October last year I wrote about the Wreck of our culture, and where things are headed. In that, I said:

Do not be afraid, but also do not be deceived. Most people will, as was ever the case, do what they need to do to survive. Only a very small minority will have the courage and fortitude to do something better – to resist evil men and their strongholds. Only those who have anchored on to the Firm Foundation, when the rock of self is proven illusory. And those who stand will not be those whom you think. Many of the strong, the great, the mighty, will fall, seemingly overnight. And the army of the weak and the broken will rise.

Fear – currently the fear of Covid – still seems to have its claws lodged deep into us. For the culture in which we inhabit that is understandable, for what foundations is there than your own life and the immediate present? But for the Christian, we have a different foundation – one that gives peace even in the midst of trouble. But how much heed to we pay to the Anchor of our souls? And how much heed to every tide of fear? If it is this way for Covid, what will happen if a more serious threat emerges?

The point of this post is not about Covid. But rather that, in the times to come and now here – we are going to have to be courageous. No more, the going to Church. Now, the being Church. And in so doing, paying the cost. It’ll take courage, and it’ll take not looking at the wind and the waves of the world, but at Jesus.

There’s an interesting passage at the end of Revelation – perhaps you know it well:

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 21 v 6-8

Notice that amongst the vile and the murderers are another category – ‘the cowardly’. Those who shrink back and fade away into the tapestry of the world. Those who don’t actively do anything, just stay silent and go along with the latest thing. They get a mention – in fact they get pole position of those consigned to the fiery lake and the second death.

Pretty strong stuff, right? But it should sober us to realise that doing nothing, that standing back and acquiescing, isn’t going to save you. There’s only One to save you – and He calls us to take up our Cross and follow Him.

Can we do that? In our own strength, of course not. We’re inadequate to the task. But knowing that Jesus is in the boat with us – and His strength is made perfect through our weakness.

This calls for knowing where we are – to see the signs of the times – and knowing Whose we are. He will never lose one that puts their whole life in His hands!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16 v 33