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Undoubtedly we live in a time of peril and danger of many kinds and originations.

If one watches television news at all, many of these conditions are evident. Some have said that signs of danger are simple the result of better reporting, and are the result of a shrinking world. Everything is done faster and reported faster, which is true. Awareness is also evidence of more rapid change in almost every arena of our reality. Changes are accelerating at in increasing rate.

There is greater alarm. There is greater turmoil. This, most thinking people would agree.

Important times and seasons in the world are generally referred to by God in the Bible. Some are specific. Many are duel in occurrence, spanning separately over many generations. The thrust of it all is that the world is not getting better, but is slowly - but surely - getting worse in terms of danger to more people, in more locations the world over.

As Christians, what should our take be; our mindset, our mental and spiritual disposition be, as the world keeps on turning?

In the Bible book of Deuteronomy, is the story Moses leading ancient Israel out of Egypt. Many things occurred, as most Christians know, but the bottom line is that they did not make it to the promised land because of many things, but primarily because they would not believe they could overcome the obstacles at the last moment before entering what God had promised. After 40 years of lingering in the wilderness, the next generation finally entered just after Moses's death. The first generation could not enter the promised land because of unbelief.

When the second generation entered the promised land, God gave it many promises and warnings which would result in their loosing the good land in which they were given. Part of what God through Joshua told them seems to foreshadow future events experienced in many generations of many peoples and nations down through the centuries. A detailed study of history since that time reveal some shocking similarities that other nations have experienced since then. God is no respecter of persons - or nations. He is utterly impartial. He sees the world from a very ex halted viewpoint. Some of His warnings to Israel of that time sound disturbingly similar to today's world:

"The transient (stranger) among you shall mount up higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. All these curses shall come upon you and shall pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you." - Deuteronomy 28:43-45

Observing the general state of our world today, perhaps it is time to watch our world and read the experiences of Israel of that time. Most prophetic scripture has a duel or more meaning. This is true because human nature is generally the same - generation after generation. The books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke of the Bible record Jesus's portrayal of what it would be like just before the end of this world and His return. Notice:

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, 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 place after place; All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the ]birth pangs [of the ]intolerable anguish]. Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended and repelled and will [e]begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of [f]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end." - Matthew 24:6-14

Jesus does not give us an exact timeframe. but admonishes us:

"Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning—[Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody: WATCH! (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!" - Mark 13:35-37

Yes, our world has has always had trubleous times. But as many nations worldwide become less and less stable, it is time to watch, be alert, and draw closer to our God and Savior Jesus Christ. We do not the day or the hour...but He does.

At the same time, if we belong to Him, alertness should be balanced with a confident heart and - WATCH!
These things must come to pass - while we draw closer to Him.

"And when you hear of wars and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately. Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: [c]malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven." - Luke 21:9-11

"Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid". - John 14:27

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

What's to be thankful for in this?