Ready to Go Gluten Free?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Audio for this article here: SermonAudio.com/StudyGrowKnow

For the past two weeks, I’ve been dealing with a serious bout of poison ivy. I was stupid to not realize that the tree that fell over in our yard and needed to be cleaned up was literally covered with it (at the top). The problem was that I was not at all used to seeing poison ivy leaves and woody vines that large. It’s crazy. I’ve had to go to urgent care twice for steroid shots and prednisone packs, but after a few weeks, I seem to be on the mend. That’s why I’ve been away from writing for a bit.

But moving on, we want to take a few moments to highlight a few verses from Matthew 24:5-12. This, you’ll probably recall is the Olivet Discourse where Jesus teaches and reminds His disciples of what is coming down the pike toward the end of the age, the age in which we are currently living. I’m aware that not everyone agrees that Jesus was pointing way down the road to this time and tend to believe He was pointing ahead only forty years or so to the destruction of the Jewish Temple standing during His day. I believe this event was included in what Jesus referred to in Matthew 24, however, there appears to be a much larger picture in the context.

5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

The NIV version of the Bible includes a headline at the top of the chapter, “The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times.” The New King James Version provides something similar. The general consensus is that Jesus is looking ahead to a “near” event – the destruction of the Temple – as well as a “far” event – the events that would occur during the time in which He physically returns to this earth.

I say we need Him desperately now, wouldn’t you? Things will not improve on their own and for those who believe they will, it seems they may be kidding themselves. The reason I’ve titled this article “Ready to Go Gluten Free?” is not to take light of what’s coming, but to simply point out in terms that are easy to understand that the world is moving toward a looming wheat shortage. Everything I’ve been reading talks about the fact that Russia and Ukraine, two countries that yield a high wheat crop normally, are not able to do so because of “wars and rumors of wars.” We are heading into a huge global famine due to a shortage of wheat. Consider that so many food products use wheat in some form and you’ll soon realize how much of a shortage the world is on the cusp of experiencing.

Jesus paints a frightening picture in the above quoted text from Matthew 24. There really is no way to see His words as allegorical or hyperbole. He is telling us point blank that as things move toward the time of His physical return, the following conditions will exist throughout the earth. All of these things lead up to what Jesus calls the “beginning of sorrows.”

1. false Christs and major deception
2. wars and rumors of wars
3. nation rising against nation
4. kingdom against kingdoms
5. famines
6. pestilences
7. earthquakes

We’ve known that false Christs (as well as false Christians), have been with us for some time. In fact, they were prevalent in Paul’s day. The situation has simply grown worse. There are many today who pretend to be authentic Christians while using godless “Rules for Radicals” written by Saul Alinsky. These people literally want to tear down anything that God stamps with His approval. Case in point without naming names. Recently, a big name left the Southern Baptist Convention. He was president over an arm of the SBC. He had been there for a number of years and recently left to go to another religious organization. Apparently, either he or someone known to him “leaked” some documentation showing how the SBC and their lawyers turned a blind eye to an alleged culture of sexual misconduct within the SBC. The leak was picked up by mainstream news media and now it’s all over the news.

The difficulty is that there are huge problems with the leak. While the “culture” of sexual misconduct should have been dealt with early on (and apparently, was not), things have been made worse by someone who calls himself a Christian and chose to deliberately leak or allow someone known to him leak documents to the pagan news media. The media jumped on this because it was the chance to show hypocrisy within a major Baptist denomination. The tragedy here is that because the SBC lawyers did not act and because people went to those lawyers instead of law enforcement when sexual misconduct allegedly occurred, things were stonewalled. Nothing was accomplished. But in reality, what this individual who leaked or allowed to leak to the media did was nothing less than use Rules for Radicals in an attempt to take down the SBC. There is nothing Christian or God fearing about this. The other very important issue is that there is a biblical way to handle these allegations, which was not done.

Let me ask one simple question though: this individual who left the SBC, why did he NOT do anything at all while he was president of a specific arm of the SBC? He certainly had the power then, but why didn’t he exercise it to right wrongs? Instead, it appears he may have done absolutely nothing, but on his way out the door, let the godless mainstream media know what had been going on for years. There’s something seriously wrong with all of this and in my book, this particular gentleman is culpable.

Here is Rev. Danny Jones’ take on the whole issue and he names names. Rev. Jones is pastor of a Southern Baptist Church in northern Georgia.

