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2024 – A Turbulent Year?
Undeniably, there is a dark cloud that extends far and wide across the planet, and although certain governments, authorities, and the general population struggle to confront it and cleanse the planet of this darkness, unfortunately, it seems to become denser and more difficult to eradicate.
The beginning of this 2024 has not been under the best circumstances. It seems that a dark cloud has covered the planet between the close of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
For instance, it is evident that armed conflicts are happening in various countries around the world, of which perhaps the most widely publicized in international media are two: Russia vs. Ukraine, whose war began in February 2022; and the terrorist attack that Israel experienced since October 2023. Conflicts that show no signs of ending, as resources become scarce and lives are irretrievably lost. Humanly speaking, a solution is not in sight.
Certainly, Russia vs. Ukraine is just one example of how nation against nation confronts each other, disregarding true sovereign interests and the interests of two peoples who, behind the weapons and attacks, suffer the decisions of opposing governments and conflicting policies.
Of course, the case of Israel is different. Israel has to defend its home from terrorist attacks. After all, who among us would invite a potential terrorist attack on our homes without any opposition? Certainly not! I am sure that if something like that were to happen in our surroundings, we would gather courage, stand firm, and defend our family and loved ones tooth and nail, not allowing such attacks.
These are just two examples of what is happening in the world at this time—seemingly endless conflicts.
But armed conflicts are also happening internally. A case in point is Ecuador. Sadly, the country is experiencing an internal armed conflict as it has openly declared war on terrorists who have been operating in the nation for years.
On the other hand, the dark cloud extends even further over the sky of our world. Did you know that more plagues are already being announced… more viruses, more diseases from this year onwards? Yes, it is regrettable to learn that at least since the second half of last year, more lethal viruses than Covid-19 were already being announced, along with vaccines and medications to combat them.
Unbelievable, right? How did some organizations know well in advance about the next pandemic? Well, for months and even at least a couple of years ago, it was being disseminated with certainty that a new pandemic would strike the world, and it seems that 2024 will be the platform for “this foretold death.”
Let me share two very revealing interventions:
In May 2023, the Director-General of the WHO stated: “Although COVID-19 may no longer be a global public health emergency, countries must still strengthen response to the disease and prepare for future pandemics and other threats…”
And on another note, in March 2023, the renowned Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pointed out: “The world hasn’t done as much to get ready for the next pandemic…I’m optimistic about a network that the W.H.O. and its partners are building called the Global Health Emergency Corps. This network of the world’s top health emergency leaders will work together to get ready for the next pandemic.”
Yes, it is truly unbelievable! The more we read and research, for sure, the more surprised we become.
Furthermore, just to complete the picture for now; earthquakes are commonplace. We started this 2024 as if welcoming a turbulent year, with the 7.6 earthquake in Japan that strongly shook the country and, in essence, the world, as if preparing to face strong jolts, not only in terms of earthquakes but in various spheres around the globe.
Undeniably, there is a dark cloud that extends far and wide across the planet, and although certain governments, authorities, and the general population struggle to confront it and cleanse the planet of this darkness, unfortunately, it seems to become denser and more difficult to eradicate.
Unlike the arguments of the “optimists,” the world itself, whether we like it or not, is in decline. Whether we like it or not, its destruction is inevitable. Why?
It’s simple yet controversial for many. The world is increasingly farther from its Creator, increasingly separated from its Sustainer. In fact, its heart is proud of its “achievements,” its “reach,” its “success”; by “progress” in industry, science, technology, and much more. And human beings increasingly crave more power, more pecuniary advantage, more pleasure. Of course, all of this, convinced that they are “self-sufficient” and have the “capacity” to advance and achieve everything they set out to do.
But amid all this “progress,” at the same time, more darkness has become evident. Sadly, amid this decay, even the earth groans. Yes, this is clearly stated in the Word of God: “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now…” (Romans 8:22).
And how can it not suffer childbirth pains when we see our surroundings falling apart, and the darkness intensifies?
There is only one way, one solution, and that is Christ Jesus. If you, by “chance,” visited our blog or already know us; truly, this is not a coincidence. Let me be emphatic about this: darkness can only be fought with light, and the light is Christ Jesus, who straightforwardly said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The world and the humanity itself are facing a dense darkness; if you want to come out of it, the only way is Jesus. If you do not know Him yet and are interested in doing so, do not hesitate to contact us. Time is running out; today could be your “day out of darkness”, your day of salvation, for tomorrow it may be too late.
To conclude, I invite you to reflect on the following Word:
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8)
Sources:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136912
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/opinion/bill-gates-pandemic-preparedness-covid.html
Courage that Conquers all Fear!
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Nelson Mandela
When I was about 5 years old, my mom and I went to visit my grandma. And to make an impression on her, I decided to walk to her house by myself. For a little girl, it was a somewhat long path from the main entrance to where the house was located. As I smiled and observed the trees and flowers around me, excited because my grandma would think I had arrived by myself – according to my imagination – suddenly, that joyful face turned into distress and great fear. It was because two big dogs who didn’t know me grabbed my small elbows with their mouths and literally escorted me, almost like a prisoner, to my grandma’s house. All of this while I shouted loudly, “Help me, grandma, help me.” Well, in the midst of the scene of barking, almost dog bites, and screams, my grandma and other relatives came to my rescue.
