The wise saint of any period of the Christian Era takes advantage of each day of his pilgrimage, being in the world but not of the world. He always is strengthening himself in the Lord so he can stand, and help others to stand. He always uses the time well because the days in which he lives are "evil" (Ephesians 5:16).

How much more, then, should we be serving the Lord diligently today when both the Scriptures and the burden of the Holy Spirit are warning us that a period of trouble and temptation without equal in history will come upon the earth before the Lord returns (Matthew 24:21).

And there shall arise after them [after the years of abundance] seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; (Genesis 41:30)

The lean cows will consume the fat cows. The desolation will destroy the land because man is making himself God. Only those who have prepared themselves during the period of blessing will be able to resist Antichrist and to stand in faith until the coming of the Son of Man.

Watch ye [keep on the alert] therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy [may gain full vigor; may have strength—Rotherham and others] to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)

. . . These [the great multitude of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues] are they which came out of [the] great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)

Let us serve the Lord as if our life depended on it. It does!

Perhaps most of us know the remainder of Joseph's story from our Sunday school instruction. The famine covered the face of the earth (Genesis 41:56). Joseph, God's prepared deliverer, was able to save not only his own family and the land of Egypt but also the starving multitudes of other countries as well.

How like the Lord! For those who are in God's will, even the time of disaster becomes an opportunity to demonstrate the wisdom and power of God. Joseph, now with a wife and two boys, was reigning in Egypt. His father, Jacob and the rest of the family were provided for in every way. The famine brought desolation to the world but blessing and glory to God's anointed people who were performing His will.

God makes all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His eternal purpose.

The promises of God are sure to us no matter what may take place on the earth. The believer who seeks the Lord diligently today may find that in the near future he will have more opportunities to bring the goodness of the Lord to people than he ever thought possible.

To be continued.