PTNews
June 2020
Published monthly
All Bible references are from the KJV
(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)
P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006
Covid-19- How Should we Respond?
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44
By Mike Wingfield
This article is Part III in a series on the COVID-19 pandemic. In Part I, I wrote about what God is saying to us through this deadly disease. In Part II, I examined how the timing of this global pandemic fits in with preparations for the end-times. I urge you to read the two previous newsletters before you read this one. If you need copies, contact us and we will be glad to send them to you.
While answering His disciples questions about His coming, Jesus told them to be “ready” (Matthew 24:44). The disciples wanted to know and understand the nature of the times in which He would return. Jesus answered their questions, and then added that as a result of what they saw and believed there was something for them to do to be ready for His coming.
After 48 years of ministry, I have discovered that those who call themselves Christians simply search the Bible to know and understand what it says. However, that is not the sole purpose of Scripture. God has given us His Word, not to just inform us. He wants to radically change us. He wants to change who we are and what we do. True faith requires action and change. We deceive ourselves if we only mentally agree with what God has said. The Bible says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). The kind of faith that does nothing more than mentally grasp the truth is a dead and useless faith. “Even so, faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17).
Personally, my faith in the Second Coming of Christ has radically altered my whole lifestyle. For many decades I have been convicted that my hopes and plans for the future need to be focused upon the imminent return of Jesus for His church. When I am raptured, it will be the culmination of my salvation. The Apostle Paul reminded believers that they could be confident that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ [the Rapture]” (Philippians 1:6). This will also include the radical and supernatural change in my body. At that moment, Christ “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
That holy moment of the Rapture will be the occasion when all that I have done since the day of my salvation will come under the scrutiny of the omniscient eyes of my Lord (2 Corinthians 5:10). [To learn more about this, order my book, Your Judgment Day – see order form on Page 8.]
Sadly, an overwhelming majority of so-called Christians fails to grasp the serious and overwhelming magnitude of that holy moment when we will come into the awesome presence of our Lord. The Apostle John wrote that when he saw the resurrected Jesus, “I fell at his feet as dead” (Revelation 1:17). We do not need to wonder how we will respond when we see Jesus as He truly is. According to the book of Revelation, we will fall at Jesus’ feet in complete, spell-bound reverence and awe!
Along with preparing for that incredible event, we have been commanded to occupy until He comes for us (Luke 19:13). This simply means we need to complete the assignment He has given us while we are still in this present world. We need to evangelize the lost and make disciples. We must be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We need to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). We need to have a pure and complete devotion to Christ. The Bible tells us to be spiritually and morally pure as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-26). According to the New Testament, the Rapture is to be a great motivation to believers for living a holy life, knowing that we could soon be in His presence.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the world’s reaction to it, are a gracious reminder from God. He wants the world to know that a horrific time when His wrath will be poured out upon the entire earth is rapidly approaching. Many recent polls indicate that Christians believe that God is speaking to us through this pandemic. So, what should we do?
First, as mentioned in my May newsletter, it is apparent that COVID-19 is only one of many signs that the time of God’s wrathful judgment is rapidly approaching. Since this is true we must mentally come to terms with the reality that our world is not going to get better or return to the way it was before this pandemic. The harsh reality is things are going to get much worse until Jesus rescues us from this world (1 Thessalonians 1:10). We can expect more pandemics. Climate change will become more radical and unpredictable. Governments will become more deceptive, evil, and godless. Economies will fail. A cashless society and a global government will become realities. Hatred and persecution of Jews and Christians will increase. Violence and lawlessness will escalate to levels much worse than what we have seen on the streets of our cities following the killing of George Floyd, Jr. in Minneapolis.
In general, our world will spiritually become engulfed in spiritual darkness. Spiritual deception will increase (Matthew 24:4, 5, 24). There are some voices that are proclaiming that we are on the verge of a spiritual awakening or global revival, but that is not true. According to the Bible, there will be a great spiritual awakening in Israel after the Rapture (Joel 2:27-32; Revelation 7:1-8). However, the Church Age will not end with a spiritual revival. It will end with a time of great spiritual apostasy and apathy (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4). Jesus asked a very thought provoking question in Luke 18:8, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?” The answer is “no.” When He returns, it will be like the days of Noah (Luke 17:26-27), a time of incredible spiritual darkness.
I am fervently praying for a revival of God’s remnant of believers. Our God has always been a God of the remnant. This has been true throughout all of history. Only a small fraction of the population will go through the narrow gate of salvation (Matthew 7:14). This remnant will seek the wisdom of God through His prophetic Scriptures. The prophet Daniel wrote, “none of the wicked shall understand [have discernment]; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).
