It is our responsibility to make certain what we are listening to is coming from the Lord. If we do not, but receive everyone who claims to be speaking in the name of the Lord, we will be judged as being spiritually lazy and negligent. In the Day of the Lord we will not be able to place the blame on the false preacher. The blame is ours because we were not diligent in making certain we were not being deceived.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows [birth pains]. (Matthew 24:6-8)

"And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars."

The student of history knows well there have been wars and rumors of wars throughout the Church Era. Today there are wars continuing in some places and in other areas there is danger war may break out at any moment.

From the time the Lord Jesus spoke these words, to the present hour, there have been numerous philosophers, politicians, educators, who have set forth their own plan for bringing world peace. Today the United Nations is advancing plans for world peace. All such plans have failed and will continue to fail. The Words of the Lord Jesus will remain as the only truth in the world.

"See that you are not alarmed."

We can observe today the potential for war in the Middle East. We could wish there would be a just and lasting settlement between the nation of Israel and the Arab countries. Such a peaceful settlement does not at the present time seem possible. We are not to allow ourselves to be alarmed or frightened at the prospect of a war in the Middle East or a world war. When we are tempted to give way to fear or panic we are to go to the Lord in prayer and gain assurance from Him that we are safe in His keeping.

"These things must come to pass."

Sometimes people, due to the fact that such horrors as wars exist, will refuse to place their faith in the Lord Jesus because they believe there is no God, or God is unrighteous. If there were a God, they reason, He would not allow people, especially children, to be slaughtered in this manner. They seem to forget it is man, not God, who wages war.

Looking at wars from the human viewpoint it is difficult to understand why the Lord would permit wars and other terrible suffering to occur. But as we come to understand the Divine viewpoint we realize the events of history must take place because of God's master plan to bring Heaven to earth in the form of the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.