Normal and Catastrophic

 Normaland Catastrophic By Hal Lindsey Much of the world lives in a split reality — divided between normalcy and despair. Most adults understand that at any given time, there are any number of possible calamities bearing down on the earth. Nuclear threats from Russiaand/or China could mean disaster tomorrow. Economic meltdown could be only days away. A new plague could hit with more speed and greater impact than the last one. But such fears do not change the routine patterns of daily life. Most folks will get up tomorrow morning, go to work or school, return home at the appointed time, and generally go about their daily routines. Young people (andsome older ones) will fall in love and get married. People will spend a surprisingly large part of their day on food — working to pay for it, going out to shop for it, then purchasing it, preparing it for consumption, eating it, and finally cleaning up themess. Who has time to worry about calamities? In Matthew 24:37-38 (NASB), Jesus said, “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage,until the day that Noah entered the ark.” This scripture means that the basic pursuits of humanity will continue, even as people adjust to new and growing problems. It does not mean that everything will stay the same. Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus talked aboutthe days leading up to His return as a time of extraordinary earthquakes, famines, and wars. He warned of lawlessness, false prophets, and persecution. Those dangers will grow, and they will be everywhere. It will become almost unbearable during the tribulation. Thankfully, those who are in Christ today will be gone by that time. But we are already experiencing the beginnings of those things that will manifest themselves so severelylater on. As a result, people are experiencing a tremendous increase in stress, discouragement, loneliness, and fear. We live in a time when everyday life falls deeper into the shadow of impending doom. The answer can be found in God and His word. The answer is Jesus. We need to say that out loud, and to say it often. Sometimes Christians despair of saying it because they know that an entire generation has been trained todisregard everything they hear about Jesus or the Bible. Like Pavlov’s dogs, they are trained for a specific response to certain stimuli. They are trained to disregard the Savior of the world, and to disdain those who mention Him. But we must keep speaking the truth. Romans 3:3 tells us that “unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God.” In Isaiah 55:11, God said, “My word… shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, andwithout succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Keep telling others. Be neither bashful nor belligerent. Speak in love, but speak. The people around you are hungry, and you carry with you the Bread of Life. Show them Who that is. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not be wearyin well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”