In the two thousand years of church history there have been numerous seasons of calamity. In these seasons, pastors and their congregations have often considered the possibility that calamitous times would usher in the return of the Lord Jesus.
Even in our lifetimes there have been several such periods where predictions have been made of the likely prospect of His return. As a child in the 1950’s, I remember the cold war threat of nuclear war and the annihilation of the world. Family bomb shelters and practice for responding to nuclear fallout were common topics.
The new millennium approached, and the prospect of worldwide systems shutdown related to computer-controlled equipment malfunctions renewed the subject of the end of the times. More recently the rise of radical Islam and the terrorist attacks have been cause for concern that this could be the terminal generation.
Through the ages the comfort that believers have had in troubled times is the infallible and eternal truth of God’s Word. We are daily reminded that God is in control. We are counseled by our Lord to live ready for His return to receive us unto Himself, but also to continue to plan and work and live and serve our Saviour with the possibility that we may live out our years before He comes again.
This is what we have been doing for the last 34 years here at Calvary Baptist Church, and by the grace of God our plan is to carry on in that same course as we transition pastors today!
I thank the Lord for you all and we look forward to continuing on with a new chapter in the story of Calvary Baptist Church, till Jesus comes!