Hold the Line Saints — God Is Still in Control

As I sit quietly this morning watching the world unravel a little more each day, I cannot help but think about the words of our LORD when He warned us about the days before His return. Everywhere we look there is confusion, violence, deception, hatred, fear, and division. Nations are raging. Leaders are boasting. The love of many is growing cold. Truth itself is being questioned.

Many believers are troubled by what they see happening around them.

But child of God, none of this has taken Heaven by surprise.

God is still in control.

The LORD is not pacing the floors of Heaven worried about the condition of this world. The throne of God has not been shaken by wars, corrupt governments, economic instability, spiritual deception, or the growing darkness upon the earth.

The Bible warned us these things would come.

Jesus Himself said:

“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.” — Matthew 24:6 KJV

Notice those words carefully:

“These things must come to pass.”

That does not mean God approves of evil. It does not mean wickedness is good. It means that mankind, having rejected God, continues to move deeper into rebellion just as Scripture foretold.

We are watching the consequences of a world trying to live without God.

The further a nation moves away from truth, the darker it becomes spiritually. Men begin calling evil good and good evil. Pride replaces humility. Pleasure replaces holiness. Power replaces compassion. Deception replaces truth.

And yet through all of this, God still has a faithful remnant.

He always has.

In the days of Noah, when the thoughts of men were only evil continually, God had Noah.

In the days of Elijah, when the prophet thought he stood alone, God reminded him there were still seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal.

In the days of the early Church, while Rome persecuted Christians and wicked emperors ruled the world, God still preserved His people.

And today, in the middle of confusion and spiritual darkness, God still has faithful men and women who refuse to compromise.

The world may grow darker, but the Gospel still shines.

What we are witnessing should not drive believers into fear but into faithfulness.

Paul warned Timothy:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” — 2 Timothy 3:1 KJV

He then described a generation consumed with selfishness, pride, lust, rebellion, and religion without true godliness. Does that not sound like the very world we are living in today?

Yet even then, Paul did not tell believers to surrender.

He told them to continue.

Continue in the faith.

Continue preaching the Word.

Continue enduring hardship.

Continue standing for truth.

The closer we get to the return of Christ, the more intense the spiritual battle will become. Satan knows his time is short. Deception will increase. Persecution will increase. Pressure to compromise will increase.

But this is not the hour for the Church to retreat.

This is the hour to hold the line.

Hold the line when others abandon truth.

Hold the line when false teachers twist the Gospel.

Hold the line when the culture mocks righteousness.

Hold the line when fear spreads across the earth.

Hold the line when even some churches no longer preach repentance, holiness, and salvation.

Remain faithful.

The greatest victory believers may have in these last days is simply refusing to quit.

Jesus said:

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 KJV

Friend, our hope has never been in governments, economies, armies, or earthly kingdoms. All of these things will pass away. Kingdoms rise and fall. Nations come and go. Political leaders boast for a season and then disappear into history.

But the Word of God still stands.

Jesus Christ is still King.

And one glorious day the trumpet will sound, the eastern sky will split open, and the King of kings shall return in power and glory.

Until that day comes, remain faithful.

Pray more.

Read your Bible more.

Love your family more.

Encourage the brethren more.

Witness while there is still time.

Do not let fear consume your heart.

Lift up your head child of God, for our redemption draweth nigh.

This world is not spinning out of God’s control.

It is moving exactly where Scripture said it would before the return of the LORD.

UFO Fear, Christianity, and the Unchanging Plan of God

Over the last few years, there has been a growing effort to convince Christians that the possible release of UFO or extraterrestrial information will somehow destroy the Christian faith. Some prophecy teachers and internet personalities warn that disclosure will shake the Church, collapse belief in the Bible, and destroy the foundations of Christianity.

I do not believe that for one second.

Much of this is fear mongering.

It is another attempt to fill people with confusion, anxiety, and uncertainty. Fear has always been one of Satan’s greatest weapons. If he cannot destroy faith directly, he will attempt to weaken believers through doubt and distraction.

But regardless of what governments release, what scientists discover, or what strange things may exist in the universe, none of it changes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The plan of God remains unchanged.

The message of salvation remains unchanged.

The cross remains unchanged.

The resurrection remains unchanged.

The victory of Christ remains unchanged.

