When The World Goes Mad

One of the most profound Christian thinkers and preachers was a man named A.W. Tozer. He was an accomplished pastor and author whose thoughts go deeper than the surface of the Christian experience. He went to his heavenly reward in 1963 but his words are just as profound today as ever. A good example of this is to be found in the following quote: “We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.” Modern day Christians and particularly the preachers should read that statement several times to gain the gravity of what Dr. Tozer said. If it were completely understood, there would be a difference in the influence the church is having in this crazy society of today.

Even a casual reading of the Bible will inform a person that the day is coming when the world will go mad. That day is upon us right now! The Book of Revelation gives us the culmination of all this madness and tells us what the Lord is going to do about it all. Christians have the wonderful promise that He is victorious and we should be extremely happy and confident because we are on His side and will be with Him when He wraps it all up.

As we view the world of today, one would automatically think that the end is not far away because this old world has certainly gone mad! We think however, that because we are Christians and we are the church, we will somehow be insulated against all of this. We know that he will take the church out of the world at a certain time, but it is strikingly evident that we are caught in the middle of this madness. We are not immune to the troubles, trials and tribulations that are upon us and those which are coming. If a person knows even a “smidgen” of the prophecy of the Bible, they can see things happening almost daily which are directing us toward what the bible says will happen in the last days.

Paul warns us that in the last days perilous times shall come, and he is speaking to Christians when he says that. So, this indicates to us that we will be a part of the perilous times. The day in which we live proves Paul’s statement is right. We live in a time when the world has gone mad. Many ask if I think we are in the Tribulation period of the Bible. My answer is that if we are not in the beginning stages of the Tribulation, heaven help us when it really comes about!

These are days and times in which the depth of our Christianity will be proven. How God’s people respond to trial and tribulation will speak of their faith in His ability to see His people through the trials, troubles and tribulations which we are beginning to experience today. But, in the process we find that Paul tells us what some people will do and how true Christians will react. The information is contained in 2 Timothy 3:1-17 and it would do everyone good to read this passage and to study it more deeply. It is extremely valuable to us because God gave it to us for a reason and we must discover its truths. And when The World Goes Mad remember what you have learned and who you have learned it from.

Basically, we are told that what we are experiencing is what we should expect from a Godless, secular society. We should not expect better from it. It’s as good as it’s going to get, and will get worse, until Jesus comes back. The Bible teaches that Christians are citizens of another world and not his one. We are actually on alien territory. This is not our home and that is why we are not comfortable in this wicked world. And while we get bothered and irritated by it, we have the quiet assurance from God’s Word that He has made all the provisions for His People if we simply believe Him and commit our lives to Jesus.

The society we live in thinks we are the ones out of step. But, my friends, I’d rather be in step with God and out of step with the world because if I’m in step with this world and comfortable in it, then I’m out of step with God. And, that’s why it is very important for us to listen again to the words of A.W. Tozer that were quoted in the first paragraph of this little treatise. Remember, the safest place to be as the world comes apart is in harmony with God and His Word When The World Goes Mad.