Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR: While the Bible says the world will get worse before Christ returns, our response isn’t despair but faithful action – focusing on our kingdoms (homes, communities, workplaces) and being God’s Kingdom Come in every way we can, through authentic connection and action rather than just church attendance.
Death, murder, and assassination. That’s what’s going on around me. Not directly affecting me, but it came up at Bible study this morning. I’m so glad to be back at Bible study – school’s out, so that overlap with getting kids to school is gone, and it’s good to be back with those men.
What?
Here in Minnesota, we’ve had a Congress person assassinated. In my hometown, a small town outside Duluth, we have two people dead, shots fired. On the North Shore, actually in Michigan on Lake Superior in Isle Royal National Park, two bodies found dead. Death, murder, and assassination.
The Bible study conversation was interesting because one of the guys said, “Well, the Bible says it’s just going to keep getting worse and worse, and we shouldn’t expect it to get better.” He said it’s like the time before Noah and the flood – it’s going to get worse, and we’ve got to be stalwart and do the right things, our principles, our non-negotiables, and pray and serve and love.
The conversation went to government turmoil – how the government is against itself locally and internationally. There was real concern across our table about our children, parents, other relatives and their salvation.
One father mentioned how glad he was to get most of his kids to church on Father’s Day – that they’ll “entertain” his wishes and come to church a couple times a year.
Why?
What I didn’t speak about in that space was how much the church has divided and unknowingly delegated work to the government. Then people of the church complain that the government’s not doing it right – like taking care of widows, orphans, and prisoners. That’s our responsibility. That’s what the church was supposed to do.
When our government took it over, that was us delegating it. It’s our responsibility to watch it, make sure it is done in Kingdom fasion and when it’s not, dig in and do it.
To that father, I said, “I don’t think you need to get your kids to church. You need connection with them. Real connection. If you can connect with them in real and genuine ways and be the Bible that they won’t hear or read because they don’t go to church, that can start the turn you’re looking for.”
Lesson
What’s the lesson? The turmoil’s gonna get worse – the Bible says so. The leaders and antichrist are coming, and it’s coming soon in biblical terms, whenever that is.
But look at our kingdoms. Look at our area of influence – our home, our community, our business, our place of work, our vocations – and be God’s kingdom come in any and every way that we can.
We’re gonna be surrounded by death, murder, and assassination, and we know the end of the story. We know the final piece. So have peace, live in peace, live as Christ, and to die is gain.
The church doesn’t need to be in a building. Where two or more are gathered, that’s why returning to the Bible study was so good for me. I’ve been going to church all school year, but the Bible study is a time for me to come together with those men in unity, in one voice, and seek first the Kingdom of God.
Apply
Where is “live as Christ” for you right now? What is the thing you need to do to live as Christ, to live here and be here?
For me, it’s to continue to grow and spread the word through my ministry Kingdom Family Leader – through content delivery, masterminds, coaching, community. We need to come together as bonded brothers and sisters in Christ.
Write down in the Doobly Doo: What can you do in helping seek and helping others find and helping to create God’s Kingdom come here on earth?
Focus on your sphere of influence. Connect authentically with people. Be the Bible they might not otherwise read. Live as Christ in your home, workplace, and community, knowing that while the world may get darker, your light can shine brighter.
You be blessed!
Kingdom Come in Dark Times: Finding Our Role When the World Gets Worse
