Who Will Survive?

God lives and works today. However, many people don't believe in him anymore, because they only see the problems of the world and the threats of coming destruction. In reality, only those people who do believe in God and who are firmly rooted in him will remain secure when the storm breaks loose.

Today's meditation by Basilea Schlink is a realistic appraisal of what does lie ahead and what we can do to be prepared. Today, in almost all countries of the earth, we're living in a dark and difficult time. And we can sense that even worse things lie ahead of us.

Therefore, there's no question that's more important than this. Am I prepared to survive in this time of trouble? We sense that behind the problems of our times, there are demonic forces. Just as the Bible has prophesied for the last times.

These forces want to depress and discourage us. We have to confront these powers with an even greater living power, the victory of Jesus Christ, before whom hell trembles and yields. That's why it's more important than ever before that the power of the victory of Jesus in our life become a reality.

A cheap faith in Jesus will not help us. It has to cost us something. That means that we have to keep making dedications to all the ways God wants to lead us, to prepare us and make us steadfast.

But what does this look like in practice? Let's take for an example a German minister, Paul Schneider. He was known as the preacher of the concentration camp Buchenwald during the Hitler regime. Eyewitnesses give us amazing reports.

They could see the resurrection power and glory of Jesus in him. He had said yes to God when, at his arrest, he had to leave his church and was separated from his wife and children. In the concentration camp, he was beaten every time he called out Bible verses about the victory of Jesus across the roll call square to encourage his fellow prisoners.

In the midst of this suffering, he wrote home to his wife. New suffering should bring us new experiences of our God and glory. And Reverend Schneider paid for these Bible verses with his life.

But he had experienced the resurrection glory of Jesus and testified with a radiant face. Through him, many people found their way to Jesus. We too ought to experience the glory of Jesus in our personal lives and leadings.

For Jesus said, I have overcome the world. That is, he's overcome all the powers of darkness and horror that rage across the earth today. As the victor, Jesus is standing before us saying, your suffering now and later should bring you the experience of new glory, of the love and help of God.

Believe this and in faith, bear your present suffering. Let yourself be prepared for the coming hard times and you'll be able to survive them. Yes, not only able to survive them, but be able to rejoice and testify to him who's greater than everything.

God's will is goodness and lovingkindness. So good the ways by which he leads. You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan.

To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address.

God bless you.