The Bible already teaches us that there are spiritual forces beyond human understanding. Scripture speaks openly about angels, fallen angels, principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12 KJV

The true battle has never been about little green men from another planet. The real battle is spiritual. It is a war between good and evil, truth and deception, Christ and the powers of darkness.

Satan has always used signs, wonders, fear, confusion, and deception to turn people away from God. Ecclesiastes tells us there is “no new thing under the sun.” The methods may change, but the spiritual war remains the same.

Some Christians act as if one government announcement could overthrow two thousand years of Christian faith. But Christianity has survived Roman persecution, pagan empires, atheistic communism, false religions, corrupt governments, scientific revolutions, world wars, and every attack hell could throw against it.

The Church is still here.

Jesus said:

“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18 KJV

If strange life exists somewhere in God’s creation, then God created it.

If governments have hidden information, God already knew it before the foundation of the world.

If deception is coming, the LORD warned us beforehand that deception would come.

Nothing surprises God.

Nothing threatens His throne.

Nothing changes His final victory.

What concerns me more is not UFO stories but how quickly people are losing faith in truth itself. Many no longer know what to believe. Technology manipulates images. Governments manipulate narratives. Social media spreads confusion every hour of the day. People are spiritually exhausted and emotionally unstable because they live in a constant state of fear.

But believers are not called to live in fear.

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

The enemy wants Christians distracted. He wants them chasing endless conspiracies while neglecting prayer, holiness, repentance, and the Gospel. He wants believers terrified about tomorrow instead of trusting the LORD today.

But the mission of the Church has not changed.

Souls still need salvation.

Families still need hope.

Sinners still need repentance.

The Gospel still saves.

Jesus Christ is still King.

And Satan is still defeated at the cross.

The Book of Revelation does not end with darkness winning. It ends with Christ victorious.

The kingdoms of this world will fall.

The systems of men will fail.

The powers of darkness will be judged.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire…” — Revelation 20:10 KJV

That is the final outcome of this spiritual war.

Not confusion.

Not fear.

Not defeat for God’s people.

Victory belongs to Christ.

So let the world speculate. Let governments release whatever information they choose. Let the internet explode with theories and arguments.

The believer’s foundation does not rest upon the secrets of governments.

It rests upon the eternal Word of God.

Jesus Christ is still the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Nuclear Threats Are Mostly Talk

 There is a great deal of fear spreading across the world today. Politicians speak of nuclear weapons as if they are merely another tool in the toolbox of war. News commentators speculate daily about mushroom clouds, radioactive fallout, and the possibility of World War III. Social media prophets cry doom morning and night. Fear has become its own weapon.

But I believe much of the nuclear rhetoric we are hearing is exactly that—rhetoric.

That does not mean the world is safe. It does not mean evil men do not exist. It does not mean that nations are incapable of destruction. But we must separate political theater from military reality.

The threats are designed to intimidate, pressure, and frighten opponents into surrender or compromise.

The reality is this: if nuclear weapons were actually used in the Middle East, nobody truly wins.

The fallout would not stop at national borders. Radiation does not recognize political parties, religions, or military alliances. The winds would carry contamination across the entire region. Oil fields, shipping lanes, water supplies, ports, and major cities could be affected. Nations allied with America would also suffer economically and environmentally.

Those threatening nuclear action know this.

The wealthy Gulf nations know this.

Israel knows this.

Iran knows this.

America knows this.

The world economy itself knows this.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping routes on earth. A major nuclear event in the Persian Gulf could collapse regional oil production, devastate global trade, and trigger worldwide economic chaos. Nations already struggling with inflation, debt, and instability would face even greater turmoil.

This is why much of the nuclear language is political pressure rather than practical military planning.

Strong language creates fear.

Fear creates headlines.

Headlines create leverage.

But leverage is not the same thing as action.

In many ways, modern warfare is fought as much through psychology as through bombs and bullets. Nations attempt to project strength because weakness invites challenge. Leaders speak in dramatic terms because they believe it forces opponents to back down.

The Bible itself warns us about men using fearful words.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:3 KJV

Notice something important. The danger often comes not only from war itself, but from the instability and uncertainty surrounding it. Fear becomes a tool of control.

Today, we live in a world where nations are exhausted financially, morally, and spiritually. The global economy is fragile. Supply chains are fragile. Energy systems are fragile. Governments are drowning in debt. Leaders understand that a full nuclear exchange could destroy not only their enemies but their own survival as well.

