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This Is Just The Beginning | Making A Difference Daily
Categories: Thoughts from Luke

This Is Just The Beginning

Today’s Passages – Luke 21 – 22;

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)

“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” – (Luke 21:7)”

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” – (Luke 21:11)”

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” – (Luke 21:25)

All these are the beginning of sorrows.” – (Matthew 24:8)

The picture above is of the Mantoloking Road Bridge, which connects the mainland in Brick Township with Lavallette, one of the barrier islands that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The house I grew up in is about 5 miles west of this location. While hurricane Sandy was pounding on the east coat, there was also a large earthquake on the west coast, just offshore of Brittish Columbia.

Is it just me, or does it seem that these natural disasters seem to be coming more and more frequently these days. Al Gore will tell you that it is due to global warming. I am not sure whether the earth is warming up or not, but I do know that the Bible says that as we approach the time of Christ’s return there will be an increase in these catastrophic, natural events. And the Bible says that these are just the beginning of sorrows. I believe that we are very close to the time when Christ will come and take away His Bride from the earth via what we Christians refer to as the “rapture of the Church”; and when He does that things will get even scarier here on the earth than they are now. As bad as things may seem now with all of the earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, famines; not to mention the political and economic unrest; this is nothing compared to what will come during the Tribulation Period, after the rapture.

As I reflect on all of these scary events, I am very relieved to know that God is with me, and He will never leave me nor forsake me. No matter how hard the wind may blow outside, I know that God’s everlasting arms are wrapped securely around me; and someday, maybe very soon, He will take me home to Heaven. I hope you have that same assurance too.

Click here for more imformation on how you too can have “the peace, which passeth all understanding”, even when the storms of this life surround you.

Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.

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Phil Erickson

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