The Watchman's Diary

Anyone with breath in their lungs and an awareness of current events knows that we are living in peculiar times. Jerusalem – a city with a long history of controversy – and Israel -a nation long without a homeland – are today’s center of attention. This tiny land has become a huge burden for the world and the Middle East is about to erupt over it.

Yes, Israel and Christianity has been dominating the media. This is a massive shift from just about one year ago when Islam was the focus. Many well-known evangelicals are being interviewed as the media and others seek to understand their seemingly unshakable support for Donald Trump. Many less known or unknown Christians have taken to YouTube to discuss the current political, social, and theological climate. Yes, Christianity is getting much attention and the church is poised to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, even if only in sound bites. The question is are we and will we? Are those who proclaim Trump the modern day Cyrus looking too much to the “man” and not beyond the “man”? Are we suffering from near-sightedness or do we really have a clear view of the larger picture?

Could it be that we are simply in the eye of the storm and instead of looking at the horizon we are setting our sights on the field just beyond our enclave? God is again being true to His word. He has opened up a window of opportunity for His church, His prophets, and His ministers to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and He is even using secular media to facilitate it. He is using unbelieving scientists to make proclamations that support biblical prophecy of what is to take place in the last days. He is using social media as a platform to bring to our eyes world events that would normally be local issues and showing us the gravity of these things.

We are in the eye of the storm, so church be vigilant. Now is not the time to flock into the streets and open fields to declare victory. Now is the time to put on our armor and to declare the judgements of God. Now is the time to teach those who seek the truth; to correct those who are in error; to rebuke those who transgress His commandments; now is the time to let the world know of the gracious hand that has been extended to us. No, it is not time to push the bible in the faces of those we encounter but to lovingly point them toward Christ with the word of God as our foundation.

This is the eye of the storm and what follows will be even more devastating. what has proceeded serves as a warning. What hasn’t been demolished is weakened and what is fallen now becomes projectiles to cause havoc to what remains standing. Now is the time to put on the Armor of God. Without which we will not be able to stand. Now is the time to raise the Shield of Faith to protect ourselves from the projectiles aiming straight at our hearts. Now is the time to dawn the Helmet of Salvation for without the head, the body cannot fight. Now is the time to make ready the Sword of the Spirit because a troop heads our way, armed with fiery arrows and unholy informants.

The church is never on defense, for our Head is the Mighty One of God who does not retreat nor is ever taken by surprise. We are vigilant and ready, ever advancing against the gates of hell to blot out the darkness that lurks around us. If you are on defense it is time to examine which side you are on.

We are in the eye of the storm. It is not time to rejoice but to strengthen our position, to examine our armor, to sharpen our sword, and to refresh ourselves for what follows. Raise your sights and look beyond “man”, for there is One who is sovereign over all things.

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.  But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.  These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 14-25)