“And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight.”
The words keep running through my head. Each time they do, I’m reminded this world is just a brief stop on the way to eternity.
As the world continues to spiral toward profound ungodliness – and its ultimate demise – I continue watching for Christ’s return with anticipation. Things will get ugly toward the end. According to Christ’s words to His disciples about the “end of the age,” we’re just beginning to feel the birth pangs.
Natural disasters are escalating. War is raging in the Middle East, and there’s talk of growing conflict throughout the world. More and more false teachers are popping up and people are blindly following them. Heresy is even becoming widespread, even within the church. And as the church is declining, worldwide persecution is escalating.
Sometimes it makes me fearful. Not so much for me – my life is already more than half over – but for my children and grandchildren. What will their world be like? Will they continue growing in their faith and endure to the end? Will they still be “running the race with endurance” when Christ either calls them home or returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
When my questions and concerns disturb the peace that passes all understanding, God reminds me I have nothing to worry about. God has everything under His sovereign control. He is accomplishing the purposes on earth that were laid out in the heavens before time began. He loves my children and grandchildren far more than I ever could, and He appointed their days before even one of them came to pass, too.
So, I pray. I pray those who outlive me will continue pursuing God, even when they face opposition from a wicked world. I pray they’ll be able to discern God’s truths from false teachings. I pray they will know the peace of God that passes all understanding even when chaos breaks out around them.
The words of this great hymn offer us strength to face today’s trials and hope for our final delivery from them. When I consider what lies ahead, who is waiting for me (for all who love Him), I can carry on even though I’m tired and long for Christ’s return. It is well with my soul because my God is sovereign over all. It is well with my soul because I can trust God to strengthen me for whatever comes my way. It is well with my soul because my life will soon dissipate like a vapor, these light momentary trials will end, and I will stand face to face with my Savior.
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” -Hebrews 6:19-20a
