Jesus mentioned that an increase in wickedness would mark the End of the Age. Is wickedness increasing or do we just have better media coverage? Some friends say they don’t watch the news anymore because it’s too depressing, but part of my morning routine is checking breaking news. Jesus’ admonition to “keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come,” reminds me to keep an eye on what is happening in the world.

Some weeks the world is so calm that reporters must beat old stories to a mushy pulp or else inflate a politically incorrect word or statement in order to fill air time. Other weeks, the world seems to explode with stories of wickedness involving children, families, schools, cities, and nations. Gangs, dictators, warring ethnic groups, and creators of violent movies and games astound us with their creations of here-to-fore unimagined evil.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, he said, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.”  I wonder … are we seeing the “One who holds back the wickedness,” beginning to occasionally lift a hand off our world for a day or two so that we can see how really bad this world will be when Christ returns, takes out the righteous people, and leaves only the wicked?

I wonder … is wickedness, gaining momentum?  Are we occasionally seeing the Hand lifted?

I don’t know, but these are days to be alert and watchful. We must be alert to both how the devil is prowling around our individual lives and how the devil is expanding lawlessness to prepare the way for the revealing of the Lawless One. (II Thessalonians 2:1-12)

Jesus repeatedly said, “Watch!”

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36

What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ (Mark 13:37)

Martha Hawn VanCise©