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Writer's pictureAndrea Brown

The Hope That Purifies

There is nothing new under the sun, and the word of God has something for us every season. Proverbs‬ ‭25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” ‬ ‭There are detailed accounts of injustice, prejudice, and slavery throughout the Bible, and it would be good for us to read these accounts that we move as wise especially in unparalleled times.


In the Book of Esther, where injustice sought itself to prevail, it seemingly appeared as though God was silent. His name was never mentioned throughout the entire book. But when we read with eyes seeking Him, the Scriptures reveal a detailed story of God working behind the scenes, His sovereign hand overturning this, while setting up that, bringing about ultimate victory, for a people who by all appearances were destined for annihilation. While we may see the undoing of the world before us, be reminded God is moving even now on behalf of His people and for His glory.


Jesus spoke to the disciples in Matthew 24 concerning the End of The Age. He never said it was going to get better; consequently, He said times would get worse.


“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew‬ ‭24v5-8‬.


Before Jesus returns, people will not be anti-God, but anti-Christ (a significant difference!), where lawlessness and disobedience abound (Matthew 24v12). Although things are destined to get worse, Isaiah prophesied, “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah‬ ‭60v2‬.‭ Beloved, these times require us to use spiritual eyes and discernment. We are given the opportunity to see beyond what stands before us to see that which God is doing. According to Isaiah, this is a time of great grace where the glory of God will be manifested. The question then becomes are we operating with an awareness of the season we are in? Do we realize what is at stake?


Our King Is Coming, giving us reason to pause, re-evaluate priorities, and to ask: Are we moved by what moves God? Are we walking in the Spirit? Are we allowing Christ to permeate every aspect of our being that when people see us, they leave knowing they have been with Him? The enemy wielding distraction as part of his heavy artillery, wearing people down with the cares of this world. He knows when we are busy grasping and grappling for here, we won’t live soberly with our sights on eternity. The enemy wants us to be working pushing political fronts, moving agendas, but what about our Father’s business? What about the end game? People are so busy with the happenings; they don’t know what is happening.


In a world filled with turbulence, the body of Christ desperately needs the hope of His coming, which purifies the church (1 John 3v3). When our perspective remains aligned with Christ, we are bold in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. No matter what is happening, the essential need will always be Jesus. A very solemn reminder, the Bible people most likely will read, and the Gospel they will most likely encounter is Jesus living in us.


“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will have not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”1 John‬ ‭3v2-3‬.






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