Some Christians believe that they do not need to prepare for difficult times that lie ahead. They simply declare that the Lord will take care of them. While there is an element of truth in this statement, it does not reflect all that the Bible teaches. God does provide for our needs, but we also have human responsibilities to prepare for times of adversity. We are exhorted to be like the ant who stores up for the hard times (Proverbs 6:6-11).
For the last 30 years of my life, I have been crying out to the Lord on a daily basis, asking Him to give me and my family wisdom for living in these last days. I have attempted to practically apply what I believe the Scriptures say about living in these last of the last days. While doing this, I have also attempted to keep a proper balance. I must have an honest, real, daily expectation of the blessed hope as I also prepare to live in this world until He comes. I want to be spiritually ready when He comes. However, I also do not want to lose sight of the reality that Jesus might not come for some time. For example, I believe that I must be spiritually ready to die or be raptured today. I am exhorted to occupy until He comes. This includes providing for my family’s future by carefully thinking about the possibility of becoming physically too weak or mentally unable to work for the Lord in my senior years. I may also suddenly find myself in a world that has drastically changed, making life difficult for my family. God says that those who do not care for their family’s physical needs, are lacking spiritual wisdom and are like “an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
Joseph was called and prepared by God to be in the right place at the right time. Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh so that he could direct Egypt to stock pile food during seven years of plenty that would be followed by seven years of famine. (Genesis 41) Today, if we look at the prophetic Scriptures and the prophetic context of our world, it should be abundantly clear that developments in the Middle East are preparing our world for the beginning of the Tribulation Period. In light of this, I believe we should develop a Joseph mentality. We need to do all we can now to help our families and friends, by God’s grace, to sustain life until the Rapture takes place
As a person begins to contemplate the assignment of preparing for what could happen before Jesus comes, there is a sense of inadequacy that overcomes him. This is good. It should drive him to his knees to cry out to our Lord for godly wisdom so we will know what to do (Proverbs 3:5-10). I have found that it is important to ask all of the questions before you can consider the solutions. Therefore, one of my goals in this newsletter is to help you ask yourself the right questions. Such as: What should we do? Where do we begin? What do we prepare for? How do we prepare? Why should we prepare?
These are not easy questions to answer. Every person or family is in a different situation. What a person should do depends upon their spiritual maturity. Their strength, physical health, mental sharpness, age, family responsibilities, dedication to their local church, financial and material resources, and where they live also factor into this. Therefore, as you read these practical suggestions on how a person might prepare to live in the difficult days that are ahead, you must realize that some suggestions might not fit your circumstances. You may need to alter these suggestions to adapt to your particular situation and surroundings. I highly recommend that you join me in daily crying out to the Lord to give you wisdom for knowing what to do in these days! “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
As you think about preparing for the difficult days that are ahead, you must decide what type of crisis or crises you are preparing for. As I have prayed and thought about all of this, I have realized that we might need to prepare for several different scenarios that may develop before the Rapture takes place.
As I have pointed out in the previous two newsletters, we live in a very fragile world that has created a world system that has made almost everyone dependent upon it to sustain life. This is very dangerous. According to the Bible, this global system will come crashing down. When that happens, a major portion of the world’s population will face an immediate crisis that could cost them their lives if they are not prepared. COVD-19 has been a mild reminder of this approaching crisis.
The consideration of these possibilities certainly helps us to better grasp the reality of the perilous times in which we live! How does one begin to think and pray about a sensible and practical approach to preparing for one or several of these changes in our world? We must begin by reminding ourselves that it is a sin to be paralyzed with fear when we think about these things. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The entire Christian life must be viewed as a walk of faith. Jesus taught His disciples that they should not worry over what might take place tomorrow (Mathew 6:25-34). However, this does not mean that the child of God should not make preparations for the future. Proverbs 21:20 says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” To think or suggest that our Lord would not expect His people to prepare for the difficult days that are ahead is a distorted response that finds no support in the Word of God.
Spiritual Preparations
As the child of God prayerfully considers what to do in preparation for the perilous days that are ahead, there are five major areas of practical consideration and preparation. WARNING! THERE IS A REAL TEMPTATION ON THE PART OF MOST PEOPLE TO SKIP OVER THE FIRST TWO AREAS OF CONSIDERATION AND PREPARATION. CONTRARY TO WHAT OUR DEPRAVED MINDS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE, THESE TWO AREAS MUST BE THE FIRST MATTERS TO CONSIDER WHEN FACING THE PRE-TRIBULATION HARDSHIPS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING. DON’T SKIP AHEAD TO AREA THREE. IF YOU DO, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME FOLLOWING BIBLICAL COUNSEL!
When people get in trouble, they usually lose perspective of the real situation and make rash, foolish decisions that make their situation worse. The child of God, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, should examine life in light of the prophetic Word of God. This will give him an eternal perspective. This will always give him a wise assessment of his given situation. He must seek a God-given solution to his crisis. Living in awe of the God of the Bible helps us to see our situation as it really is. The crisis is real, but it is to be viewed as being directed and controlled by the Lord Jesus. He is in control of all things (Ephesians 1:9-12; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:3). He is the only One who can really enable us to get through the storm, or give us the grace to be filled with joy and strength to face it. He is the only One who can give us wisdom to know what to do. He is the only One who can directly and supernaturally provide for our needs when we are faced with life’s greatest crises.
Where are you spiritually at this hour? Are you saved? How do you know you are saved? Do you see God at work in your life on a daily basis? Has there been real change in your life since you prayed to receive Christ? Does sin really bother you? Is Jesus Christ real to you? Do you talk with Him often? Have you seen answers to your prayers? Do you have a real hunger for the Bible? Do you worship (give thanks and praise to) the Lord Jesus? When you worship the Lord, both privately and publicly in church, does your heart overflow with a sense of joy and gratitude that motivates you to want to love and serve Him more? Does the idea of worship and Bible study seem boring and meaningless to you? Are you current with the confession of your sin? Are there feelings of hate or resentment toward other people in your life that you refuse to deal with?
How you answer these questions will help you to know where you stand with the Lord. We live at a very dangerous hour of spiritual deception that has permeated most of the professing church. Many people who think they are saved, are not! Some believers who think they are spiritually mature and strong, are not! Please make these preparations before proceeding with the next area of being ready.
Emotional Preparations
When life’s troubles come our way, it is our natural and sinful tendency to worry and become depressed. Worry and depression can lead us to selfish isolation. Or it can flood our conscience with over-indulgence in food, sleep, alcohol, drugs, or rebellious sins rooted in anger against God and the people we should love the most. Worry and depression, and their sinful tendencies, always make our situation worse. It never helps us to overcome our personal tragedy. Worry and depression come when we focus on our problems in a selfish way. Our sinful response does not focus on the grace and power of God that has allowed this test to come into our lives, but on our selfish desires and lack of control over the situation. The result is a pity party that limits our spiritual vision and entraps us in the coffin of sin and rebellion against God!
When the anxieties of life come crashing in on us, what should we do? We must control what we think about or mentally dwell upon! The Bible teaches that a man is the product of what he thinks. “For as he thinketh in his heart [mind] so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). If we dwell upon negative, threatening things we will always be distressed. Don’t focus upon the problem! Focus upon the God who is greater than all of our problems. Our mind should always be focused upon our great God! Isaiah 26:3 declares, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
After almost 48 years of ministry within the context of the local church, I have discovered that this is the real problem behind all of our struggles. Christians do not know the God of the Bible. Most Christians study the Bible for self-centered reasons. They have some problem to solve. They have some need to be acquired or some disappointment to escape. They have some question to answer, or they just mindlessly approach the Bible out of traditional guilt or habit. However, at the very foundation of all truth is the God of truth! The real secret to acquiring wisdom is discovering the greatness, majesty, and glory of God. “The fear [being in awe] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10). I strongly suggest that you get in the habit of reading and studying the Bible with the chief goal of discovering the attributes of God. Ask yourself as you read each verse in the Bible, “What does this verse teach me about God?”
After focusing on the greatness of God in Isaiah 40:12-27, Isaiah then concludes, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31). As you face the great trials of the last days, remember that the inner strength you need to face each challenge is found in resting in the strength that only comes from the Almighty God. Without Him you will faint and be weary.
Philippians 4:6-7 gives the follow command and promise: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Add to this, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” In these verses we are reminded of the importance of having a spirit of thanksgiving and contentment. Most of us in Western society are spoiled. We have more than we need! God has been good. We need to keep things in perspective and realize that we can be content with far less if we stay focused upon the fact that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Real godly joy is not dependent upon our health, wealth, or the size of our house or food pantry. Real joy comes from the Lord! “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Do you really believe that?
Physical Preparations
As we grasp the reality that our present world system will collapse one day, it is wise to act upon our faith and make preparations to sustain life until the Rapture takes place. Previous generations realized that it was their personal responsibility to care for their daily necessities. Most of them lived in rural areas that were sparsely populated and they could not rely upon community, government, or retail stores for the basic necessities of life. They saw the basic necessities as their personal responsibilities. In sharp contrast to this, the overwhelming majority of people living in the advanced countries of the world reside in urban areas. These people are completely dependent upon the world system to sustain life. They have never raised their own food, or made their own clothes. Most people have only enough water and food on hand for a few days. They are not prepared to live without electricity for an extended period of time. They are living in a shelter that does not completely belong to them, and are not prepared to deal with an immediate emergency or threat to their safety. In other words, if the present world system were to suddenly collapse, they could only survive, at most, a few days or weeks! Please note that Revelation 6:8 indicates that near the beginning of the Tribulation that one-fourth of the world’s population will die! Many of these who will die are those who have failed to prepare for the life-threatening conditions that will be prevalent even before the Tribulation begins. What if the Rapture does not happen for a few more years? Are you prepared for what could take place?
Let us look at the basic areas of physical preparation:
Water– When it comes to preparing for short- or long-term preparations for life-threatening situations, water is the number one issue. A person can live for several days without food, but not without water. If water is contaminated, it could cause you to be become seriously ill, or die in a very short period of time. Therefore, when it comes to preparing for future emergencies, water must be the utmost consideration. Ask yourself: How will I obtain water during an emergency? How can I be sure it is safe to drink? How much water is needed per day for each person in your household? How will you store water? Have you thought of all your water needs – like cooking, bathing, washing clothes, flushing the toilet, etc.? Will you need to properly filter or treat water, and if so, how will you do it? What is the maximum amount of time for which you wish to make preparations- one month, three months, six months, one year, etc.?
As you consider these questions and arrive at conclusions, seek the face of God about starting preparations immediately.
Food– Most people are living from day to day, or week to week, and have very little food at home. I would like to remind us that our forefathers of 125 years ago were self -reliant when it came to the basic necessities of life. When winter came, they took seriously their personal responsibility to have enough food stored until the next harvest near the end of the next growing season. For thousands of years, this was the normal way of life. However, in the last century mankind has gradually created a way of life that has forced most people to be totally dependent upon the commercial farmers and suppliers for the availability of their food. If a major disruption of the food chain in our society were to develop, billions would be trapped in a desperate situation. COVID-19 has reminded us that the potential for this crisis can materialize at any time.
The system that we have enjoyed is about to break down. The rapidly growing world population (1.5 million/week) will contribute to the food shortages we will experience. This dire situation will be exacerbated by drastic climate changes, inflationary costs for commercial farming, depleted soil conditions, and increases in crop-destructive pests. We are also dealing with the sudden disappearance of honey bees that pollinate many crops, and the inability of commercial farmers to obtain loans to plant crops due to the global loan crisis.
What should we do? In light of the prophetic Word and these current event trends, it seems it would be wise to begin to ask ourselves some questions. What will you do if a serious food shortage begins to develop? Should you begin now to stock the food that you usually eat? How much should you store? Where will you store it? How will you store it?
As you answer these questions, please do not forget to think about storing other items, such as items to cook with, soaps, and detergents. Make a list of everything you have in your house that is necessary to sustaining life. Determine how much of each item you would need to store for the determined goal you have established. It would seem wise to not rely too heavily upon frozen foods. Should you lose electricity for an extended period of time, your food supply would be suddenly depleted. Think about storing canned, freeze-dried, or dehydrated foods. Perhaps you might want to think about purchasing a vacuum sealer. Oxygen makes foods break down and spoil quicker. When you vacuum seal dry foods, including the insertion of an oxygen absorber, and place them in a dark, cool place in food approved containers, they can last for decades. Whatever you decide to do, you need to get busy, as your funds will allow you, and take action to reach your personal goal. Food will continue to inflate at an incredible rate. So, buying some food when it is on sale and storing it is a great way to save money. Food is not going to get cheaper.
Most people usually do not think they have enough storage space to store six or more months of food in their home. However, you have more storage space than you may realize. Get rid of unnecessary clutter and junk. Become creative and resourceful in finding storage places where your food will be kept cool and dark to keep it as fresh as possible for a longer period of time. Remember, we are talking about sustaining life!
Living without electricity– Most of us have had the experience of losing electricity for a few hours or days. With these experiences in mind, you need to think about how you can prepare for the possible eventuality that you might be without electricity for weeks, months, or longer. Here is a list of questions you need to ask: How will you heat or cool your home? Is it possible to only heat part of your home? How long will your heat source last? How will you provide light at night in your home? How will you cook your food? How will you bathe? How will you wash and dry your clothes? How will you maintain communication with the outside world? Should you purchase a battery/solar/hand-crank powered radio? How many batteries should you store? Do you have a list of the items that need batteries and what size batteries they need? Are you prepared to live without refrigeration? Would it be wise to store some paper products, disposable cups, and eating utensils for short-term emergencies?
