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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kent Otterman

Jesus spoke about difficult times that would increase as we get closer to his second coming:

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” — Matthew 24:7-13

II Timothy 3:1 says, “But mark this: There will be terrible (perilous) times in the last days.”

This passage then goes on to list a number of unloving and unholy attitudes that more and more people will adopt.

How do we “stand firm to the end” so that we will be saved? We keep our spiritual eyes on Jesus and seek to remain faithful to the truth of God’s word.

One of my favorite Christian writers is Dave Branon. I recently came across these words of his:

“Let’s see. What is the crisis of the day? It could be terrorism and its random threat. Or the economy and the fear that we will run out of money before we run out of time.

Maybe it’s a personal crisis with no foreseeable solution — a tragedy or a failure too great to bear.”

He then refers to Corrie ten Boom, who experienced the horror of a Nazi concentration camp:

“She saw the face of evil up close and personal. She saw some of the most inhumane acts man can do to man. And when she came out of it all, she said this: ‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.’”

What a wonderful and true statement. The writer of Hebrews says that we are to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, . . . .” — Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus is our example of faithfulness in the midst of suffering, and we need to keep our main focus on him as well as his word.

Regarding God’s word, Scripture says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Keeping our focus on Jesus and remaining true to God’s word is how we stand firm to the end.

Kent Otterman is the chaplain of Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea and pastor of Round Prairie Lutheran Church of rural Glenville and Faith Lutheran Church of London.