But moving on, Jesus also talks about wars, rumors of wars and infighting among nations and kingdoms. Are we seeing that today? Absolutely and most recently between Russia and Ukraine and neocons pushing for WWIII.

If you go on any social media, you will clearly see the division. People support Ukraine or not just like they support being vaccinated or not. The dividing line is simple to see and it’s just more virtue signalling. I find it fascinating that these people end up supporting true Nazis in Ukraine, while condemning the specter of Nazism in the USA.

But historically, we’ve learned that wars always wreak havoc on economies. Pestilence, disease and hunger usually follow every major war. This one is going to be no different. I find it fascinating that Jesus mentions wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. We’ve got all of them going on today.

I believe this is why Jesus specifically points out the coming famine (#5 above). When CV (pestilence), was first revealed and economies went into lock-down (the first time in history in all my 65 years of living), the supply chain immediately began to take a hit. Most didn’t realize it at the time because things were still available in those “essential” stores that were allowed to stay open. Then we began to hear about the shipping container situation and how things were stalled in China’s ports as well as ports on both the east and west sides of the USA. Many ports were shut down due to CV, so nothing moved.

Segue a few years later and this is still happening along with other things as well. Roughly 39 million chickens and turkeys throughout 37 states in the USA have been destroyed due to what health experts are telling us is the Avian flu, all based on PCR testing. So, 40 million birds are gone. That means no chicken or turkey meat or eggs that can reach stores now.

Wheat has been upended due to CV restrictions and shipping, as well as war between Russia and Ukraine. A quarter of the world’s wheat supply is no longer available. Shipping isn’t happening across the Black Sea due to mines. We are also seeing the results of high fuel prices due to the war between Russia/Ukraine and the sanctions that the world, including the USA, has placed on Russia. Those sanctions are actually not hurting Russia at all though, but they are killing economies of the rest of the world, including the USA.

Biden has made things worse by pulling drilling permits for Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as canceling the Keystone Pipeline when he first took office. Potential output is always considered part of the supply and demand chain, so once these drilling permits were pulled, disallowing any oil drilling, the potential oil the USA went way down. Now, Biden has resorted to begging foreign countries for oil, which of course, makes no sense. Why is the “carbon footprint” somehow less if we get our oil from foreign nations as opposed to drilling for it in the USA, not to mention the hundreds if not thousands of individuals out of work here in the USA?

When my wife and I go to the grocery stores, we notice that there are larger areas of empty space than previously. This is due to the supply chain’s inability to catch up. Experts warn that going into 2023 will bring a severe global famine. What can we do about that? The only thing I’m aware of is to try to stock up on things we may need but probably won’t be able to get in the future. We won’t be able to mitigate against the coming famine but we may be able to forestall things a bit.

Ephesians 6:13 speaks of the whole armor of God and its application.

Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand (ASV; emphasis added)

There needs to be some effort on our part and God honors it. We do what we can, not out of fear, but out of faith and God provides where we lack. This is true in the area of His armor and other areas as well.

Psalm 37 is a wonderful Psalm that promises certain things to God’s children. Please take the time to read the whole thing. We are not to waste time worrying about evil doers. We are to simply continue trusting in the Lord and do good. As we commit our way to Him, He will bring His will to pass in our lives.

We shouldn’t be wasting our time being angry at all the evil in the world as that accomplishes nothing good in us. Instead, we should understand that God Himself will personally cut off all evil doers. We will actually diligently look for them and not find them. This Psalm also promises that God will provide during times of famine.

You and I did not create what’s coming and unless the Lord personally intervenes, it’s not going to be a pretty picture at all. There is much suffering coming and for those who cannot see that, they will likely suffer the most. Our eyes need to be on the Lord, to trust Him for His provision.

There are only two ways I know how to begin trusting in Him and both require effort on our part. First, we must immerse ourselves in His Word. If we are not willing to read, study, consider and obey His Word, we will being disobedient. God will not bless that person who lives in disobedience. Second, another way to immerse ourselves in His Word is by listening to praise music that is actually Scripture put to music. Maranatha Music does a great job overall of this and it’s a wonderful way to learn and focus on His Word.

Get your mind on God. Let me leave you with this video of Guy Penrod singing “Revelation Song.” It will lift you up (I’m sorry about the ads in front of the video but that’s what YouTube does).

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective