“When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.” (v. 9)

How alarmed are you?

Let’s face it: There are more than a few wars and rumors of wars. There are more than a few political conflicts and contested elections. There are cultural and moral battlegrounds aplenty. And we’ve got crises of every flavor, whether climatological or ecological or economical.

How alarmed are you?

I’ve known way too many Christians who see all of that, who pray, “Come Lord Jesus”…

…and who rush to buy bullets, batteries, and bottled water.

We retreat to our basements, turn on cable news, and while away the hours worrying our way into the Kingdom.

Yet the Lord says do not be alarmed! These are signs of an end that is not yet here (and which you cannot predict).

What if we, then, turned our energy and our resources and our hearts toward the actual issue—which is the evangelism? What if we counted the signs of the not-yet-end as our signal to go, to give, and to love with the Gospel?

What if we weren’t alarmed, but were instead assured that He still is, and that He still sends us?

— Tyler