Though it's a thin veil, right now, we have the luxury of comfort and a kind of normalcy.
Wisdom says that this moment is a gift for us to hide the word of God in our hearts.
It's best to learn to sail when the sea is calm, so that we know our way around the boat, when the storm hits. It's hard to learn to use weapons when you're under fire. A wise soldier trains before the battle. Wisdom digs a well, before thirst.
We often believe that we will see deception from a mile away, rolling in like a tsunami, waving a big red flag. Satan is not that obvious. He studies us. He works by heating the water that one is already in, by one degree at a time. One "tiny" compromise, sin or distraction at a time. Till the whole frog is cooked. And, in order to go undetected, he rarely brushes our feathers the wrong way.
Learning the Lord, in the secret place, is our insurance against the encroaching sea of confusion, falsehood and fear that makes us most vulnerable to sin, compromise and deception.
I believe so strongly that this calm before the storm is a time for diligence, in pursuit of Jesus, unlike any other. The Great Falling Away is here. Let's also be diligent to dress our children in the armament of scripture and prayer. It's time to learn, teach and count the cost.
God is faithful. He is everything we need, when we have given him everything of us.
"Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Eph. 6)
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph. 6)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Eph. 6)