God’s Plan to Bless the Nations [Audio]
By Tom Shanklin
When we look at the problems in the world today, we may be tempted to wonder if God knows what He is doing. But truth be known, He has had a plan all along and He is bringing it to completion through the events that are taking place in the earth.
Jesus prepared us for the end of this age while He was on the earth. And He gave us direction for what we are to do in these days. He 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. 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.” Matthew 24:6-8, KJV.
Jesus said that these troubles are the “beginning of sorrows.” They are not the end, they are the beginning of a transition to something better. The definition of the Greek word translated sorrows is “birth pains.” Now birth can be a difficult and traumatic experience, but when the child comes, there is a new reality, a beautiful new life. This is what God has planned for us, a new reality and a beautiful new life.
It is important that we don’t become overwhelmed with the sorrows and problems that are in the world and miss the point of God’s Plan for the Nations. God wants to bring blessing out of the sorrow. God wants to bring peace out of the pain. God wants to bring life out of death. And you and I have a vital part in that plan.
We see that from the beginning God’s plan has always been to bless the nations. He told Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:18, KJV. That seed is Jesus. God’s plan is to bless the nations through Jesus! That is why I believe that the key to understanding God’s plan for us in the end times is Matthew 24:14:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14, KJV.
He didn’t say that the end will come when there are wars and rumors of wars.
He didn’t say the end will come when the anti-Christ takes over.
He didn’t say the end will come when the wrong person is elected in the U.S. or when ISIS pulls off a terrorist plot or when…………
He said when we get the job done of preaching the Gospel in all the nations (ethnic groups) in this world, then the Lord is going to wrap things up in this age, send His Son back to earth, and establish His Kingdom here.
Folks, brighter days are ahead! A wonderful kingdom is about to be established. These skirmishes that we are facing here and now are nothing compared to the glory of God that will be revealed to us and through us as the sons of God in the coming age.
I encourage you to listen to this message I preached on this subject. It will help you to not get all wrapped up in the problems of this world. It will help you to not waste your time fighting opinion battles with the people of this world. We are not called to fight the world! We are called to win the world! We are called to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Good News that Jesus died for our sins and rose again is the only message that will save humanity and change our present reality.
So, what shall we do in the face of these problems? Go to the nations (including our own) and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Preach Jesus the King, and call men and women, boys and girls to surrender their lives to Him. That’s our business. That’s our focus, and that’s how we will see the fulfillment of God’s plan to bless the nations.
Be blessed and enjoy your part!!!
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