Birth Pangs

When biblical writers such as Jeremiah, Isaiah, Micah, or Paul wanted to convey a sense of affliction and pain, they did so by comparing extreme situations and circumstances to the pain of childbirth. It is interesting, because none of them was a woman. In fairness, only women can speak with authority on the subject.

These are bitter, violent, confusing times. On this side of the Western Hemisphere, God still allows us to breathe. There are pains like those of childbirth in many hearts; the earth weeps, mothers groan for their fallen children, wives for their husbands, hatred grows between nations, and wars replace God’s smile. Yet despite it all, there is still hope for this fallen world, even as the devil continues to enjoy a revival with the unconditional help of a good many of God’s creatures.

There are labor pains throughout the world, but we do not know what child is on the way. There was no time for ultrasounds, so we do not know what kinds of misery are approaching. As things stand, everything seems to indicate that the birth will not be a blessing or bring light, but rather more darkness, more hunger, more weeping from helpless children. The world awaits the unknown, drafting resolutions and laws, while Almighty God looks on in astonishment at assemblies where peace is discussed—but only after war has been unleashed. No one seeks the face of God. Man puts more trust in his drones than in mercy and life. Have we run out of reasons to pray?

Shema (Hear), Church of Christ! There is work to do and reason to pray. New plagues loom over the people of God, and the history of Christianity continues to add martyrs to the faith: missionaries expelled, apostles of grace who fall alongside their families, churches set ablaze by the religious fury of fundamentalist fanatics. Today? Yes, today, at this very moment, a soldier in the ranks of the gospel is falling. We must pray. Enough of such indifference to falsehood and lies; we cannot let the complacency of a comfortable Christianity make us turn our faces away. Let us be devout, brotherly, and supportive, for there are labor pains throughout the world, signs that the day of the Lord is near. “…because those will be days of tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, when God created the world, and never will be again.” (Mark 13:19)

Shema, Church of the Most High! There is hope that God will not allow the pain of childbirth to bring more anguish. All that is needed is a touch of love (“…love does not rejoice in injustice” — 1 Cor. 13:6a), of unity (“…striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” — Eph. 4:3), of prayer (“I pray, O Lord, let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.” Nehemiah 1:11).

Rise up, church; we are not of Pergamum, Smyrna, or Sardis. If the Eternal God were to write to the angel of your church today, what message would He give him? Reflect; stand in the breach. Do not let the labor pains cloud your mind. Pray—fervently, constantly—as though your life depended on prayer, as though all the world’s pain and affliction depended on your humble cry.

God bless you!