God Meets the Challenges:
After studying Bible prophecy, one can only conclude that this world will grow increasingly evil. Scripture tells us, “But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power (…).” (2 Tim. 3:1-5 NKJV) Increasing evil and/or spiritual darkness can only mean the challenges Christians face will become more numerous and harder to bear.
Fortunately, our three-in-one God (Father, Word and Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) knew this would be the case and planned ahead, providing the way (Jesus) for people who believe in Him to come to Jesus Christ, believe, be born again and get eternal life. John 3:16-18 NKJV tells us, “(16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (18) He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, sin and death entered all creation. The power of sin caused Adam and Eve to gain a sinful nature, and passed sin down to all generations of people. We all inherited a sinful nature from the seed of Adam, and we have inherited original sin. Our sinful nature causes us to have the desire for sin. In addition to original sin, we all, personally, choose to sin.
God’s plan of redemption required a holy, sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin. That penalty for sin is death. But no human was sinless (pure) so God did a miracle and sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross at Calvary to pay for the sin of all mankind, from the beginning and through the end of time. Jesus is the way through which we can be saved and become the children of God. As God’s children we are given an eternal inheritance of justification, salvation, spiritual gifts, a place in God’s heavenly household and God’s kingdom, everlasting life, and other natural and Spiritual blessings. Among those blessings is the opportunity to receive Jesus into our hearts via the power of The Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts and goes with us everywhere, leading and guiding us to truth. The Holy Spirit reveals truth and teaches us the meaning of it. God is our ever-present help in times of trouble, and He promises to deliver us.
God’s deliverance doesn’t mean we will always be plucked out of troublesome circumstances. Sometimes God allows the circumstances and walks through them with us because He wants to strengthen our resolve, stretch and test our faith, and teach us. Whatever difficult circumstances we go through, God is there with us, comforting, guarding, guiding, helping, and providing–if we listen to Him and obey. God brings us through the challenges and helps us overcome them!
“(1) l I will lift up my eyes to the hills–
From whence comes my help?
(2) My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
(8) The Lord shall preserve your going out
and your coming in from this time forth, and even forever more.”
–Psalm 121:1. 2, 8 NKJV
