Sunday, June 22, 2025, Pastor Gregg stood in the pulpit at the close of morning worship services to reassure the CCD flock in the wake of frightening events in the Middle East; specifically, the U. S. Air Force strikes on three nuclear weapons facilities in Iran. As he always does, PG let Jesus do the talking. He read Matthew 24:4-14. The term that stood out was “birth pains.” What did Jesus mean? Of course He was referring to the birth of a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Birth pains, so I have been told, are unlike any other pain. Out of those uniquely excruciating pains a beautiful new life comes. If such pains are necessary to bring a baby into the world, how much more trying shall be those pains that are necessary to bring paradise in heaven and earth back into existence? By the same comparison, if a baby brings joy into the world, how much more joy shall result from God’s establishment of a new heaven and a new earth? It is incomprehensible to our finite human understanding, yet we yearn for it because it means the final coronation of Jesus as Lord and King of heaven and earth. 

Meanwhile we should not panic at the litany of disasters that must befall us; imposters, wars, famines, earthquakes, false arrests, persecutions, executions, betrayals, hatred, false prophets, deceptions (verses 5-11). We should not be discouraged by the rampant riot of sin everywhere, nor by its evil twin, that most chilling of prospects, the love of many growing cold (verse 12), and if we endure to the end we will be saved (verse 13). For in the end, the name of Jesus shall be  proclaimed in the most remote corners of the world (verse 14).

Once again, we come back to the main thing, which is pointing to Jesus. Let’s not forget to do it.

Taste and see,

LWE