“Hurry Sweetheart, you’re going to miss the beginning of the fourth quarter.”
“Don’t worry! All we need to do is watch the last five minutes of the game!” I confidently declared to my wife.
“But they are down by fifteen points! There isn’t enough time!”
“Don’t worry, they will do it!” Sure enough, at about the six minute mark, our favorite basketball team began to rally. With one minute to go, they tied the game and a last second buzzer beater clinched the victory!
As many basketball fans can attest, the most exciting portion of a basketball game often occurs in the final five minutes. No matter how bleak it may seem for one’s favorite team, they usually find a way to pull out a stunning victory. I state “usually” since there have been times when I have been disappointed. Sometimes when the circumstances seem darkest, there may be no way to snatch victory from defeat.
When I read the Book of Revelation, I may initially be discouraged that there is no way evil can be overcome. It is seven years of Tribulation, the worst famines, wars, and diseases this world will ever experience. Over a third of the earth’s population will die and those who remain will be tortured by Satans’ demons. The sheer desperation of the time is vividly captured in this verse.
In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
Revelation 9:6 (CSB)
There is so much angst that people feel during this current COVID19 crisis, prompting them to cry out, “Where is God?” Sadly, this will pale in comparison to the sheer terror of the Tribulation. How long can mankind hold out? Will God be able to pull out a victory in the last moments of the ultimate fight for our existence? The answer is a resounding yes!
The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:10 (CSB)
No matter how bleak our circumstances may appear, we can be completely confident that God and Good will triumph over Satan and evil, but we do not have to wait for the Tribulation period for this to happen. If you confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will secure immediate victory over death by salvation and eternal life. God will rescue you before the start of the Tribulation by His grace and mercy. For those who ignore Gods’ invitation, there is still an opportunity for all to secure victory from defeat during the Tribulation.
God continues to extend His grace and mercy to all who chose victory in His Name rather than defeat with Satan. Even if it occurs in the last five minutes of the Tribulation, when things seem darkest, God will always be victorious!
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 