Marlee and I recall watching a news broadcast of the war in Ukraine these past days. Specifically, we watched as explosions reverberated across Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Mariupol, and these news cameras captured a small group of Christians praying in the middle of a square in the eastern city of Kharkiv. Since that newscast, Russia’s invasion has only expanded in scope and the horrors of war have been increasingly evident in Ukraine — apartment complexes decimated by bombs, refugees streaming into neighboring countries like Poland and Romania, local neighbours preparing for door-to-door fighting.
When the COVID-19 Pandemic came to us Two years ago, we were asked repeatedly, could this be the ‘End Times’ ?
- A pandemic hit, “surely this is a sign that Jesus is on the way, don’t you think?”
- Russia invades Ukraine and people say, “is this a sign that Jesus is coming back soon?”
- Oil prices skyrocket, “this must be a sign that Jesus is coming, right?”
- vaccine cards, microchips, and the empty cookie shelf at Zehrs all prompt the question, “don’t these events point to the return of Jesus?”
Here’s our answer – Not exactly.
During our lifetime there has been a fascination with the return of Jesus. World events have become signs of the end times in past except they weren’t. And let’s not forget about that other group that tells us that Jesus can’t come back right now because certain biblical prophecies haven’t been fulfilled.
The remnants of this interest in the end times still remains. Even now, at every global event, people will ask, “do you think this is a sign that Jesus is coming back soon?”
To date, our answer has been – Probably not. Why?
Well, for us, we always encourage this discussion to focus on the words of Jesus himself:
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come… And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Mark 13
That is about as straight to the point as it gets – “No one knows.” Not even Jesus knew. No one knows, not the angels, not the YouTube preacher, not even the guy on the podcast who read the book from the YouTube preacher!
Is the coming of Jesus right around the corner? We don’t know. In many ways, We hope so. All followers of Jesus anticipate the day that he will come and straighten out the mess that this world is in. We look forward to that day. But, until that day, we are told to stay awake, to stay on guard, to not get lazy, to not fall away and to keep doing the work of God. In other words, be ready for that day. Don’t let that day catch you by surprise. Don’t let that day catch you full of regrets. Just be ready!
However, with war raging in Europe those questions are coming to us as Pastors again. So is this a ‘sign’….are we living in the ‘End Times’…Is this the ‘Tribulation’ ? These are all questions we have been asked in the last 4 weeks.
Is this the Tribulation? No it is not but we all need to be acutely aware of the fact that
WE ARE LIVING IN THE END TIMES
Simply put, after Jesus resurrection and ascension, the end times began for us.
Jesus said there will be “wars and rumors of wars” before He returns. We are seeing that. Difficult times come with war. But there are also positive things you don’t expect. It is amazing to me how we hear story after story of how the church in the Ukraine has come together to proclaim the Gospel in the midst war. That is exactly what Jesus commanded us to do in Mark 13:10. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” That is happening through our Canadian Baptist missionaries working together with the European Baptist Federation (EBF) and the Ukrainian Baptists. They are helping the helpless that are fleeing Ukraine. With that comes many opportunities for the witnessing and proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus in words as they make contact with the many refugees. Christ is speaking through them.
This is an important reminder to all of us that our world needs not only deeds of kindness but the actual words of the Gospel are needed.
Many of you have asked how we can be assisting our Brothers and Sisters in Ukraine. Here are some simple but valuable ways you can help:
- Prayer:
- Ask to see God’s glory amid this great struggle. God often uses very serious situations to draw people to himself. Pray that he would be glorified through the people of Ukraine who are following him.
- Pray for God’s protection. Pray for the safety of people on both sides of this border. Ask God for their physical protection but also their spiritual protection — ask him to help people seek the truth during the conflict.
- Ask God to intervene. Pray for wisdom as world leaders maneuver, strategize and speak out. Pray that God would move in their hearts and guide their steps and plans.
- Give – Canadian Baptist Ministries is receiving your financial support and is actively engaged through their partnerships to respond. They are closely monitoring the escalating and fluid situation and provide updates regularly.
https://www.cbmin.org/product/ukraine-emergency-relief/ - Tell – this is a time where many of your friends or family members might be asking you about the War and your feelings as a Jesus follower – What an opportunity to preach the gospel which means good news. See 1 Cor. 15:3–6 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,….
Pastor Marlee and Pastor Dave.
