‘Farewell, 2020!’
‘2021 will be YOUR year!’
‘Goodbye to the worst year ever.’
‘Bring on 2021! ‘
‘Everything will be better next year.’
NEWS FLASH! Everything will NOT be better next year!
I’m sure you’ve heard these phrases a lot over the past few weeks as the year 2020 began to close. And I’ve got to be honest, it’s kinda been annoying me.
Why? Because I’m sorry but this year will not be better. In fact, I can pretty much promise you it won’t be. I don’t want to be a ‘Debbie Downer’ or a pessimist but as the saying goes… ‘things are gonna get worse before they get better.’
You might be thinking,
‘But Gemma, how can you be so sure and confident?’
Well, I am confident in Jesus Christ and the fact He said that things are gonna get worse.
Now that is a super depressing thought.
You might have read this far and are now tempted to stop reading… But please don’t.
I promise you there is a happy ending to this story, but first we have to get through the mess.
In the bible, in the gospel of Matthew, it records a time when Jesus is speaking about the last days of the world. In chapter 24, verse 12 Jesus says, ‘and because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.’
Think about the lawlessness we have seen this year…
The impeachment trial of the President of the United States.
The United Kingdom formally withdrawing from the European Union.
President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. drone strike on an Iranian General.
Violent protests erupt across hundreds of cities across the U.S. and all around the world.
American missionary kidnapped in Niger, in West Africa.
Protests breaking out in Thailand as the prime minister refuses to step down.
Add to this, devastating natural disasters and a global pandemic.
And more…
That’s some intense lawlessness.
But that’s not all that Jesus said about the end times.
Matthew 24
Verse 6 – Wars and rumours of wars
Verse 7 – Nation verses nation, kingdom verses kingdom
Verse 7 – Famines and earthquakes
Verse 8 – ALL OF THESE ARE BUT THE BEGINNING!
Verse 9 – Followers of Christ will be hated and put to death
Verse 10 – Followers of Christ will fall away and betray one another
Verse 11 – False prophets
Verse 12 – Lawlessness increased; love grows cold
Verse 13 – BUT
Remember that happy ending I promised you at the beginning of the article.
Here it is.
Verse 13 and 14.
But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:13-14
Don’t lose hope.
Yes, Jesus talked about a spike in lawlessness and a lack of love. But He also promises us that the gospel (the good news of salvation and grace) will be proclaimed in ALL the world!
And that is something to remain hopeful for.
But in the meantime, should we be concerned with the lawlessness around us? YES
Should we as Christians speak up and continue to proclaim the gospel message? YES
Should we stand against lawlessness where we see it? YES
I urge you, my Christian family, please stop saying things will get better in 2021 and that the worst is over… because it’s not.
But when you are feeling hopeless, discouraged, outraged and anxious about the future of the world… look to the promised second coming of our forever reigning King Jesus.
So yeah sure, say goodbye to 2020. Say goodbye to a bad year.
But rather than putting your hope in the new year of 2021, which is completely uncertain, put your hope in the sure and certain promise of the gospel and Jesus Christ’s victory over lawlessness.
WRITER: Gemma Chapman