Thirty days ago, it was all good. The Dow was flirting with breaking 30,000. Market sentiment was bullish to an extreme. The race for President was all the news. Sure, we were hearing rumors about something called the Corona virus. But that was a foreign thing. No worries!
Fast forward one month. As of this writing, 86 million Americans are on lock-down. We are bracing for the very real possibility that hundreds of thousands (millions?) will be diagnosed with Covid-19. The stock market has tanked, although we don’t know the right word to use: Recession? Depression? Melt-down? Unemployment is exploding, businesses are at risk, the economy is in deep trouble, and panic is knocking at the door.
I find the contrast between today and one month ago so stark. How quickly everything has changed!
What if we had known three months ago, or better yet, three years ago, what was coming? We would have been able to get ready. But, we still really don’t know what is ahead. So how would we have prepared three years ago when we are still, even now, unsure what we are preparing for?
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus says, “I am coming quickly” five times. The word translated “quickly” is the Greek word tachus (ταχύς). This word emphasizes rapidity. When Jesus says, “I am coming quickly,” He is saying that the specific events associated with His earthly return will occur at breath-taking speed. Once the reset sequence has started, there will be no time to get ready. You are either ready before His coming or you will not be ready.
So I have found current events singularly instructive in understanding what quickly means. What if someone told you about a coming crisis? What if this someone’s predictions were always right? What if this someone told you exactly how to prepare for the coming crisis? And what if this someone told you to prepare now!
There is such a someone – His name is Jesus. And He delivered the Book of Revelation to a fellow named John with clear and specific instructions to make it available to us. In this book, He explains exactly what is coming and how to be prepared. And then he says, “I am coming quickly.” Based on our experience with Covid-19, we know what that means. Get ready now!
How? Although there is much the Book of Revelation has to say on the matter, it all boils down to this: Have you grown the kind of faith in Jesus that would rather die than deny the Lord? Make up your mind now that following Jesus matters more than anything else. Pick up your cross and follow Him. Go all-in for Jesus. Be ready now! He is coming quickly!
Thank you Jim!
I will share this with my Facebook friends.
Great opportunity to share the gospel. With all that goes on, it is great to be at peace.
God bless and pease be with you.
Posted by: David Krantz | March 23, 2020 at 08:30 PM