And just like that, after God pled with us to return to Him, to return to our first love, to repent, to follow Him, and to listen to Him, the judgments that He so warned about, if we did not take heed, have now begun.
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).
But we are to...
"...count it all joy when [we] fall into various trials..." (James 1:2).
Fear is not the response. Rather, when all these things begin to come to pass, the response should be that of returning to Him - that of watchful prayer:
"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7).
For the end of all things is at hand, but it is just the beginning of the end. Severe trials will come to those who love God and obey the gospel of God. And it will be worse for those who do not obey the gospel of God. The difference for those who do love and obey God is that His promise of eternal life with Him is our end. Meanwhile, at the present time, He is our hope, trust, and the only one who will get us through. And though the suffering comes, joy will be in the midst of those who love and obey God.
"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).
All these things must come to pass. We may have fallen asleep. Maybe we forgot or ignored the Word of God and the warnings He gave us. Maybe we let the cares of this world drown us. Maybe we thought we were okay. Maybe we hoped it wouldn't come. But...
"...do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than we first believed" (Romans 13:11).
There is always hope and this is the time to wake up.
What is close to happening will not be easy. The "love of many will grow cold" because of the betrayals, killings, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and lawlessness (Matthew 24:12). But we must persevere in Jesus, who is love.
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Peter 4:8).
Persevere and endure to the end.
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