We are steamrolling toward the end of the world as we have known it. No one can stop it. We don't know the exact time or date, but through Bible study we do know how to read the signs. Christ said that if it were not for the time being cut short that man will be completely annihilated. In Mark chapter 13 He also said that before his return, there will be affliction, anguish, persecution as never has been since the beginning of creation. This will not be easy. But He has a plan for us and will be there for those who persevere in His ways until the end. The Bible tells us that living will be increasingly difficult and the life of a Christian will be increasingly dangerous with many being victimized and martyred.
What if God is using our difficulties now to form us into the image of His Son so we will have polished the armor of God, readying for battle? In Philippians 1:6, Paul tells us that we can be confident of this one thing; that He Who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it on the day when Jesus Christ returns! He tells that we will be hated by everyone for His name's sake, but if we bear our trials, enduring to the end, we shall be saved!
To put it mildly, walking with God is not easy. Even though we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) it's not comfortable to be transformed. You are a new creation, the old is past and all things before you are new. But keep in mind that He doesn't just zap the unique you that He created in your mother's womb into a perfect robot. He plants within you the desire to aspire to glorify Him with your life; and through baptism and the laying on of hands He gives you His Holy Spirit to enable you become the person you were created to be; one of His family.
So don't be surprised, disappointed, or despair when life turns its ugly side to you, because it will. In fact, Peter tells us this very thing, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12). Jesus stated in John 16:1-3 that terrible things will happen to His people at the hands of those who do not know Him, even by some who profess to be Christians, just like the Pharisees and Sadducees who professed to be men of God persecuted and killed many who believed in Jesus. But Peter tells us instead to rejoice and be happy to experience this suffering because these trials make us partners with Christ in His suffering.
Even though we know we have God's Holy Spirit to help us to grow toward becoming like Christ, we must direct our minds toward that growth. We no longer walk in the ways of the world as we did in the past, walking according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air who works hard to cause disobedience in us (Ephesians 2:2, Colossians 3:6,7). Now we walk in the Spirit, so that we can resist the sin that our sinful nature craves, and are able to obey the Laws of God, imitating Christ and doing everything we do for His glory. (Romans 8:4, Galatians 5:16). We must follow His ways, so God had Moses write down how we are to live. In Deuteronomy 11:18-19 He instructs us to lay up His words in our hearts and in our souls, binding them for a sign upon our hands, always thinking and considering how to obey. We are to teach them to our children, talking of them when we are sitting in our home, when we are going about doing what needs to be done, when we prepare for bedtime, and even when we arise in the morning to prepare for the day. The result will be that we will begin to reflect Christ in our thoughts, our actions, our motivations, and our life choices because we spend so much time with Him.
The time of Jesus' return is coming quickly. This is not the time to be lax or to think that there is plenty of time to get things right. This is the time to put on your armor, launch yourself into that fire and hang on to Christ. Your steadfastness will bring Him Glory now on earth, and can inspire others to leave complacency behind and begin to truly follow Him. Study closely the way, for Jesus tells us we must enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. But, the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14). Most people will follow the easy road and not make it to eternal life. It is up to you to stay the path with Christ.