It was late in the night. Full moon, dark sky, quiet night. My mother and I had just arrived home from our dinner outing. I felt happy and satisfied, ready to lay back on the couch and watch a movie. As I watched my mother place the keys into the key hole to unlock the door, I heard her whisper, “Get down.” I said, “What?” She quietly repeated, “Get down!” Confused, I turned my head to see what she was looking at in fear. I immediately made eye contact with a white male holding a gun up. With him were two other men standing next to a car. I could not see who was in the vehicle for the headlights were beaming right in my direction. I froze right where I was, thinking to myself, “Should I run? Should I hide?” I quickly turned to my mother, but she was no longer standing there. She had taken shield behind a wall and left the keys hanging in the door. In fear, I dove to the ground, dragging my body close to a large bush, hoping I could not be seen. It all happened so fast. Two gunshots as loud as thunder cracked in my ear, followed by a hard thump. “I am dead meat,” I thought to myself. “He saw me and he is going to come for me.” I began talking to God. “Wow God, so this is how it ends. I never thought my life would end so soon. I thought there was more left for me to do.” I kept still and confessed my love for God, accepting my death in surrender. As footsteps approached me, I held myself tight, waiting for the bullet to hit me. I could not see who was behind me, but a large man-like shadow came over me. Just then…I awoke. It was only a dream. Still my heart was racing.
Today, the world is full of so much chaos and confusion. In the past month alone, there have been hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, and other unnatural causes of death, such as mass shootings. Each time I hear stories of such, I can’t help but think of the number of lives lost. What saddens me is not only their death, but the fact that so many of them did not know God. Death came so unexpectedly, that most did not have even a second to pray and confess. They were not ready.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:6-14
What we’ve seen is nothing compared to what is coming. It’s going to get worse. I say it with much love, and I speak the truth, it’s going to get worse. Each one needs to be prepared. As Matthew 26:36 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Whether we’re in the end times or not, the same could be said about death. No one knows the day or hour of their death, unless predetermined. The question is, “Are you ready?”
It’s just another war. Just another family torn. It’s just another kill. The countdown begins to destroy ourselves.
The devil is not going to waste a second. He knows his time is short and he is taking action (Rev. 12:12). He prowls around looking for someone to devour. If he can do it in large numbers, he’ll turn up the heat. He doesn’t target Christians alone, but the world as a whole. Any living soul that could enter the kingdom, he wants to destroy. And he wants to do it fast, because he knows he can be defeated. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11).
I believe my role as a disciple of God is to prepare the world. It’s to prepare they who are unsure of what follows death. I want to help people make a commitment to God, that they will devote their lives to living for Him daily. I want them to be confident when they leave this world, knowing they have lived out their purpose and mission on this earth. With all the disaster that this world will face, I want to see more people stand strong, firm, and steadfast, knowing thanks to the grace of our God, victory is ours.
I’ve got a hero living in me. I’m gonna fight for what’s right. Today I’m speaking my mind. And if it kills me tonight, I will be ready to die.
I am not trying to be a savior, only a determined soldier in the army of the Lord. I’ve got the armor of God and I’m ready to fight “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Best of all I have a hero living inside me. The world needs saving, and it is my will to fight for the world. Suit up armyman/woman and join me.
Song Suggestion: Hero by Skillet, End of Days by Hillsong
If you’re not sure where you stand with God and need direction, if you need prayer, if you’d like to find out what this gospel is or would like to accept God into your life, email me at [email protected].
