Let not your heart be troubled

Dear John xxxxxx,

At the time of this writing, two of the biggest stories in the news are coronavirus and the race to see who will be the Democratic presidential nominee for president. The coronavirus has served as a reminder of just how quickly our world can change with events that nobody could have seen coming.

Since 2000, there have been two events that changed everything for Americans almost overnight. One, of course, was the attack on our country from Islamic jihadis on September 11, 2001. The second was the financial collapse of 2008. Both had – and still have – profound effects on our everyday lives.

The collapse of the World Trade Center. The collapse of an economy. What will the next collapse be? Now we wait to see if the coronavirus will have that same kind of impact. Or will our freedoms completely disappear in the dust of a collapsing republic?

Hopefully, spring’s rising temperatures and health-conscious precautions will slow the spread of the virus, which is like having the flu, only harsher on the lungs. And like the flu, it can be lethal for those who already have underlying health issues.

And hopefully, voters will elect leaders who will restore our republic to its moral foundations. I was thinking about this one evening and asking myself if we are facing a precursor of things soon to come, possibly things as described in the Bible as a sign of God’s judgment on mankind and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Earth.

I asked my friend Dr. Ray Pritchard of Keep Believing Ministries, and he believes that, yes, what I was thinking is aligned with what the Bible says will happen in the “last days.” And by “last days” I mean the last days of planet Earth as we have known it. When Jesus Christ returns, there will be no more political primaries. There will be the glorious rule of King Jesus!

With a ministry like AFA, I know there are Christians with different views on eschatology, and AFA doesn’t have a position on this other than to say the Bible is clear that there is coming a day when Jesus Christ will return physically and will demonstrate His supernatural power over the Earth. When that will happen exactly, no one knows. But I like what the Nicene Creed says: “He will come again in glory to judge the quick (living) and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Our country has historically been known as a God-fearing people. That’s not saying everyone was a Christian, but to say that our nation, as a whole, had a reverence for God, the Bible, and Christianity.

However, over the last few decades, that has changed dramatically. It is really troubling and sad to see that so many of our fellow Americans have absolutely no fear of God. And it seems to be getting worse.

It reminds me of the mockers and scoffers in the days of Noah. In Christian teaching we read that God judges us individually, and He judges nations. And unless we have a massive spiritual and moral revival among our people soon, I have no doubt that God will send judgment that will either get our attention and lead to repentance, or it will cause us to rebel even more. And I’m talking judgment with events that hit overnight, crises that we couldn’t see coming. Things like the coronavirus or the 2008 financial collapse – only much, much worse.

Until Jesus returns, the Bible instructs His people to be salt and light. To occupy the land. To stand for truth and righteousness. And so we will here at AFA. As you will wherever God has put you.

The good news is – God will take care of His people. One way or another He always takes care of those who are devoted to Him. As Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1, NKJV).

Sincerely,