Without Further Delay!

“And when he went aboard a boat,
his disciples followed him.

Now look!

a great storm arose on the sea,
so that the boat was being covered by the waves;

but he was sleeping.

And they came and woke him up, saying:

“Lord, save us,
we are about to perish!”

But he said to them:

“Why are you so afraid,
you with little faith?”

Then he got up and rebuked the winds
and the sea,

and a great calm set in.” Matt. 8:23-26.

Evidence

of great power
to them wondrously displayed…

***

Soon to embark
onto a long journey,

after portrayed,
shown,

publicly
made known

his stalwart
integrity

to the death
tragically undergone,

returning
to his heavenly home
very far away

yet, very familiar
and comforting

where his Father
and faithful angelic ‘brothers’

waited to celebrate
with him

his ‘foretold’ absolute victory

over Satan,
his disloyal younger ‘sibling’,

over whom envy held jealous sway,

to only come back
to earth

for judgment

in our prophesied
century

As international wars,
extreme bloodshed,
pestilence, famine,
and earthquakes

would escalate,
reigning terror globally,

since instigated
by ‘free-will’ abused

thousands of years
into humanity’s past

until today,

Jesus lovingly
to his faithful disciples,

encouragingly
did say:

“Do not let your hearts
be troubled.

Exercise faith
in God;

exercise faith
also

in me.” John 14:1.

For survival.
To everlastingly last–

In heaven or on earth.
Eternally.

Even as many things
we too would suffer

at the hands of this powerful enemy…

Only strong ‘faith’
could conquer deathly ‘fear

of up-coming events.

This we must develop
without further delay!

Fast! Fast! Fast!
In an ‘individual’ hurry!

***

“Then he went on to tell them an illustration
about the need for them always to pray

and not to give up,
saying:

“In a certain city there was a judge who had no fear of God
and no respect for man.

There was also a widow in that city
who kept going to him

and saying,
‘See that I get justice from my legal opponent.’

Well, for a while
he was unwilling,

but afterward
he said to himself,

‘Although I do not fear God
or respect any man,

because this widow
keeps making me trouble,

I will see that she gets justice
so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out
with her demand.’”

Then the Lord said:

“Hear what the judge,
although unrighteous, said!

Certainly, then,

will not God cause justice to be done
for his chosen ones

who cry out to him day and night,

while he is patient toward them?

I tell you,

he will cause justice to be done to them
speedily.

Nevertheless,

when the Son of man arrives,
will he really find this faith on the earth?” Luke 8:-8.

***

“Whenever it is that they are saying,
“Peace and security!”

then sudden destruction
is to be instantly on them,

just like birth pains on a pregnant woman,

and they will by no means escape.” 1 These. 5:3.

Although: “Those knowing your name
will trust in you;

You will never abandon those seeking you,
O Jehovah.” Ps. 9:10.

“The name of Jehovah is a strong tower.

Into it the righteous one runs
and receives protection.” Prov. 18:10.

“O our God,

will you not execute judgment on them?

For we are powerless
before this large crowd that is coming against us;

and we do not know
what we should do,

but our eyes are toward

you.”” 2 Chron. 20:12.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith.​—John 14:1.

Do you sometimes feel anxious when you think about the events that lie ahead of us​—the destruction of false religion, the attack of Gog of Magog, and the war of Armageddon? Do you ever ask yourself, ‘When the time comes, will I be able to pass through these fear-inspiring events with my integrity intact?’ If such thoughts have crossed your mind, Jesus’ words, as recorded in today’s text, should prove to be most helpful. Jesus told his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith.” Strong faith will help us to face the future with confidence. We can strengthen our faith to endure future trials by considering how we deal with tests of faith now. Then we can learn of areas where we need to strengthen our faith. With each test we pass, our faith becomes stronger. This will help us to endure future trials.

Photo credit: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Funsplash.com%2Fs%2Fphotos%2Fman-eyes-closed&psig=AOvVaw2-TQtkpJ2LXkmLw8BINjKa&ust=1674043054128000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCMj97NHGzvwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAS © 6:19 AM, Lucretia McCloud    hope • love • rhyme • sad • society • teen