Don't Be Afraid of What's Happening in the World

We constantly hear and see examples of things telling us how our world is falling apart at the seams. Yet as Christians, we have nothing to ultimately fear from anything that happens in this world.

The Bible tells us there will be troubled times in this world. Therefore, these kinds of problems are nothing surprising, but to be expected. And the Bible tells us that our citizenship is in heaven, with God — so there is no need to be afraid. For Jesus — our master, our guide, and our saviour — is with us at all times.

In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul says:

But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.

Turn away from these, also.

Slightly later in the same chapter, Paul says:

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

In Chapter 2, Paul reassures us that whatever suffering we experience in this world it's only temporary:

This saying is faithful: For if we died with him, We will also live with him. If we endure, We will also reign with him.

In fact the entire book of 2 Timothy is very good reading for anyone who fears the way the world is going, and what might happen to them because of that. The whole book is only four short chapters long, and does not take long to read. Paul's letter to the Philippians is also very inspiring, and reminds us of our heavenly rewards — because of which, we have nothing at all to fear on this Earth.

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory.

Wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes are all things the Bible predicts, and can teach us to not be afraid of. Artwork by TheDigitalArtist / Pixabay.

Jesus also tells us similar things:

Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most assuredly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

See also: Remember that You're Going to Heaven!