"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come...And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:6,14 - NIV)
The media is buzzing with the news of historic riots, protests, and political upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East. At this point, it seems that there are many more questions than answers. The World anxiously awaits as the region reshapes its political systems to reflect a more democratic representation of its people.
As you know, there is no shortage of people claiming the events are sure to usher in the collapse of the United States and eventually, the End of the Earth. Regardless of the relevance or accuracy of such claims, it is important for the Church to respond with an eternal perspective. Roughly 147 million of the 158 million people living in these countries are UNREACHED - that's 93% of the population! According to Jesus, we are to be more concerned with the Gospel being preached in the whole world than in the day-to-day events of the socio-political landscape.
So while the pundits continually fill the airways with speculation, what is a follower of Jesus to do in light of such intense uncertainty, instability, and tension? Pray, pray, and pray! As we look through the pages of history, we see how God's sovereign hand moved in ways that no one at the time could have ever understood. In retrospect, it is perfectly clear how He took what the enemy meant for evil and used it for His Good. Could this be another instance when our God intervenes to make a way for the 147 million unreached living in these countries to hear the Good News for the first time? If so, how is He calling you to participate?