The Hollywood film industry has produced many ‘Disaster Movies’ over the past years, featuring earthquakes, plagues, fires, tidal waves, tornados, volcanos, terrorism, wars, invasions, asteroids, Armageddon, the end of the world … the list could go on. How far-fetched are these stories? Could there be any truth in them or are they just the prolific production of the authors’ fruitful minds? Over this past year, it has been very clear that the world has been totally unprepared as it has tried to grapple with and overcome Covid-19, so just what are the possibilities of more worldwide disasters? Are we ready?
The old song says, ‘There could be trouble ahead…’ Are we surprised? How do we deal with that?
The song continues: ‘… Let’s face the music, and dance’. In other words, in all our fears and anxieties, we’ll muddle through somehow, we’ll put on a brave face, we’ll do what we can and hope for the best.
But do you know what God says about all this? … for He is Sovereign and knows all things. The Lord Jesus Himself, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, tells us that there definitely will be trouble ahead:
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble … but take heart, I have overcome the world”
How does the Lord Jesus put this into action? He tells us that He is the Good Shepherd Who came to seek and to save the lost (that’s you and me) and to lead those who will respond to Him to a place of safety and security in the middle of the troubles and disasters.
There is some truth in those disaster films, that will actually happen, as God’s Word reveals to us. But there is also much that is pure conjecture, borne out of man’s fervent and fertile imagination. The underlying problem throughout the world, leading to the greatest future catastrophes, is that people do not understand and refuse to believe that we have an enemy who is doing everything he can to keep us lost, helpless against all disasters, shackled in rebellion and bound in disobedience to God.
But God’s Word tells us the truth:
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”
Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they (you) may have life and have it to the full. I am the Good Shepherd … Who lays down His life for the sheep”
When the Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment for our sin in His own body, He once and for all totally defeated the devil, sin, death and hell. His lifeless body was placed in the grave, but three days later, God the Father raised Jesus triumphantly from the dead. Our Good Shepherd is alive and is ready to fulfil His glorious promises to all the recalcitrant sheep who humble themselves and cry out to Him for help.
King David, who himself knew what it was to be a shepherd caring for his sheep, also knew the joy, safety and security of the Lord’s blessing, provision and protection from marauding enemies when he wrote in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd … You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows”
The Lord Jesus wrote the following words to the church … and maybe there are many in the church today who need to read these words and take action; but they can also apply to each one of us:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me”
That’s a promise to know, experience and enjoy in the midst of all the approaching troubles and disasters.
Do you know the Good Shepherd?
Are you prepared for the coming troubles?
Ron Brickman