Could current events be dire portents of THE END?
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
William Butler Yeats, “The Second Coming”
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Sound familiar? Yes, that could pretty much describe what is going on in the world today, even though Yeats penned it over 100 years ago. I adore that poem. It is a reminder that – time and time again – history enjoys repeating itself. Civilizations rise and fall. Nations and kingdoms will strive against one another. There are wars and rumors of wars. Plagues and pestilences, famine and earthquakes occur. In response to their questions regarding the end times, Jesus Christ told his apostles that the above were the “beginning of birth pains.” He also said that his followers would be persecuted and wickedness would increase in the world. And the gospel would be preached in the whole world (refer to Matthew 24:3-14.)
All of these things have come to pass, over and over again.
And yet, time marches inexorably on. We are still waiting – impatiently and with ill grace – for the return of our gracious savior. However, he will come in his own good time to wake the world up from its sorrowful history.
In the meantime and in light of the violence and injustice that has happened, is happening – and will continue to happen everyday until Jesus comes back – I find the following verses both instructive and comforting:
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
Psalm 37:5-9
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land
I might not fully comprehend the rage and pain of those experiencing racism, but I am praying for peace and equality. My heart and prayers go out to all who are suffering right now.
