SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1173

“I am Convinced”

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)

To be convinced means to be completely certain of something. I am convinced that we are living in the time of the ‘beginning of the birth pains’ that Jesus speaks about concerning the signs of the end of the age and His second coming.

He answered them, when it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. – Matthew 16:2-3; 24:6-8

There is a statue recently placed in front of the UN in New York which looks remarkably like the beast envisioned by the prophet Daniel and described in the Book of Revelation chapter 13. It is supposed to be the ‘guardian of peace and security’.

And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. – Revelation 13:2

A recent 60 MINUTES broadcast featured the tensions and potential war between China and Taiwan and its allies including the United States. They used the word ‘Armageddon’ an abnormal number of times to describe its outcome. Add to that the potential for war between Russia and the Ukraine as well as North Korea’s continued missile development and it feels like we are sitting on a powder keg about to blow.

For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. – Revelation 16:14-18

There is a world-wide movement to require ‘vaccine passports’ to participate fully in society that has transitioned into receiving RFID implants in the hand – a sort of implanted digital wallet to carry all your personal financial and medical information. Sweden is leading the way in embracing this technology. The stage is being set for the ‘Mark of the beast’.

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. – Revelation 13:16-17

None of this should alarm us or cause us to worry and be fearful. However, it is a call to be prepared.

Are you prepared for eternity to come upon you suddenly?

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. – Matthew 24:44

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. – John 3:36

Do you know of God the Father and Jesus, His Son in an arm’s length religious sort of way? Or do you know Him in a personal, intimate way as your Lord and Savior? Have you repented and asked Him to forgive your sins? Are you convinced of your salvation through faith in Jesus’ death as payment for your sins?

I am convinced that salvation and eternal life is through Jesus and Jesus alone. There is no other way.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

I am convinced that all my sins are forgiven.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. – 1 John 1:9 – Psalm 103:12

I am convinced that nothing will happen in this world that will change the fact that God will bring me into eternal life with Him, justified by faith in Jesus.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. – John 10:28-29

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1

May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and draw you through repentance into a personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior. May He fill your heart with His peace in the midst of a troubled world.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. – 2 Thessalonians 3:16