The Beginnings of the Birth Pains

3/6/2016

Mark 13.5-8 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. – Jesus

I think, among men, there has always been an insatiable thirst to know more – I think that thirst is a direct result of the fall. Like a child who awaits his punishment after being found out in having committed a wrong, mankind always wants to know what comes next when the other shoe drops.

Jesus’ core group, Peter, James, and John approached Him one day and asked, Lord, what happens when the end comes, and how soon will it be? Jesus knew what they were asking but He said, “Don’t let anyone lead you astray…” In other words, everyone is thinking this, and many will postulate where, when, and how it’s all going to go down… Everyone thinks they can interpret the seasons and the times but no one really knows, and many will be led astray by the postulations of man.

He went on to say that many would come along claiming solutions to mankind’s issues; they will claim to be The One sent to deliver man from all his striving for truth and peace. And in the midst of all this there will be wars and rumors of more wars. There will be earthquakes, and natural disasters and famines but, Jesus said, all these things are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Nowadays, I hear many bemoaning (as they see it) the overreach of the government and the disregard for our Constitution. The questions seem to hover around, How can they get away with this!? These are but the beginnings of the birth pains. As we become more and more secular, we become more and more dependent on a government and less on God. Somehow the rule of men is more believable than the providence of God. We’ve already been led astray.

And sadly, we’ll continue to be led astray by the notion that somehow, somewhere is someone of commonsense and courage who will defeat the ones who threaten to take our liberties away, and restore the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When we have no God, we have no rights. And even if we have God, the only right we have is to become His children by belief in Him. America the beautiful doesn’t know who she is, or in whom she believes, save the political party she calls her own.

I have no answers but watching all this is going to be very telling. My discomfort is that the greatest nation on earth will become more and more irrelevant, and the Church within her will change as a result of the birth pains as they come.

Father, none of this is by accident and You are in complete control. May the pains that are coming be useful in drawing men to Yourself; and whether obvious or occluded, may Your Church be a haven of peace and providence for those who are wise enough to seek You in her. Amen.