Advent, Part 5

Advent, Part 5
Monday, December 16, 2024 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Contemporary issues / Encouraging words / Hope in Christ / The church / Thought for Today

God will guard us and protect us from the evil one (Satan). In this season of Advent, of anticipating Christ’s return that is a huge encouragement.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NAS): But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Not only will God guard and protect us, He will also strengthen us. We can trust Him to be faithful to do so. That really matters doesn’t it?

I don’t know about you, but at least for me, spiritual warfare has significantly increased in recent days. Christ is going to return, and it sure seems like Satan’s activities have been ramping up. We’ve already talked a bit about the times before Christ’s return. Scripture makes it clear that those will be perilous times. If it were possible—praise God it isn’t—even the elect would be deceived.

The time will be marked by false signs and wonders. It sure seems like false signs and wonders abound as often seen in the New Apostolic Reformation, not to mention the “signs and wonders” movement itself. We’ve seen occult practices invade those segments of the church, and even their preferred version of the Bible, perhaps better labeled their so-called Bible, the Passion Translation, a version whose text often has little in common with the original Greek or Hebrew, a version given to Brian Simmons by the supposed angel, Passion.

Then there is the rapid growth of Wicca. To cite another example, in England between 2011 and 2021, Satanism grew by 16%. Meanwhile, the world’s fasted growing religion, Islam, denies that Jesus is the Christ. To state that Jesus is God is the worst blasphemy one can commit in Islam. Yet, the Bible connects the denial of the Christ to a spirit of Antichrist.

That is all the more reason for us to be thankful for God’s protection, His guarding and strengthening us. He calls us to have a different attitude from the world. While the world is in fear and uncertainty over what is coming, we are to be encouraged that Christ’s return is drawing near.

Even for those of us who may face martyrdom, all Satan can do is kill us. He can’t touch our salvation, the eternal hope and certainty we have in Christ. As Jesus said, we aren’t to fear those who can kill the body and then do no more, rather we are to fear God who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Our life here is temporary, our future with God is eternal.

During this season of Advent, let us continue to be thankful for what God has done for us, and the offer of salvation He gives to everyone. While salvation is found through Jesus Christ alone—there is no other name given under heaven—that free gift of salvation is open to all, there are no restrictions. It doesn’t matter what a person has or hasn’t done, forgiveness in Christ is possible.

Let us not lose heart. Let us rejoice.

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