Growing up, I was told of a soon-coming “Time of Tribulation”. A time of great religious persecution targeting specifically Seventh-day Adventists and others who followed all 10 commandments. This was to happen very soon and right before Jesus came. I dreamt of being like the 3 Hebrew boys refusing to bow to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar (see Daniel 3), standing before my persecutors, for the one true God. Today I stand many years from that vigour and excitement in a country where I can freely share and worship God as I like. What gives? While I may say the “Time of Tribulation” is still on the horizon someday, I think you’d much more likely hear me say, “The TIME OF TRIBULATION” is already here.
But how? The problem with my childhood mentality was that everything was focused on me. I’d attended Revelation seminars that centred around the Americas, and to another extent me. I’d been taught that being a Christian was all about my “personal relationship with Jesus”, how well I did, and I alone was responsible for myself and my choices. This limited my view on what “bad times” or tribulation could look like.
When I opened my eyes to what was happening around the world, I noticed there were followers of God being killed for keeping the commandments. Whether it was the Armenian Genocide, the mass murders of Christians in Lebanon and Palestine, or in various countries where the punishment for conversion is death. Are these times of Tribulation unimportant because they weren’t global? Were we only sent to this world to care for “our own”? Is it only tribulation if we feel it? Here’s my point, do not wait till a future tribulation when you have no power to help. Enjoy your freedoms and see ways to carry the weight of your global brethren.
Our church’s own arm of charity does great things advocating for women’s rights, feeding the hungry and offering aid where it’s needed. And locally we have “Community fridges”, “Hands of Hope” and even blood drives. We are blessed, but what we do with that blessing will show the world we serve Jesus, who will provide even through tribulation.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)