The Watchman's Diary

Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:10-11).

Even those who lack discernment can see that this last year has brought about an unprecedented increase in civil turmoil. Racism, cultural wars, and ethnic disputes have become more evident and those who once hid in the shadows are stepping out boldly to declare their sense of superiority. Just this morning, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico, only one of the many to strike at various places around the world this year alone. Kenya, and other places throughout Africa have been experiencing droughts. Their farms have been devastated and hunger binds the stomachs of those affected by the wars in places like Libya. Vaccine resistant diseases are becoming all too common and those that we thought we had under control have broken out even more of late. Those who study the skies testify of frightening sights as asteroids make their way between the moon and earth. The sun increasingly fires of flares like projectiles targeting the earth. It’s flames erupt like earth sized volcanoes, travelling great distance to disrupt the earth’s magnetic waves; whales, dolphins, and other sea creatures lose their sense of direction only to face certain death, beached on shorelines around the world.

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:6-8).

The trumpet has sounded but the people are confused. It has become an unfamiliar sound to those who have turned from the Lord and those deceived by false prophets; those who write books just to line their own pockets.

The Lord is with you in the midst of the storm. He goes ahead to secure your way even as he guides its course from behind. From the earthquake he says “come set your feet on solid ground”. “Do not fear sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

He cries out to you from the midst of the storm saying “I am your strong tower, run to me and be safe; I will never leave you nor forsake you”. “The angel of the Lord encamps around all who fear Him, and delivers them”(Ps. 34:7); “There is no want of those who fear him” (Ps. 34:9b) and “those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” (Ps. 34:10b). In this life we will face difficulties but when “the righteous cry out to the Lord [He] hears and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Ps. 34:17).

When drought and famine takes hold He says “I am the well of life, ask of me and I will give you fountains of living water; I am the bread of life, take hold of me and hunger no more”. When pestilence strikes he says “I am the Great Physician, buy from me medicine at no cost and never again suffer sickness”.

When worry takes hold of you He says “I am your comforter, your guide, your shepherd. Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in me, believe also in God.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:2-3).

If you are in Christ, rejoice for at the time of great tribulation He will say “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past (Isaiah 26:20).

To all others He says, Repent! Turn from your evil ways. Repent! “For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord; shame shall be the legacy of fools” (Proverbs 3:32a, 35b).