This is why many wars today are limited, proxy, cyber, sanction, and information wars.

The threats sound apocalyptic, but the actual goals are usually more restrained.

That does not mean Christians should ignore the dangers around us. We are clearly living in troubled times. Jesus warned of “wars and rumours of wars” in Matthew 24:6. Notice He said rumors as well as wars. Fear itself becomes part of the tribulation of the age.

But believers are not called to panic.

We are called to discern.

We are called to pray.

We are called to prepare spiritually.

We are called to trust God even when the nations rage.

Psalm 46 reminds us:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed…” — Psalm 46:1-2 KJV

The world may shake.

Leaders may boast.

Nations may threaten.

But God still rules above the kingdoms of men.

The greatest danger facing America is not merely foreign missiles. It is spiritual blindness, pride, corruption, greed, violence, and the rejection of truth. Nations throughout history have collapsed morally long before they collapsed militarily.

Fear sells headlines, but fear also blinds people spiritually.

As believers, we must walk carefully in these days. We should remain informed without becoming consumed. Prepared without becoming paranoid and concerned, without losing faith.

The threats of nuclear war may dominate the news cycle today, but the deeper battle is for the souls of men.

And that battle cannot be won with bombs.

Letter to Christians Facing Persecution

 Inspired by the message of Polycarp

To the brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for His name in every nation,

Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you through God our Father and through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Beloved brethren, though oceans, prisons, governments, and walls separate us, we are one body in Christ. Your faithfulness has not gone unseen. Heaven watches your endurance. The Lord knows every tear, every prayer whispered in secret, every fearful night, every loss suffered because you chose Christ over compromise.

Many of you worship quietly because open worship could cost you your freedom. Some have lost homes, jobs, families, churches, and even children because you would not deny the name of Jesus. Others live under constant threats, mocked by neighbors, watched by governments, hated by extremists, or abandoned by society. Yet even now, the Spirit of God is with you.

Remember the words of our Savior:

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:10 KJV

You walk the same road traveled by the apostles, the martyrs, and the faithful saints throughout history. Polycarp himself encouraged suffering believers to stand firm in love, holiness, endurance, and truth. He reminded the Church that Christ also suffered for us and left us an example to follow.

Do not allow hatred to poison your hearts. The world may answer evil with violence, but followers of Christ are called to overcome evil with good. Pray for those who persecute you. Pray for rulers, soldiers, governments, and enemies. Polycarp urged believers to pray even "for them that persecute and hate you."

Stand fast in truth. False teachers, fear, and compromise are spreading worldwide. Some deny Christ openly, while others twist His teachings to fit the spirit of this age. Hold firmly to the Gospel once delivered unto the saints. Jesus Christ came in the flesh, died for our sins, rose again, and shall return in glory and judgment. Do not trade eternal truth for temporary safety.

Encourage one another daily. Care for the widows, the orphans, the imprisoned, and the brokenhearted among you. Share what little you have. Strengthen the weak. Restore those who stumble. Let your churches be places of refuge, prayer, holiness, and love.

If suffering increases in the days ahead, do not despair. Trials do not mean God has abandoned you. Gold is purified in the fire, and the Church has often shone brightest in seasons of persecution. The blood of martyrs has never destroyed the Church—it has strengthened it.

Christ has not forgotten His persecuted people.

The same Lord who walked beside Daniel in Babylon, stood with the three Hebrews in the furnace, strengthened Paul in prison, and comforted John in exile, still walks among His people today.

Therefore:

• Be steadfast in faith.
• Be sober in prayer.
• Forgive your enemies.
• Love one another deeply.
• Refuse bitterness.
• Hold fast to holiness.
• Continue proclaiming Christ while there is still time.

And when fear comes in the night, remember this promise:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God." — Isaiah 41:10 KJV

One day, every prison door will open forever. Every tyrant will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Every wound will be healed. Every faithful believer will receive a crown of life.

Until that day, stand firm.

You are not forgotten.

You are not abandoned.

You are not fighting alone.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen.

A Friend of Jesus

Many people in this world claim to know Jesus, but I sometimes wonder how many truly walk with Him as a friend.

The older I get, the more I realize there is a difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them.

I know about Abraham Lincoln.

I know about George Washington.

