HOLD FAST!

In 2 Kings, we read about the Syrian army besieging the city of Samaria. The Syrians simply camped outside the city, waiting for the Samaritans to starve. Conditions grew so desperate that women were offering their children to be boiled for food. It was sheer insanity (see 2 Kings 6:24-33).

Four lepers who were living by the city gates finally said to themselves, “Why are we sitting here until we die?... Now, therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die” (2 Kings 7:3–4, NKJV). There was such despair. They saw no way through this trial. They didn’t believe God’s word that he would save them, so they were ready to surrender themselves to their enemies.

When they arrived in the Syrian camp, everything was deathly still. They searched every tent, but everyone was gone. Scripture explains, “For Yehovah had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses; the noise of a great army…. Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact; their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives” (2 Kings 7:6–7).

When the lepers realized this, they went throughout the camp eating and drinking, and then they started hiding the great treasures Yehovah had provided.

“Then they said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us…’ So they went and called the gatekeepers of the city…” (2 Kings 7:9-10). Yehovah had turned the whole terrible conditions around and had given resources to restore and refresh His people. It was an enormous victory, but it wasn’t meant to touch only a few people. These blessings were meant to be shared.

Those who are Yehovah’s people are promised glorious victory over the enemy, but His work on our behalf isn’t meant to stop with us.

Yehovah, your God, and Father wants you to know, “I am going to make you more than an overcomer. I’m working out an even greater purpose in you according to my plan. You are intended to bring my blessings to countless people who are under the shadow of despair and death. You will bring them the good news message to all peoples that I gave to my uniquely begotten son to give to you!”

Indeed, we have a great responsibility to share what Yehovah our God, and our Father has given us to share with others. It is a message of deliverance from the bondage to sin and the freedom that comes when a man/woman joins themselves to the Messiah Jesus, who became a sin-offering sacrifice enabling Yehovah to reconcile us and all humanity to Himself!

Conditions in this world are making life increasingly difficult and all the things that Jesus prophecied to take place are happing now in this end time.  Matthew 24:7-13: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom [this is happening now]: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places [this is taking place now and will increase much more. This pandemic - pestilence we are experiencing now is only the beginning, there will be more coming soon!]

Notice: All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Brothers and sisters in some parts of the world disciples of the Messiah Jesus are being afflicted, hated, and killed for believing in Jesus' name. False prophets [false preachers] are already deceiving many. Iniquity is already abounding all over the world - it is becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah. So the warning to believers to endure unto the end applies now, today - to endure is to strive to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33: ... seek you first the kingdom of God)

Notice Matthew 24:14: ... this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Truly we have a grave responsibility to preach and publish the good news gospel that Yehovah has given to us through His son. We can be a light in the darkness that now is increasingly overshadowing this sick and dying world. Are we going to be prepared spiritually, physically, and mentally for what is coming just around the corner? Realizing that the only way we can hold fast to the end is by the enabling power of the indwelling presence of our God and Father Yehovah. HOLD FAST!