The greatest message Jesus has for us in the Bible is that we do not need to be afraid. He has made a way of safety for us!

Do not be afraid

God tells us we never need to be afraid! It does not matter what happens around us – we could lose our job and not find a new one, or a storm could destroy all we have. God said, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Jesus told us the reason we don’t need to fear in John 16:33 – He has already conquered all trouble and tribulation. We may not be able to see this victory in our circumstances yet, but we can experience His presence in our lives no matter what happens (see Philippians 4:7).

Understanding the times

Jesus also told His disciples He wanted them to understand His teachings (see Matthew 13). He opened their understanding (Luke 24:45) and promised the Holy Spirit would also do this for all believers after He was gone (John 14:26).

God has said He will make the end of the world known from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) so we could watch as things unfold before our eyes and know that He is still in control. Jesus gave us more prophecies in Matthew 24, telling us what to watch for so we would know the end was very near. Verses 5-7 sound just like our newscasts today. Verses 9-14 are already true too as never before in Earth’s history. Both Jews and Christians are suffering in horrible ways.

Other prophecies in the Old Testament are coming true as well. Ezekiel 36-37 prophesied the return of Israel to their own land – which happened in 1948. And now chapters 38-39 are being staged for us in real time, for us all to watch! The prophecy of the destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) is a reality all of us can see as imminent for the first time in the world’s history.

Watching for His coming

What is our responsibility as we see these prophecies being fulfilled? Jesus own words say that we are to “Watch therefore for [we] do not know on what day the Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). 

Jesus also expected us to ask Him to return – Revelation 22:20 and 2 Timothy 4:8. Our true hope is not tied to anything of this world, but to Jesus Himself. Our greatest longing is to be with Him forever, and second is to bring as many with us as we can. One who watches and sees danger approaching must warn others who do not see. We who know what will happen and see the signs everywhere we look must warn those who are not ready so they too can come to Jesus before it is forever too late.

How can we watch if we are not sure we will go with Him when He calls? This is the most important question any of us can answer today. He wants you to KNOW (1 John 5:13) you have eternal life. In this secure knowledge, the “blessed hope” that keeps us unafraid even though everything around us is falling apart – just as Jesus said it would – is our source of peace and joy! Death cannot harm us. Death of those we love – who have accepted Jesus as their Savior – is no longer a thing to fear, but a time of rejoicing in the knowledge we will soon see them again.