On Sunday, we kicked off a series where we look at a trending headline and ask a simple question: What does Scripture say about this?
The Bible should shape the way we see, consume, and respond to the news of our day. My hope is that this series will help all of us develop a biblical worldview so that we see who God is and what He is doing in the world around us.
So what was the trending topic of the week? Peace in the Middle East If you've checked the news recently, you have probably seen the headlines. Missiles. Drones. Escalation. Tensions between nations. Political leaders are negotiating for peace while military leaders are preparing for conflict.
Whenever unrest erupts in the Middle East, a familiar question surfaces: "Are we living in the end times?"
For some people, those headlines create fear. For others, they create fascination. For many, they create confusion. People begin connecting current events to biblical prophecy. They wonder if every military conflict fulfills Scripture or if every headline signals Christ's immediate return.
Yet when we read Matthew 24, we discover something important. Jesus did not give prophecy to make His followers fearful. He did not give prophecy to make His followers obsessed. He gave prophecy to make His followers faithful.
Jesus described signs that would characterize the season before His return. He spoke of Israel, deception, false teaching, wars and rumors of wars, persecution, moral decline, and the spread of the Gospel to the nations. As we look around our world, it is not difficult to see why many believers connect these signs to the days in which we live.
But there is something even more important than identifying the signs. We must remember who controls the signs. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign.
What does sovereignty mean?
God's sovereignty means that He possesses supreme authority over all creation and exercises complete control over history to accomplish His purposes. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing threatens Him. Nothing can ultimately frustrate His plans.
Psalm 115:3 says, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." This truth changes the way we view the news.
When we see conflict in the Middle East, we are reminded that Jesus told us such things would happen. The headlines may surprise us, but they do not surprise God. The nations may be anxious, but God is not anxious. Human leaders may struggle to understand what comes next, but God already sees the beginning and the end.
That is why Jesus tells His followers not to lose heart. Matthew 24:13 reminds us that those who persevere to the end will be saved. The signs are not evidence that God has lost control. They are evidence that history is unfolding exactly as He said it would.
At the same time, there is another encouraging reality that often receives far less attention than military conflict and political tension.
The Gospel is advancing.
While news outlets focus on what is exploding, God is also at work in what is expanding. People are coming to faith around the world. Churches are growing. Missionaries are reaching unreached people groups. The Bible is being translated into new languages. God is drawing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself.
Jesus promised this would happen.
So when you see troubling headlines, move your focus from what is happening to who is reigning. The God who rules over nations also rules over your life. The God who oversees the timeline of human history also cares about the details of your day. If God is sovereign over the rise and fall of kingdoms, you can trust Him with your future, your family, your worries, and your circumstances.
Could Christ return soon? Absolutely. Could He return in our lifetime? Certainly. But Jesus never commanded us to predict His return. He commanded us to be ready for His return.
So do not live in fear. Do not become consumed by speculation. Do not become obsessed with every headline.
Instead, live faithfully. Love people. Share the Gospel. Serve the Kingdom. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Because when He comes, the goal is not for Him to find us informed. The goal is for Him to find us faithful.
The Bible should shape the way we see, consume, and respond to the news of our day. My hope is that this series will help all of us develop a biblical worldview so that we see who God is and what He is doing in the world around us.
So what was the trending topic of the week? Peace in the Middle East If you've checked the news recently, you have probably seen the headlines. Missiles. Drones. Escalation. Tensions between nations. Political leaders are negotiating for peace while military leaders are preparing for conflict.
Whenever unrest erupts in the Middle East, a familiar question surfaces: "Are we living in the end times?"
For some people, those headlines create fear. For others, they create fascination. For many, they create confusion. People begin connecting current events to biblical prophecy. They wonder if every military conflict fulfills Scripture or if every headline signals Christ's immediate return.
Yet when we read Matthew 24, we discover something important. Jesus did not give prophecy to make His followers fearful. He did not give prophecy to make His followers obsessed. He gave prophecy to make His followers faithful.
Jesus described signs that would characterize the season before His return. He spoke of Israel, deception, false teaching, wars and rumors of wars, persecution, moral decline, and the spread of the Gospel to the nations. As we look around our world, it is not difficult to see why many believers connect these signs to the days in which we live.
But there is something even more important than identifying the signs. We must remember who controls the signs. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign.
What does sovereignty mean?
God's sovereignty means that He possesses supreme authority over all creation and exercises complete control over history to accomplish His purposes. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing threatens Him. Nothing can ultimately frustrate His plans.
Psalm 115:3 says, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." This truth changes the way we view the news.
When we see conflict in the Middle East, we are reminded that Jesus told us such things would happen. The headlines may surprise us, but they do not surprise God. The nations may be anxious, but God is not anxious. Human leaders may struggle to understand what comes next, but God already sees the beginning and the end.
That is why Jesus tells His followers not to lose heart. Matthew 24:13 reminds us that those who persevere to the end will be saved. The signs are not evidence that God has lost control. They are evidence that history is unfolding exactly as He said it would.
At the same time, there is another encouraging reality that often receives far less attention than military conflict and political tension.
The Gospel is advancing.
While news outlets focus on what is exploding, God is also at work in what is expanding. People are coming to faith around the world. Churches are growing. Missionaries are reaching unreached people groups. The Bible is being translated into new languages. God is drawing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself.
Jesus promised this would happen.
So when you see troubling headlines, move your focus from what is happening to who is reigning. The God who rules over nations also rules over your life. The God who oversees the timeline of human history also cares about the details of your day. If God is sovereign over the rise and fall of kingdoms, you can trust Him with your future, your family, your worries, and your circumstances.
Could Christ return soon? Absolutely. Could He return in our lifetime? Certainly. But Jesus never commanded us to predict His return. He commanded us to be ready for His return.
So do not live in fear. Do not become consumed by speculation. Do not become obsessed with every headline.
Instead, live faithfully. Love people. Share the Gospel. Serve the Kingdom. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Because when He comes, the goal is not for Him to find us informed. The goal is for Him to find us faithful.