Emotions may easily take control of our lives, if we are not careful. In the current global context, where fear, worry and uncertainty reign, it is very easy to fall prey to negative emotions. God created emotions so that as we live in these physical bodies we are able to relate the environment, to enjoy what is beautiful and beneficial for us, to express our delight when we like something, but also to avoid what it can hurt us.
 
The level of sin around us has reached unimaginable levels, evil is called good while good is blasphemed, and as a result, emotions had become greatly affected, leading to widespread depression and a large number of other mental illnesses. Statistics show that depression is one of the most widespread diseases of the 21st century, affecting many more people, including Christians, than in previous centuries. Whenever hopelessness and depression set in, a person loses motivation to get out of bed and be active and responsible.
 
But God created us to enjoy life while living in these bodies as we prepare for heaven and has a wonderful plan for each of us. God created us out of love and wants us to live in a close, loving relationship with Him both here on Earth and in the perfect heaven for all eternity. In John 14:2b-3, Jesus said, “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 the following verses show how important it is who we choose to follow:

• John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

 
Joy, fear, anger, sadness, surprise, pleasure, disgust and shame are the main emotions, from which all other human feelings derive. God's character includes emotions, too and we find them listed in Galatians 5: 22b-23a as the fruit of the Holy Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
 
If we choose our lives led by the Holy Spirit, in total surrender and obedience to God, the fruit of the Holy Spirit will manifest itself more and more in us and will change our character. We will become better, calmer, more loving, more patient. We will smile more and overcome difficulties more easily. I know from my own experience, as well as from those I have ministered to over the years, that these are the result of being born again.
 
What we hear and see has a great impact on our thoughts, emotions and actions. If we do not guard the "doors" of our heart and mind, we will suffer. The distorted information in the media, the panic and worries of those around us, the rules that are imposed on us, the emotional and spiritual atmosphere in public places that we cannot avoid, can make us fear and lose our peace.
 
It is up to us to not allow negative emotions to take control but rather to proclaim the truth of God’s Word over everything that affects us. We cannot change circumstances, but we can change how we react to what is happening to us. Let us not forget that "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
 
The fear of losing something may have an effect on us, only if we love that something. If we love Jesus more than life and more than anyone or anything, we will not be afraid of what terrifies our fellow men. For the born-again Christian, physical death means only instantaneous moving to heaven, where we will be with our Lord forever. I am not saying to be unwise and not take care of our physical bodies, but we can be responsible and live from a position of victory, trusting that our Lord loves us more than we can love ourselves and that He will not allow anything to happen that may separate us from Him, and miss heaven. No suffering on this earth can be compared to spending eternity in hell, so let us choose to live a life of obedience to the Lord, fulfilling His will, and we can be sure that no one and nothing can snatch us from the hand of our Lord (John 10: 28-29).
 
Let us spend as much time as possible praising the Lord, studying and meditating on Scripture, so that we may know who we are and what we have in Jesus as well as what God's will is. We do ourselves the greatest favor if we renounce living our lives led by our flesh and instead seeking to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling God's plan for each of us. Only by living this way can we reign in life and be forever in His presence.
 
Carmen Pușcaș

Many people are looking forward to the rapture, myself included. And we look for signs that would show the nearness of the Lord’s coming. With this recent pandemic, many wonder if this is a plague referenced in Luke 21:11 or part of the prophecies of the 4 horsemen of Revelation 6. I personally do not think it is part of that.

However, I do think we may be seeing birth pains of a one world system. I do not believe that all of a sudden in one moment there will be a global government and an Antichrist in power. It is most likely that a system will come into place and then at some point, he will rise up in it. I believe that Scripture in Daniel shows that three evil ones have to be removed before the demonic Antichrist will come into power (Daniel 7:7-8).

Globally, something has been going on. Some have called this a planned-demic and others are calling it a manufactured crisis. I do not know if perhaps it was concocted by the Chinese alone or possibly in conjunction with a deep state group that wants to overturn the United States or some other human group or entities, but I do know two things. One, this has been allowed by the Lord and two, the devil is behind it. Humans are just pawns to the wicked one.

The whore (Revelation 17:1-18) that is “carried” by the beast is really “the human network” that is moved around by the demonic network. Many want to call her mystery Babylon. But she is the whore of humanity. The people that have “sold their souls for corruption.” The mystery referenced in Revelation 17, is the relationship between the whore and the beast and who each are.

So if this world is being set up for even more evil, what do we do? I believe that all Christians must stand for righteousness. If we do not, who will? We are not to stick our heads in the sand below or the clouds above and just say, Jesus will take us out of here so why worry. That attitude is unbiblical and unwise. We must stand up (and also pray) for the unborn, the elderly, the children and even ourselves. Have you ever read in the Old Testament where the Lord had people marked?

• Ezekiel 9:4-6 … and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
  

God is not pleased at all by apathy and complacency. Did you notice that the judgment first began with the House of God? Caring about what goes on and being responsible matters. And we are to love people and carry the Gospel to the end.

If we should each live long enough, we will see a global order that will come together. Countries may be tricked into joining as the EU did with the lure of prosperity and benefit, or they may make it hard for nations that do not want to join in so that they feel they must. I can only surmise. But one way or another, it will happen. And like many hard times in history, those alive will have to live through it. Matthew 24:3-32, Mark 13:5-24 and Luke 21:7-28 tell of what is coming for believers before the Lord comes for His saints. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11 tells of what must happen first. Revelation 13:4-8 tells of the allowed term of the evil one including over Christians and is confirmed by Daniel 7:23-25.

As Christians, we need to stay in His Word. It seems far-fetched, but there may come a time when Bibles will be illegal. We need God’s Word implanted in our hearts. We need to get or be close to the Lord and stay close. We face uncertain times, but our Lord is certain. We need the Lord’s direction now more than ever.

E Cockrell


Articles on this site for consideration in relationship to this blog:

THE SCARLET BEAST AND THE MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH

CAN THE RAPTURE HAPPEN AT ANY TIME?

MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE, WHY 3 1/2 YEARS?

THE APOSTASY, THE GREAT FALLING AWAY