I know about famous preachers and singers.

But they are not my friends.

Friendship means closeness.

It means trust.

It means walking together through life.

And one of the most amazing statements in all the Bible is when Jesus looked at His disciples and said:

“Henceforth I call you not servants… but I have called you friends.”

— John 15:15 (KJV)

Think about that for a moment.

The Son of God — the One who spoke the stars into existence — calls ordinary believers His friends.

That ought to humble every one of us.

Now I know a lot of folks want a comfortable religion these days. They want a Jesus who blesses them, helps them when trouble comes, and asks nothing in return. But that is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Just one verse before calling them friends, Jesus said:

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

— John 15:14 (KJV)

That part does not get preached much anymore.

Friendship with Jesus is not built on empty words. It is built on obedience, love, faithfulness, and fellowship.

You cannot walk hand in hand with the world and still walk closely with Christ.

A true friend spends time with you.

A true friend listens.

A true friend stays loyal when everybody else walks away.

And I believe that is what Jesus is looking for in this hour — faithful friends.

Not fair-weather Christians.

Not Sunday morning believers who forget Him the rest of the week.

Not people who only pray when trouble comes.

He is looking for people who will walk with Him daily.

I have found something through the years as a country preacher. Hard times reveal who your real friends are.

When life is good, everybody smiles.

When the bills are paid, and your health is strong, people will pat you on the back and tell you how much they love you.

But let trouble come.

Let sickness come.

Let persecution come.

Let people turn against you.

That is when true friendship is revealed.

The disciples stayed with Jesus when others walked away.

The martyrs died because they loved Christ more than this present world.

Old saints endured hardship because Jesus was more than a religion to them — He was their dearest Friend.

I fear many in modern Christianity know church culture better than they know Christ Himself.

They know sermons but not prayer.

They know religion but not fellowship.

They know doctrine but not intimacy with God.

Jesus did not die to give us religious information.

He died to reconcile us unto Himself.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

— John 15:13 (KJV)

At Calvary, Jesus proved His friendship toward us.

He loved us when we were broken.

He loved us when we were sinful.

He loved us when we were unworthy.

And now He asks us to follow Him faithfully.

Being a friend of Jesus means staying close to Him when the world grows dark.

It means praying when others stop praying.

It means standing for truth when compromise becomes popular.

It means loving holiness more than worldly acceptance.

And I will tell you something else. If the days ahead become as difficult as many believe they may, only those who truly know Christ will stand firm.

Church membership alone will not sustain people.

Politics will not sustain people.

Money will not sustain people.

But a real walk with Jesus will.

There is peace in knowing Him.

Strength in walking with Him.

Comfort in hearing His voice during troubled times.

I have lived long enough now to know this world cannot be trusted. Governments fail. Economies shake. People disappoint us. Even churches sometimes lose their way.

But Jesus remains faithful.

What a blessing it is to know that the Lord of glory still looks upon ordinary people like us and says:

“I have called you friends.”

That is the kind of friendship worth holding onto until the very end.

And before I close, let me tell you about a Friend I would like to share with you.

He is closer than a brother.

When this world disappoints you, He remains faithful.

When others walk away, He stays.

When mother and father cannot be there, He is still beside you.

He walks with me every single day.

He listens to my problems.

He understands my fears.

He knows every burden I carry and every tear I try to hide from others.

I have talked to Him on lonely roads, in hospital rooms, beside gravesides, and during nights when sleep would not come because the weight of life seemed too heavy to bear.

And every time, He was there.

Not always removing the storm, but always walking with me through it.

He promised:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

— Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

What a Friend Jesus has been to this old country preacher.

Through failures, struggles, heartbreaks, disappointments, and trials, He has remained faithful.

He not only promises to walk with us through life, but even through death itself.

David wrote:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

— Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

That is the kind of Friend Jesus is.

The world offers temporary friendships built upon convenience, but Jesus offers eternal fellowship built upon love and grace.

And the wonderful thing is this:

His invitation is open to everyone.

No matter who you are,

No matter what you have done,

No matter how broken your life may seem,

Jesus still says:

“I have called you friends.”

My prayer today is simple.

Accept his invitation to friendship.

Walk with Him.

Talk with Him.

Trust Him.

Stay close to Him.

Because when everything else in this world begins to shake, you will discover that Jesus Christ truly is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.