You can’t miss all of the reviews of the events of 2014 that are in the mass media at this time. Running simultaneously with the reviews are the prognostications. These cover numerous projections as to what the year 2015 will bring. The value of these prognostications certainly is questionable, but it happens every year. The projections for 2014 last January may have achieved a 50% correctness. But you have to ask, are gas prices in America over $4.00 per gallon as projected? We know they are around $2.00. Has America extracted itself as scheduled from Iraq? America has been drawn back into a wider conflict centered in Iraq in the last 6 months.
Have the ten best stocks to buy in 2014 proven out? Is the sale of old and new homes up or down in your area? 2014, as most years in the past 20 years, has proven to be unstable, which can be disconcerting to us. In fact, many poles and studies published in the US reflect a society anxious about the instability of our world. We all, most likely, have experienced this angst because of personal experiences or the observing of world events.
However, no matter how disconcerting this world can get, we can predict one thing for sure: God’s church will continue to exist. Speaking of the church that Christ founded, Christ said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).
Psalm 34:19 points out that the afflictions of the righteous will be many. This understanding may come to mind when we think of anxiety and trials individual Christians may suffer. However, the church as a body also is attacked and persecuted, but Christ makes it clear the church will exist in 2015 and beyond because it has a central role in God’s plan. It is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26). As the mother, it provides various supports for the lives of God’s people.
In speaking to the ministry when he was leaving Militus, Paul called the Elders together and charged them concerning their responsibility to the flock stating, “Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone with tears” (Acts 20:28-31). As the mother the church is, through the ministry, to continually protect God’s people from false ministers who seem especially numerous in these times.
Another reason Christ has promised the Church will survive until the end is the church, like a mother, is charged with feeding the flock at all times (1 Peter 5:2, “feed the flock).
A third necessity for the continued life of the church is to assist the flock in watching (Matt 24:42). By sorting out the trends of this end time and calling attention to the meaning of events, the church is giving God’s family the food that is needed in due season (Matt. 24:45). This enables the church to stand separate from this world so that it does not suffer the curses of the end time along with the world:
Luke 12:37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
These are just a few reasons why Christ, through his power, has determined that his small flock shall continue on against all odds in these end times. These functions the church provides to God’s people are all given so it will continue to spiritually thrive and fulfill Luke 12:32:
Luke 12:32: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.”