“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.” –Mark 13:7
Do not be alarmed. Do not be troubled. Wars and rumors of wars are troubling things, but the Christian is commanded by Christ not to be troubled. Christ warns us of troubling things to come such as being hated for Jesus’ name sake, persecution, and false Christianities, that the church would be on guard, stay awake, and not alarmed.
The apostles heard Jesus’ prophecy which came true with incredible accuracy when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD70. What troubling things were on the news! Famines, earthquakes, the volcano Vesuvius completely destroying Pompeii in AD79, wars such as the Roman conquest of Britain by the end of the 1st Century. With this came the ebb and flow of the Roman economy, especially hurting the poor.
The news could be troubling. Do not be alarmed, Jesus commanded. The alarming hostility and restlessness of our fallen world entices the Christian to be entangled in only secondary things or to remain in a motionless hiding. Christ, who is our strength and peace, commands us to not be alarmed as well as not to be silent.
I am constantly being pulled in many directions with the call that I am not doing enough. The alarm is sounded. Do you not see how bad the world is? Did you hear the troubling news? Opinion pieces and long speeches are given to charge into the public square with great alarm.
As I write this, the sun is blaring through my window. The birds are singing. The air is warm. I can hear my children playing. Time goes on despite the news I hear. Wars. Rumors of wars. Real image bearers of God are suffering and dying in a hostile world. As I raise my children, pray for and live a peaceable life in this world, I know my love for Jesus will be met with hatred.
“You will be hated by all nations for my name's sake” (Matthew 24:9). “That’s the dark said of missions,” writes John Piper. “The hatred will be as widespread as the harvest (Taste and See, Page 249). And yet, I am not to be alarmed. Jesus told me this to be ready.
Hatred, war, famine, persecution. We are not to be surprised by these fiery trials as if something strange were happening to us. They are manifestations of what sin is and does. But we are not alarmed.
David sings, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident” (Psalm 27:3). Why so confident? David was certain he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 27:4). David was certain by faith in God’s promise of everlasting life.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a bold Welsh preacher during the Second World War and pastoring in London during The Blitz, a series of mass bombing raids by the Nazi’s. Preaching from Matthew 24, Lloyd-Jones said, “we must all agree that the world is in a strange and extraordinary condition especially at this present time…a time of uncertainty.” He goes on to say that those in the world see the gospel preached for 2000 years has failed to stir world peace, that the world is as bad as ever. The world goes to politics to do something more practical to reform nations and make the world a better place.
Lloyd-Jones added, “The gospel has never claimed to reform or to improve the world.”
Did our Lord raise up the disciples to go before kings to reform nations into peaceful societies? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ a social gospel? No. They will be dragged before kings because of their devotion to the name of Christ. And there, upon that platform, preach the gospel.
Yet, we as Christians should unashamedly say, “I want the world to be more Christian.” We labor with the gospel in the face of hostility, for the harvest is plentiful. The world becomes more Christian by hearing the gospel of Christ.
Let us be so bold to continue preaching the gospel, loving and serving in our churches, raising godly children, with eyes fixed to the end of the age where we can confidently say Christ will return. Christ is King. His kingdom is forever. The nations continue to rage and our own nation may crumble, but we trust in the words of Christ which will never fade away.
Heavenly Father, the world is in chaos and Your people must face hostility. Give us boldness in our confidence in the gospel to persevere in preaching Christ to a perishing world. Grant to Your church a peace which surpasses understanding as we must face this hostile world; a peace longing and looking for the return of our Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
