There is a lot of fear in the world today, as is appropriate. America, (and other countries), are in difficult times.
There are lots of opinions about both what the answer is and what the problem is.
All of the politicians and news pundits have their opinions about what needs to be done. The average Joe and Jane have their opinions and belief systems about our hard times. Some of these people even have TV shows talking about how they are “preparing for doomsday.” 
Christians too, have answers. Many Christians are speaking up about God’s continued judgement in difficult times because of our willful acts in turning from His truth.
Share the Truth and the Hope
As Christians, we must make sure that when we share about God’s judgement — that we also share God’s hope-filled instructions. We must not only share the bad news, we must share the good news as well.
We can’t simply say, “God’s judgement is coming” or “hard times are here” and leave it at that.
I’ve had Christians speak to me concerning hard times and God’s judgment that is “coming soon” to America and they leave it at that. Even as a Christian, this grips me with fear.
We are not to simply bring fear with no hope. No, God speaks to us with hope and instructions.
As God’s spokespeople we must give God’s good news. We must remind ourselves and others of what God wants from us and what He calls us to do. We are to cry out to Him and be saved. We are to humble ourselves and pray. We are to seek His face. We are to seek His instructions and turn from our own self-destructive ways.
God’s Instructions to Us
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21
God says it this way and promises us, “…If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Although this second verse is directed to believers, it is also what, throughout Scripture, unbelievers are called to do as well.
So I ask myself first – am I consistently and daily –
Humbling myself and praying?
Seeking God’s face in His Word and in prayer?
Turning from my wicked ways and allowing myself to be instructed and directed by Him?
Crying out to God with my needs?
What Do You Say?
You and I are to share with others that God loves us and provides us with a way of safety and escape. We are to share that God wants us to turn to Him and not be swept away in painful circumstances which happen as He withdraws His care and protection when we reject Him and His Word.
As God’s Messengers of Hope Are We Preparing Ourselves and Our Answers
When conversations turn to hard times or the unbelievable “new” political climate of acceptance and tolerance for all things sweeping our nation, do you answer people with both truth and hope?
I just saw a news show where a news man asked a strong, well-spoken preacher if he believed that God’s judgement would fall because of the gay rights agenda being touted as the way we should live. Sadly and unbelievably the pastor did not answer the great question in any way. Instead, he went off on some aspect he wanted to talk about.
I say this to myself as well as you – please, please, please, make sure that you don’t miss opportunities. If you need to – think through these topics and what you want to say before you go out your door! If you need to, take a piece of paper and begin to write down God’s thoughts. Have a verse ready. God tells us to be prepared to give an answer. This means that we must prepare.
It takes time thinking on God’s Word to make God’s answers our own and to make God’s ways, our ways. We can time in our car or when we’re getting ready in the morning to think on these things.
One more thing. We must also respond to people’s unspoken concerns that they have about – how do you know what the real truth is? How are you so sure the Bible is the answer? Aren’t there many “truths?”
Be able to give proof in your conversations!
Be able to say – “Sure, there are many religions out there that claim to have the truth and they claim to have “Holy” books, BUT there is only one Holy book with tons of proof.”
“There is only one Holy book that is written by (and claims to be written by) the God of creation. It is written by the God who created us and who has given us His marvelous self-revealing world!”
“There is only one Holy book that gives us hundreds of fulfilled prophecies as proof!”
“There is only one Holy book that has given us the resurrection of God’s son as evidence and proof.”
I read an article recently about how Mormons are to witness. They are taught to respond to people’s questions (time and time again) with simply, “I KNOW this is true” and they use their testimony as “proof.” As messengers of God’s hope we have greater proof that we must be able to share with those around us.
As you share God’s hope with the fearful, the hungry, the doubting, and the questioning, you will find that it will strengthen your own faith too! (It forces you to answer you own questions!)
I would love for you to share with me how you tackle the topics of hard times, God’s judgment, truth, and hope.
I will leave you with some verses on proof.
VERSES ON EVIDENCE AND PROOF
Proof from Prophecies:
And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’—when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:21-22
“I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.” Isaiah 42:8-9
–The Gospel of Matthew is one of my favorite books of the Bible, because there are at least eight specific, easy to see references to prophecies fulfilled. (New Bibles will have the Old Testament reference.)
Creation Proof:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV
I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself. Isaiah 44:24
The Proof Of Who Jesus Is
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:31
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” John 13:19
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:11
As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue,and on three Sabbathdays he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christhad to sufferand rise from the dead.“This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,”he said. Acts 17:2-3
Proof of signs and miracles
…the Lord who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders Acts 14:3
Proof through all these things
The wrath of Godis being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:18-21
How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,was confirmed to us by those who heard him.4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spiritdistributed according to his will.Hebrews 2:3-4 NIV
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