AUGUEST THEME – “Seeing Revival From God’s Perspective”

Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church celebrates our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.

BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART

IT’S EASIER TO WATCH THE HEADLINES THAN TO WATCH FOR CHRIST

Matthew 24:6-8, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Every morning millions of people begin their day by checking the headlines before opening their Bible. News alerts arrive by the minute. Television screens constantly report wars, political unrest, economic uncertainty, terrorism, natural disasters, and international conflicts. We know what is happening in Washington, Jerusalem, Moscow, Beijing, and around the world, yet many believers spend little time considering what Christ told us to expect. Jesus never instructed His followers to ignore current events, but neither did He tell us to become consumed by them. Instead, He said, “See that ye be not troubled.” While the world anxiously watches the next headline, God’s people are called to watch for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easier to watch the headlines than to watch for Christ.

Headlines Change Every Hour, but God’s Word Never Changes

Every day the headlines change. One crisis replaces another. Yesterday’s emergency is forgotten by tomorrow. News organizations compete to report the latest breaking story because fear captures attention. Yet God’s Word has never needed updating because it has never been wrong. When Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars over two thousand years ago, He perfectly described the world we live in today. Every conflict, every military threat, every rising nation, and every international tension simply confirms that God’s Word is true. None of these events surprise heaven. Nothing occurring today has caught God off guard. Before a single battle is fought, the Lord already knows the outcome because history is unfolding exactly according to His sovereign plan. The believer who builds his confidence on the evening news will constantly fluctuate between hope and despair. The believer who builds his confidence upon Scripture stands upon an unshakable foundation. Headlines report events; God’s Word reveals His eternal purposes. One changes every hour; the other remains forever.

Watching the Headlines Can Produce Fear, but Watching for Christ Produces Hope

Jesus did not deny that frightening events would come. Instead, He commanded, “See that ye be not troubled.” The world interprets wars as evidence that everything is falling apart. The Christian understands that these events remind us that God’s prophetic timetable is moving forward. Imagine standing in a crowded airport watching the arrival board. Every few minutes the screen changes as flights arrive closer to their destination. Those updates are not bad news for the family waiting at the gate. Each announcement means their loved one is getting nearer. In much the same way, every prophecy fulfilled, every nation rising against nation, every reminder that this world cannot fix itself should cause believers to look up with anticipation. We are not watching for the Antichrist; we are watching for Jesus Christ. Our hope is not in world peace but in the Prince of Peace. While the world trembles at what may happen tomorrow, the child of God rests in the promise that Jesus is coming again.

Christ Calls Us to Occupy Until He Comes

Bible prophecy was never intended merely to satisfy our curiosity. It was given to strengthen our commitment. The more we realize Christ’s return is drawing near, the more urgently we should serve Him. It is easy to spend hours discussing politics, military conflicts, and world events while neglecting prayer, evangelism, discipleship, and personal holiness. Satan delights when believers become spectators instead of servants. If he cannot convince us that Christ is not coming, he will try to distract us from living as though He could come today. Every war should remind us that people need the gospel. Every headline should remind us that time is short. Every rumor of war should motivate us to share Christ with someone before it is too late. Jesus did not tell His disciples to predict every event; He told them to preach the gospel to every creature. The greatest preparation for Christ’s return is faithful obedience today.

A little boy stood beside the front window every afternoon waiting for his father to return from work. He was not distracted by the traffic or fascinated by every passing vehicle. His eyes searched for only one car because only one person mattered. The moment he recognized his father’s vehicle, he ran joyfully to the door. That is the attitude every believer should have toward Christ’s return. We are surrounded by countless events competing for our attention, but our hearts should be looking for only One. The question is not whether the headlines are important. The question is whether they have become more important to us than the hope of seeing Jesus.

Wars and rumors of wars remind us that this world is broken, but they also remind us that God’s Word is absolutely trustworthy. Every headline should cause us to lift our eyes a little higher. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our King is coming. Our redemption draweth nigh. Do not allow today’s news to rob you of tomorrow’s hope. Read the headlines through the lens of Scripture, but keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. While others anxiously watch the world, let us joyfully watch for Christ. The next great event on God’s calendar is not another war—it is the return of our Savior.

Warfare Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You remain on the throne while the nations rage. When the headlines tempt me to fear, remind me that You have already declared the end from the beginning. Guard my heart from anxiety, panic, and distraction. Help me to spend more time in Your Word than in the world’s news. Keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus and my hands faithfully serving until He comes. Give me boldness to share the gospel while there is still time and fill me with joyful expectation for the glorious appearing of my great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His mighty name I pray, Amen.

Daily Challenge

Before checking today’s headlines, open your Bible first. Spend time with Christ before spending time with the news. Then ask yourself, “Am I more excited about what is happening in the world, or about the fact that Jesus could return at any moment?” Let every headline become a reminder to pray, witness, and live today as though you may see your Savior before the day is over.

WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS

Beverly Burnette

Anna Belle Taylor – Irregular Heartbeat – Jackson’s Special Friend

Rob Davis – cancer

Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip

Kim McClain’s Mother