opened. The other verse is:

Jeremiah 18:18 “Then said they, come and let us divide evil devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, cor councel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”

They viewed Jeremiah as speaking against the Lord because he exposed hypocrisy and the prophesiers of smooth things. He was an outsider to the religious structure, but he proclaimed the words of truth. Today, it’s also popular to speak about peace and prosperity without touching on repentance and godliness with contentment. (which is great gain) But just as in the days of Jeremiah, this is a theological recipe for disaster. We need clarity in these days. Not fabricated hype in any direction but to truly hear what the Spirit is saying as the season of “mens hearts failing them for fear” approaches.

I didn’t see the first few minutes of the History channel presentation, but it ran through the senario of a complete societal meltdown in the wake of a calamity. It utilized a ficticious storyline about a family of four who lived in the Los Angeles area. This family survived the event and now had to nagigate the aftermath. Periodically, at certain junctures of the story, the presentation would turn to experts who would elaborate on the condition being represented by a certain event in the storyline. At one point, the family came across an abandoned vehicle. The father had to pull a body from the vehicle and search it for keys, in order to use the vehicle for their journey. An expert then commented on how survivors would have to be opportunists and “do some uncomfortable things.” (Searching a body for keys doesn’t rank very high on my “things do-do” list) At another point, they came upon a desert community that had barricaded themselves in and would offer the family no assistance.

It was mentioned that, following such an overwhelming event, with seemingly no reprieve in sight, folks resort to a survival mentality. Suspicions arise as everyone is in pursuit of an ever-diminishing supply of sustinence. Desperate people will engage in practices that they would never dream of commiting in times of peace and safety. References to Hurricane Katrina were also brought up by those offering commentary. Following that event, there were a number of good Samaritan-like deeds, but they were very limited in nature. We all remember the news reports of anarchy from that city after the passing through of Katrina.  If I remember correctly, outside assistance finally reached the citizens of the city several days following the disaster. One cannot even imagine the scope of this tragedy, had that assistance taken weeks or months to arrive.

The family in the simulation was hoping to reach Idaho; a journey that seemed more impossible by the moment. Gangs with armaments controlled warehouses of food as it had become the currency in this new reality. Following the cataclysmic event, retail shops and private residences had been quickly stripped of their substance by “whosoever got there first.” Starvation was setting in as the land was incapable of sustaining this many people. This got me to thinking about our neck of the woods. We have an abundance of wildlife and livestock in this area. We are surrounded by fields and woods, with springs in the small hills that are less than a half mile to the west of this house, and a number of ponds. In the case of a catastrophic event, this area would quickly be overrun by refugees from Detroit and the cities to the north. Even though most would be lacking basic survival skills, they would, nonethtless, manage to quickly consume all of the deer, rabbits, cocker spaniels, and what have you. “In a moment, the frailty of everything becomes manifest.”

Later on in the story, the featured family had to hide in a ditch as a vehicle filled with armed people approached. While hiding in the ditch, the people in the other vehicle stopped, punctured the gas tank in order to take its content, and removed what little food and water was remaining. The family was now left with nothing; stranded in the Mojave desert with the threat of starvation bearing down. I sat in the living room; still wearing my coat as I had just gotten home from work, and considered this situation. As in any such presentation, eternal matters come to mind. Sorrow for the lost, a sense of urgency to reach them while we can, and a pondering of how a saint would rspond to such an event. The family being used as an example were not Christians. Their world had literally come to an end. Had they been Christians, they would not only have known the one who can sustain us in any circumstance, they could have used all of their encounters with others to share Jesus.

Why visit such an unpleasant topic? Because this sort of senario isn’t that far-fetched; especially in the face of a beast government coming into its time. The truth is that the world is already operating as a global entity and it’s a matter of time before a complete consolidating is reached. Traumatic events will be used and a son of perdition will tie together all of the loose ends. He will appear to have “saved the world from certain disaster” and will lure millions into everlasting death with a mark of allegiance that promises access to food, water, medical attention, and income. Ponderings like this should cause everyone who professes Christ to “get spiritual in a hurry.” Because we cannot survive this if were leaning upon the platforms of flesh and we’ll be in a precarious state if we haven’t, from our heart, forsaken all that is in the world.

Hebrews 12:16 “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

We will soon discover how much we’re willing to pay for a morsel of meat. This issue must be settled in our hearts now; not when the hour of trying is here. I apolagize for such a grusome post, but one thing that’s been of great concern lately is how unprepared most of us are. We’re quick to quote Psalm 37:25 when Wal-Mart is well stocked. (Psalm 37:25 is true) But will we believe it when we are at our wits end; not knowing where our next meal is coming from? I need to wrap this up, but one more verse is being impressed. It’s a familiar one and it may not seem to fit this post, however, it’s been in my heart for several weeks. (Seriously; every day it comes to mind)

Luke 6:25-26 “Woe to you that are full! for ye shall suffer hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

I pray that this post will stir every saint to draw close to the Lord Jesus. He is truly our refuge and will keep us if we abide in him. This post is written with this single desire; that all of us would be sober, steadfast, and prepared spiritually to endure unto the end.

Blessings always in Jesus name.

Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”