Stand Firm to the End

I’m sorry that I didn’t write a post on Sunday. I always hate skipping Sundays, as that’s when I try to write something inspirational.

This Sunday, though, we had a picnic for Hubby’s side of the family. It was a beautiful day and we were all blessed to be able to see each other and relax in each other’s company. And of course, eat too much good food. (This wasn’t quite all the cars we had in the yard.)

When my mother-in-law died last October, even though we had a funeral, it wasn’t the same. COVID was really ramping up then and only the immediate family stayed for the service. Everyone was spread out throughout the church and there was very little mingling or visiting before or after.

And yes, COVID numbers have been going up again in the last few weeks. Most of us feel pretty okay being out and about without masks because we’ve been vaccinated. But that’s no guarantee. I know people who are fully vaccinated who have gotten sick and tested positive for the virus. I’ve heard of people who have ended up hospitalized, on ventilators, who have been immunized. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I still believe that everyone needs to get their shots. We all need to do everything we can to slow down this pandemic. If the vaccine prevents the spread in any way, then it’s worth getting.

The sad thing is that this pandemic is only the tip of the iceberg. Wildfires are still raging, hurricanes are still threatening the Southeast, an earthquake devastated Haiti. And then there is Afghanistan. Oh, what horrors for those poor people. I fear for them, as well as for so many others around the world.

   As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14, New International Version

Stand firm to the end.