Shelter– Proper shelter is a critical and basic necessity. Many do not own their own home and could be evicted if they fail to keep the mortgage or rent current. If you are forced out of your shelter, where will you go? Would a family member, friend, or church family help to provide shelter? Have you considered the possibility that someone may request to move into your home with you? If you think that someone may want to request that you share your shelter with them, should you begin to make preparations for that now, or wait until the situation materializes? What advantages are there to preparing now? What problems might arise if you wait until the emergency situation develops? If someone does move in with you, what rules or stipulations will you require of them?
Medical and Hygiene Concerns– It is very important to not leave out hygiene and medical preparations. All of us have been stunned by the hording of toilet paper during the COVID-19 crisis. Make a list of all the hygiene products you use and decide how many of each item you want to store. Since these items have a long shelf life, you can easily store more of each item for a long-term crisis. It is important to think about health issues. Do you take prescription drugs? What will happen if there is a long-term crisis and you do not have access to your prescription medications? Can you alter your diet or substitute other remedies? Do you have adequate first-aid supplies? Do you have first-aid manuals and other health related handbooks to help you deal with common illnesses? Does a nurse or medical associate person live near you that might be of assistance in case of a more critical emergency? Have you spoken with them about the possibility that you may want to call upon them if they were needed?
Financial Preparation
Another very critical issue in an emergency will be sanitation conditions and the proper disposal of body wastes. Have a detailed plan, supplies, and materials ready before the crisis develops.
If the crisis that we face is the result of a gradual economic deterioration, then it will be most important to make the correct financial preparations. In order to put yourself in the best position to weather an economic crisis, you need to have the proper balance of the following:
Decrease or eliminate all debt: (Proverbs 22:7) Have a family meeting and communicate the new financial changes, making sure everyone understands and is on board. Begin now to make great financial sacrifices to pay off your debts. Do not make any more debt. Create annual and monthly budgets. Using these budgets, create a daily or weekly budget. Using cash will help us spend less. This eliminates the mindless use of a credit or debit card. When the cash is gone, refuse to spend any more, unless it is a vital need or emergency. Don’t buy anything you do not need. Eat out less. Start with the lowest debt balance and pay them off one by one.
Increase savings: (Proverbs 21:20) Economists recommend that if you and your spouse are under 55, you should strive to have a three-month emergency fund to give you a financial cushion should your income be suddenly interrupted. If you are older than 55, then it is recommended that you have at least six months to fall back on. This fund should only be used in case of an emergency. If you have debt, you should pray about how to create a balance between paying off debt and building an emergency fund. It would probably be wise to have some protected funds that are set aside for emergencies, while you work on lowering your debt. All of this should be in addition to long-term savings and investments toward retirement.
Dealing with a monetary collapse: According to Revelation 6:5-6, the Tribulation will begin with global famine and hyperinflation conditions. It is amazing that many secular analysts are predicting that these same conditions will materialize in the immediate future. Hyperinflation destroys the value of currency in a very short period of time. Remember that the believer’s goal is to provide for his family until the time of the Rapture. So, while we do not know how long it may take for the world to reach the situation mentioned in Revelation 6:5-6, it would seem wise to make some preparation to preserve your buying power. Basically, there are only a few things a person can do to protect against hyperinflation. First, buy and store the necessities to sustain life. Second, many economic advisors are recommending that a person consider putting 5-10 percent of their savings in precious metals (silver, gold, platinum). If you consider this option, you must ask yourself: How do I educate myself concerning precious metals? Where would I purchase them? Where would I store them? Am I willing to take the security risks that come with buying, storing, and selling precious metals? Where would I sell them when I need the cash to pay a bill or make a purchase? If you decide to explore this area you could visit one of the many precious metals Websites.
Security Preparations
As you consider all of this, remember there is great wisdom in working with others, as you brainstorm and share ideas with other family members, neighbors, and friends. “Where no counsel is, the people fail: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14) The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that the difficult days that are ahead will produce many opportunities for the church to minister to the needs of others and to share the gospel with the lost. Above everything, remember that the Lord Jesus is in control. (Colossians 1:16-17) He is the One who is working “all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). Remember Romans
8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Spiritually, Jesus is your salvation! Emotionally, He is your peace! Physically, He is your life! Economically, He is your provider! For security, He is your refuge! Make sure that you are abiding in Jesus and that He is abiding in you, as we get ready to face the storm or to be ushered into His presence. As a believer in Jesus Christ, either way, you win