We Face the Future

by Bertrand L. Comparet

This is unquestionably a time of deep and growing danger, all over the world. Facing this, many people either close their minds and refuse to believe the facts, or else they become panicky with terror. Both reactions are wrong. Truth must always be faced --- and this is most imperative when truth is unpleasant, for it is only unpleasant when there is something you should be doing about it.

Christians should have no fear of the future, but should act boldly for the right, and more so in proportion to the danger. We have the Bible's clear assurance that our victory is predestined. For example Psalm 139-16, "All the days of my life were foreseen by Thee, set down within Thy book; ere ever they took shape, they were assigned to me, ere ever one of them was mine." Again, Isaiah 44:8, "Fear nothing; dread not in the days to come: have not I foretold it and announced it long ago?" Also, Proverbs 16,3-4, "Trust your affairs to the Eternal, and your plans will prosper, The Eternal has made everything for an end of its own --- yes, even the wicked for their day of doom." And Paul's comforting assurance in Romans 8:28-31, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, * * Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, He also Justified; and whom He Justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST Us?

What then? Pray earnestly to God for instruction. Don't look for it in the left-wing-slanted newspapers, but in the pre-written news of the Bible. Psalm 25:14 tells us that "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant." In Psalm 32:8, He promises, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." And II Esdras 16:75 reminds us, "Be ye not afraid, neither doubt; for God is your Guide.

The first instruction will be in the warning signs to watch for.

Jesus Christ Himself told us that "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." .(Matthew 24:37) How was it in the days of Noah? Noah received two different warnings: first, a long-range warning, of coming destruction, with a command to start building the ark. (Genesis 5:32, 6:22); then a final "This is It" warning, telling him the flood would come in 7 days. We also have received our long-range warning, in the 24th. chapter of Matthew, where Jesus Christ told us the seven signs which would indicate that His second coming is near. We have already seen the first six of these: False Christs and false prophets; great wars, unlike any ever before; great famines, pestilences and earthquakes; persecution of Christians all through the Communist half of the world; widespread lawlessness; and the fact that this Gospel of the Kingdom is being preached. There remains only one sign to come: the abomination which produces desolation standing in the holy place --- and that could come in the short time it takes for Jewish troops to fight their way just a few hundred yards in a surprise attack in Jerusalem.

But if we are alert to see it, we will receive our Immediate warning. Daniel 12:10 says, "Many shall be purified and made white and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

What to do? Don't try to dodge it by hiding under the bed. With Gods protection, what have you to be afraid of? Isaiah 43:1-2 tells us, "But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, 0 Jacob, and He that formed thee, 0 Israel: fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." And Psalm 37:39-40 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength In the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them, because they trust In Him. The victory was that of His almighty power, incomparably greater than that of our enemies; but on our part, we have had to show our confidence by coming boldly to do our part. It was always so. We were told, "Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, * * * * fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you." (II Chronicles 20:17)

Yes, God fights for us: but we must take our places in the ranks of His armies. And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Wherefore criest thou unto Me? Speak unto the Children of Israel, that they go forward." (Exodus 14:15) So that they would know that It was God who gave the victory, God made Gideon send back all of his army but 300 men; but Gideon and the 300 had to move boldly into battle.

This is still an eternal truth. Jesus Christ said, "For whomsoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26) Psalm 118: 6-7 tells us "The Lord is on my side: I will not fear: what can man do to me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

One of our Pilgrim ancestors was walking to church, on Sunday morning, Bible in one hand, rifle in the other, when a friend said to him, "John don't you believe that until your time comes, nothing can kill you; but when your time does come, nothing can save Thou?

John said "Yes". "Then, John, why are you carrying that gun. John said, "I might meet an Jew whose time has come." Therefore, be like John. The victory is absolutely certain, for God has promised it to us. True, it will be His victory, the work of His limitless power. But what will you be doing while He is bringing victory? When it Is all over, will He find us a people of whom He need not be ashamed. Hebrews 10:38 tells us, "Now the Just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." In the 21st chapter of Revelation, God tells how He will set up His eternal holy city upon the earth, and "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I w1ll be his God, and he shall be My son." But He goes on to list those who will not be able to enter into that City of God; and the first on the list of those who are kept out we find "the fearful and unbelieving.

You know what future you face, today. The enemies of all civilization are the enemies of Christ. They are mobilizing all the forces of evil against us, in Asia, in Africa, in captive Eastern Europe, even those among us on our own continent. They boast of the weapons they have prepared, the number of slave troops they will unleash against I us, the war for our destruction they have planned. But we have God s promise that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." The war they plan will be their own suicide. it will come. Don't pray to avoid it; for God has already prophesied that it will come, and that right soon. Pray rather for God's early intervention for our victory. Be like John I told you about: Prepare yourself for battle, wherever It may come. Then walk without fear, for it is your enemy whose time has come.