Some encouragment

The Day of the Lord Psalm 12:1-2 - “Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.” NLT All I need to do is watch the news for a few minutes and I can see a number of things happening in our society. One, I see more and more Godlessness among the nations. Two, I see more and more hatred being directed at people who live in the same neighborhoods, even on the same streets. And finally, I see adults and children disappear off the streets and even out of homes. I often ask - “What is going on in our world?” After reading today’s scripture I know the answer. We are living in a day when the Godly are fast disappearing. Our Christian meeting houses are losing attenders - except for churches where the true Word of God is preached. The ranks of believers in the United States is shrinking as a whole. There are pockets of encouraging words coming from some of our University campuses and third world countries. But, cults and false religions are increasing in numbers exceeding that of Christ followers in many places. (Just a side note - it is reported there are over one million believers in Iran-pray for them as this conversion can cost them their lives.) So where does that leave us? Hopeless? Discouraged? Depressed? No, not at all. In fact, just the opposite. If we read just a couple of more verses, we find God’s answer - “I have seen the violence...Now I will rise up...” I truly believe we are in those days described in the Word as the days before the coming of the Lord. As I understand scripture, what we are seeing is exactly some of the things we are to see before the return of Jesus Christ. Sin will abound, pestilence will increase, disease will increase - Mark 13:12 - “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.” NIV In my opinion, for what it is worth, these are days for us to begin to look to the heavens. These are days when we should strengthen our faith and our resolve. We should refresh our commitment to God and His purposes for us. These are days when we put fear behind us and look with eager anticipation toward the coming of the Lord. These are days we should grow desperate in our prayers for the lost. These are the days when we keep our families, spouses, children, and grandchildren lifted up before the Lord - asking God to save those who have yet to experience the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, the Godly are truly disappearing from the earth and neighbors are lying to each other, but it is not a time to fear - it is a time to rejoice in the truth of God’s Word. This is a prophetic Psalm. God does see from Heaven and answer. He is about to bring everything to an end as we know it. Those who are alive in Christ are not far from their eternal reward. Hang on - hang in - stay the course - keep praying - tell others - and never forget God is with us so who can be against us. You are loved and prayed for, Pastor Roger