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Viewpoint from Pastor Michael I Walker 31/03/2017
 Pastor Michael I Walker
Retired minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
also published in the Yarmouth Mercury
Our World is in the Grip of Fear
Our world is in a constant state of flux. Fear is etched across our globe. Fear of terrorist attacks! Fear of horrific, natural disasters! Fear of becoming gripped by terrible disease! Fear of losing all we have! Fear of leaving the EU while others are afraid to remain! Fear for the present and fear for the future! In the wake of numerous ISIS attacks in Europe, Pope Francis expressed his belief that we are now in a ‘Third World War’, different from the previous ones but, nevertheless, we are at war! The political showground is whirling around and many are saying, “Stop the world, I want to get off!”
 Following the 2014 Malaysian Airlines disaster, shot down over the Ukraine, a well-travelled couple informed me that they were afraid to fly anymore! We never know if our journey will be intercepted by some terrible event. Those British holidaymakers gunned down on the beach in Tunisia did not expect their flight home to be in a coffin! Life in the fast lane is becoming too risky, so no wonder many are left not knowing where to turn
By His omniscient eye, Christ glanced down into the future and warned about these eventful days of earth’s history. He declared that people’s “minds would fail them in fear of what is coming upon the world”. He listed with extreme accuracy the conditions on this globe in what is called ‘these last days’. The horrors of warfare, the blight of terrorism, the scourge of suffering caused by famine, disease, and natural disasters understandably strike fear into human hearts; but there is another angle – Christ warned that evil would increase, but He also foretold that these conditions would indicate His soon return when He would intercept this chaotic turmoil on our planet with its sea of suffering humanity
The storm is gathering but the assurance is that the darkest part of the night comes just before the dawn. That dawn is for those who believe and trust God’s promises. That dawn offers peace, like a gull sheltered in the cleft of the rock while the gale force winds and the violent waves smash against the cliff face. As the Good Book says, “‘He keeps him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon God” (Isaiah 26:3). That dawn also offers hope, that’s why it is called “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13)
Surely it is far better to place our trust and confidence in God Who offers peace, hope and deliverance from this whirlpool of fear wrought by that horrible thing called sin. By placing our trust in Jesus Christ we have the assurance of His almighty presence. He told us “not to let our hearts be troubled and not to be afraid”; and He promised that He would return to receive us to Himself for His eternal Kingdom (John 14:1-3). There is no doubt in my mind that He will soon return!
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