As I opened my email account today, I glanced at the "Top News Stories," as I always do, before I get to the mail.  Here they are, lined up in this order on my screen:

* Pressure grows for Fed to act as stocks plunge
* Obama calls for a "renewed sense of urgency" to solve debt problems
* Lifelong friends killed in Afghan chopper crash
* Africa famine: "hundreds of thousands of kids could die"
* UK's Cameron cancels vacation amid London riots

Sometimes there is even a bit of neutral or good news within the list of Top Stories, but not anymore it seems.  This is directly in line with Bible prophecy and should be no surprise, at least to those of us who are familiar with Bible prophecy.  I speak with some people who are absolutely not interested in Bible prophecy, and get this, some of them are "Christians."  They are too busy looking for good times, relaxation, peace and what they can buy or do next on the agenda to help themselves feel much better.  That sounds fair, after all, we have to live in this world and might as well try to make the best of it, right?  

There is no scripture in the Word of God that tells us that we shouldn't live the most peaceful lives we can and there are scriptures in the Bible about prospering materially, as well as spiritually: "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" 3 John 1:2.  There is nothing wrong with prospering financially, being in good health, and having peace.  What we pursue in this life though must be measured by the Word of God: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:33.  If we are trusting in God, who created us and who loves us, we will not be preoccupied with gain, but rather God's will and first how we can bless and minister to others.  The only way to gain true peace in the turbulent world we live in today is to know who our God is and to keep in close touch with Him on a daily basis.  

The Bible tells us, "There will be...distress of nations with perplexity" Luke 21:25.  The reason the world is in distress is because most of the people on this planet do not know who God is and they do not seek to live according to God's commandments.  The Word of God tells us, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you..." Hosea 4:6.  "The wicked will be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God" Psalm 9:17.  I don't write about all of the catastrophic events happening in the world today and bring out the scriptures which correlate with all of these events just to stress people or make them feel bad.  I am pointing these things out to encourage people to get right with God.  "If my people which are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14.  This is a promise to Israel, but it also applies to the entire world; the New Testament bears this out: "There is no difference between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him" Romans 10:12.  Our only hope today is to call upon the name of the Lord.  The Word of God says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13.  You don't have to be afraid of what is coming next.  God promises peace to His people, "The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7.  Do you know the Lord today?  Do you know if you will go to heaven if you die today?  If not, I would like to invite you to the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  God bless you.