These Fascinating Days!

By David Ettinger

Clarifying the Term
It’s easy for me to call these days “fascinating” as I am at this point employed and in good health. For those suffering from the effects of Covid 19, “fascinating” is hardly the word they would use.

Believe me, having been unemployed for 2½ years (2010-2012) and endured a pulverizing bout of influenza (2018), I would never make light of anyone’s suffering from unemployment or health issues, the two biggest afflictions right now.

When I use the term “fascinating,” I am speaking from a Christian perspective, both in regard to what the Bible says about the end-times, but also on an individual level – how the faith of Western Christians will be tested as never before.

The ‘Prophecy’ Aspect
The Bible speaks of a number of afflictions which will beset the Earth in the years leading up to Christ’s return. These include war, famine, poverty, plague, and disease. Yes, these have always been prevalent, but in limited quantities and spaces. In the end-times, these scourges will reach global proportions.

It is difficult to imagine what such catastrophe will look like, but perhaps we are getting a teeny taste of it now with Covid 19. Go online and check out the eerie pictures of New York City (where I grew up) – the streets are empty! The same goes for large cities worldwide.

Here in Orlando, our theme parks – which are opened 365 days a year – have been shut down! These attractions have made Orlando the tourist capital of the world, and now they’re closed for business.

More and more schools – from first grade to college – are telling students to stay home as classes will be conducted online. More and more businesses are doing the same with their workers, and praise God for those who can work from home. Those who can’t are losing their jobs as unemployment numbers in the States are rising.

In the entertainment field, professional sports have shut down, as are Broadway and movie theaters. I’m 62 years old and have never seen anything even remotely resembling it.

From a biblical perspective, the Covid 19 pandemic is showing the human race just how feeble and helpless it is. Though nowhere near “epic proportions,” look how quickly this virus has “shut us down.” Compared to the world’s population, the number of people who have both contracted the virus and have died from it are relatively small, but the fear of it has driven us to our knees.

How much more so when the calamities of the end-times hit!   

The Individual Aspect
However, and I’ll be honest, if I get hit by the Coronavirus or lose my job, I won’t be thinking about prophecy or the end-times; I will be all about trying to survive. And this means a test of faith. Will I be faithful to the God who “will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), or will I compromise in one way or another?

And what of the financial ruin which could result from the current crisis. What will older believers do as their retirement plans shrivel up? What will younger families do as they find in harder to feed their families? What if a governmental leader promises to take care of us, but compromise of our faith is involved? What will believers do in the darkest of days?

This will definitely be an issue in the Last Days when the Antichrist will demand that the citizens of Planet Earth take his mark if they want to live, or at least want to purchase the essentials of life.

As believers, these are the things we need to consider as we could well be seeing our faith tested in ways we never imagined. These are indeed fascinating days and they will prove our mettle. Will we fall away like those who “have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13), or be like Daniel 12:3: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

May we be the latter and shine for our Lord Jesus Christ in these fascinating days!

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Tagged: A Test of Faith, Christian Ethics, Covid 19, Serving Christ, Shining for Christ, Trusting God

Posted in: Application, Bible study, Bible teaching, Christian Behavior, Christian Ethics, Christianity, Commentary, Culture, Current Events, Editorial/Blog, End Times, Glorifying God, God's Provision, Loving God, New Testament, Obeying God, Personal testimony, Resting in Jesus, the end-times, The Last Days