God spoke to me about future things we see as inevitable, and what we can do about them in the here and now. Jerusalem, for example: a prophecy informs us that it will become “a burden stone for all nations” — one too heavy for them to carry. It’s inevitable that Jerusalem will become too heavy for even the USA to carry.
Will world condemnation become too great for its longtime ally? Will the prophecy of Jerusalem as a burden stone too heavy for “all nations” to carry be postponed if the US strengthens its resolve to stand with Israel, regardless of its current president’s antipathy toward that nation?
Jesus had a date with destiny. He spoke of his death (by crucifixion) as an exodus, a way out (Luke 9:31). He knew that it was inevitable: how else could the sins of everyone be forgiven? Yet he spent most of his time ministering in Galilee, well away from his most loudest critics in Jerusalem (John 7:1-10). He instructed some to tell no one about their miracle of healing (Luke 5:14; 8:56; 9:21).
His death was inevitable, but there were forces that would bring it about before its time, if the word that he was the promised Messiah were to be spread too soon. His death had to be at Passover, fifty days before Pentecost. God is never late, but neither is he early. He is on time.
So as world affairs draw to an inevitable conclusion, we should not take a “Whatever will be will be” approach, thinking there’s nothing we can do about them. God factored our prayers and actions into His purpose before the beginning of time. What if He were to give America an added time of spiritual revival — one that awakened that nation and many others nations to the imminent coming of Jesus Christ? The “burden stone” Jerusalem prophecy will be fulfilled in its time, but has that time been predetermined by our witness, our prayers, our actions? Only God knows.
We know that Christ’s return is inevitable; that his coming is certain someday soon. Meantime, we work and witness while bearing in mind that “someday” will one day be The Day, and could be any day! God is watching over Jerusalem. Our job is to watch and pray over that city and its people, and over the responsibilities that God has placed in our care at home. Our children and grandchildren should not have to suffer the consequences of any spiritual inactivity on our part.
Lorraine and I pray that we will be ready for the return of our Lord Jesus. We also pray that our children, our grandchildren, and great grandchildren will also be ready. Some things are inevitable, but the salvation of our ever-growing family is not one of them.