We live in an age when breaking news is literally at our fingertips through internet-connected devices. But by the time the news reaches headline-making status, the event that prompted the headline is already a done deal and the spin is in full swing. What actually happened and what is reported to have happened are rarely the same thing. “Confusion comes from the devil”, as do most earthly happenings. The trick is not only to see through the confusion but to remain beyond its reach.

And there is only one way to do that.

Jesus, during his time on Earth, was always one step ahead of the game. He knew, courtesy of God’s Spirit, what was going to happen before it happened and so was able not to manipulate or stop the happening, but to be where he needed to be when it took place. This is a gift God gives to certain of us at certain times, as is needed. It was, for instance, given to Noah before the flood, to Lot before the destruction of Sodom, to Moses before the plagues struck Egypt, and to Joseph before Herod issued the decree to slaughter all the young children in Bethlehem.

These are insider tips sent from God to help the recipient escape or survive whatever is about to take place. They are sometimes delivered by angels, either in their Heavenly or earthly form, but more often they come directly from God. Again, they are not meant to stop what is coming, but to alert or warn and to prompt a response before the fact, before it is too late.

When you sign on to become a follower of Jesus through spiritual rebirth, you are automatically registered for “insider tips from God”. You receive them as a function of your rebirth and your status as a citizen of God’s kingdom on Earth. No internet-connected device is required. Not surprisingly, most of these tips come seemingly out of the blue, as the events on which they’re premised have not yet made headlines.

What do you think would have happened to Lot had he not heeded the warning to leave Sodom? Do you think God would have reconsidered destroying it to save Lot and his family? What about Noah – do you think the flood would have been delayed had Noah simply ignored God’s urging to build the ark? And Joseph? Would Herod’s thugs have somehow overlooked baby Jesus if Joseph had decided to remain in Bethlehem?

Obviously, we will never know the answers to those questions, since Lot, Noah and Joseph all heeded the warnings, but I would not want to be the one who ignores God, thinking that “this, too, will pass”. If and when God tells you to go, you go. You don’t negotiate a different “go time” or ignore the warning, hoping it will pass. You go. You go in the middle of the night with just the clothes on your back, if need be. You go alone or you take with you only whatever or whoever God tells you to take. But you go.

You just go.

Jesus has given us a general warning in scripture (Matthew 24, Luke 17, etc.) about events that will affect ALL of his followers, without exception. John also gave us a big heads-up in the book of Revelation. Note that I am talking about Jesus’ genuine followers here, not casual Christians. No genuine follower of Jesus lives in this world without persecution or the repercussions of persecution. We are, as Jesus phrased it, “hated without cause”, and that hate naturally brings with it physical danger.

We are entering a time of world-wide upheaval. Every government is moving in lockstep to impose what amounts to martial law on their people. A net has been dropped over us in the form of a pandemic declaration, and now that net is tightening like a noose. We have a very short window in which to act: We either remain trapped under the net along with the rest of the world, or we escape.

There is no third option.

I am not saying to drop whatever you’re doing right now and run screaming into the night. No, I am not saying that. I am simply reminding you, as is my duty (as is the duty of all believers), that the world is a dangerous place for followers of Jesus, and the danger level is rapidly shifting to extreme with the coming of the “great reset”. You would have to be very naive to believe that what is happening with pandemic restrictions and economic and political chaos is organic. What we’re seeing is a controlled demolition of all the world’s systems, with controlled headlines to cover the controlled aspect of the demolition. And if you think that born-again Spirit-filled followers of Jesus are going to be welcome in the satanic new world order being constructed on the ruins of civilization, there’s some prime oceanfront property in Arizona with your name on it.

We need to remain vigilant. We need to be on heightened alert. We need to be watching not the devil’s controlled headlines but what God is doing in the foreground and the background and all around us, especially behind the scenes. Now is not the time to sit back and murmur “this, too, will pass”. Now IS the time to hunker down with God and his Word, “loins girded”, and ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Lot didn’t flee Sodom in fear, but with urgency. Noah didn’t build the ark in fear, but with certain assurance of how and why it had to be built. Joseph didn’t flee Bethlehem in fear, but with hope of finding a safe haven in Egypt for Mary and Jesus. We do not need to live our lives in fear, even with what is most certainly coming down the pipeline in the form of worsening persecutions. We are to live our lives in Love and Grace, knowing that God has our back and will give us fair warning when the time comes.

No internet required.

No headlines required.

Just full faith in God, and a willingness and readiness to act when God says “Go!”

That is how we – like Jesus and all believers before and since – survive: by staying one step ahead, courtesy of God.