When things may look dim for the future of God’s people

Over the last few weeks, we have observed lessons in worship that emphasize the “End Times.” This is the emphasis on the times just before Jesus returns in glory. They have been a sobering read, have they not? Let me share some glosses from EWTN on the writings of G. K. Chesterton in his work, The Everlasting Man.

Yet, on more than one occasion, in the history of Christendom, the soul, said Chesterton, seemed to have gone out of Christianity. The world looked on expecting to witness its end, seeing the Church as wedded to whatever political or social system that was then imploding. As Chesterton states, if the Church was so wedded then it has been widowed many times, and yet, remains “a strangely immortal sort of widow.”

Chesterton was adamant: “The Faith is not a survival.” The Faith has not “survived.” Instead, miraculously, it has died and returned afresh, again and again, whilst all around other institutions perpetually perish. An example of this is found in the last century, when things really did look like the end, and then, that incredible thing happened: yet again the Faith was born, with, by the end of the 20th century, seemingly a greater following among the young than the old.

As Chesterton points out, those attacking the Faith should take care:

At least five times … with the Arian and the Albigensian, with the Humanist sceptic, after Voltaire and after Darwin, the Faith has to all appearance gone to the dogs. In each of these five cases it was the dog that died.

“Christendom has had a series of revolutions and in each one of them, Christianity has died. Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.”

This is a good reminder as I heard on the news, earlier today, that there is a resurgence in the purchase of the Scriptures. More people are buying and reading God’s Word.

Take heart, brothers and sisters: John 16: 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”