I’m not sure if this story shows courage in any way. In reality, in my adulthood, I am still afraid of dogs, albeit less so. And I always try to stay away from especially unknown ones.
Nevertheless, with this candid story, I aim to illustrate ‘the power of fear’ and how this power can be overcome.
If I had probably succumbed to the fear of the moment and had stayed paralyzed without saying or doing anything, those dogs might have attacked me with even greater force, and I might not have received the necessary help at the right time.
But in life, we face situations that are more complex and provoke fear, and often even terror.
Let me ask you a couple of questions
- Have you ever felt fear?
- What causes you fear?
- How do you act when facing a specific fear?
Well, if your answer was affirmative to the first question, let me tell you that absolutely everyone, all human beings, face fears, to a lesser or greater extent. We all experience fear in certain circumstances. Yes, perhaps some are simpler than others, but it’s fear, nonetheless.
And to illustrate this theme even further, let me briefly refer to the story of a man greatly admired in the world of leadership, Nelson Mandela. As you have probably read, Nelson Mandela fought vigorously against racial segregation in South Africa. The well-known ‘Apartheid’ system (1948-1994) in South Africa established that people of color (the vast majority) lived in separate areas from those occupied by the ruling minority, that is, those of white race, especially Europeans. The colored population was highly oppressed during these years.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison. From a very young lawyer, he began his struggle against the ‘Apartheid’ system, seeking maximum justice and social equality. This ‘rebellion,’ as many labeled it, brought him dire consequences – prison – and everything that comes with it, including very adverse conditions.
After Mandela was released, he continued negotiations to finally end the ‘Apartheid’ system, and shortly thereafter, he was democratically elected as the first president of South Africa.
I invite you to investigate and delve into the story of this great man and leader, who certainly did not look out for himself but for the needs of an entire nation. Regardless of his own adversities and great fears in the midst of the battle, he did not rest from fighting for the freedom and equality of an entire people, during his imprisonment and even after his freedom was achieved.
Mandela surely experienced great moments of uncertainty, desolation, and great fear. We have much to learn from his great
example of courage amid great adversity, as he himself expressed: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
And with certainty, there are many fears we can feel and experience throughout life. Fear in family relationships, fear of a medical diagnosis, fear in work relationships, fears of all kinds.
But perhaps the universal fear that a large part of the world’s population experiences is the fear of death. Have you ever felt fear of dying? Are you afraid of not knowing exactly where you’re going and what will happen to you after death?
Let me tell you that there is someone who bravely conquered death, and that brave one is called Jesus, who certainly died on the cross with one purpose: to bear the sin of humanity and give freedom to all who believe in Him and decide in faith to surrender their lives under His lordship and authority, desiring a new life free from the condemnation of sin and free from accusations. A life filled with harmony and peace that fulfills its purpose on this earth and longs to reunite with its Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, in eternal life.
Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). If you believe this and decide to accept this truth – that Jesus is the resurrection and the life – and surrender your life to Him in faith, desiring a new life in freedom and peace, then there is nothing to fear. Not even the terror of death has the power to haunt you once you decide to accept the Author of life, Jesus Christ. He, with certainty, will go before you, opening a path through the obstacles that will inevitably arise at every step, but with Jesus, you will have the power to overcome them all, if only you make this decision and remain obedient to Him, following the manual of life that Jesus Himself has left us – the Bible, His Word.
So, not even the fiercest dogs, prisons, the terror of death, or anything that causes you fear will have power over you if, from this very moment, you bravely surrender your life to Jesus Christ, the only true God who promises to accompany and guide you every day of your life.
If you have questions about this and want to know how to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, do not hesitate to contact us.
God Removes Kings and Appoints Kings!
The situation in Ecuador, and in fact in several countries around the world, is critical. In recent weeks, one of the presidential candidates in Ecuador was assassinated; but this event wasn’t isolated. In fact, for a couple of months now, politicians have been targeted with life-threatening attacks, and sadly, a few have been killed.
Shock and anguish grip the people of Ecuador just hours away from choosing a new President for the nation on August 20th. We are convinced that only God’s intervention can save this country and so many others that are experiencing terror, confusion, and disorder within their territories. But it requires an entire nation, a whole community, to come to repentance from their wrongful ways.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
With humble hearts before our Creator and Savior – Christ Jesus, let us unite in prayer for Ecuador!
Wars, a Matter of the Heart…
“The nature of the human being is not inherently good, their heart is plagued by sin, and until we come to genuine repentance before our Creator, our heart will experience serious conflicts, a lack of genuine peace…”
As of the publication date of this article, the media bombards us with news about the prolonged war between Ukraine and Russia; violent protests in France that degenerated into, among other things, looting and street fires are still making headlines; and deaths from violent crimes in Ecuador are counted in the dozens, while the country is plagued by a territorial war between rival criminal organizations, as reported by media.
If we analyze throughout history, wars have occurred due to a series of factors mostly related to disputes between nations, territories, ethnic groups, followers of religions, beliefs, or ideologies, due to socio-economic inequalities, human rights violations, and in general, responses to aggression, among other factors.
Unfortunately, the attacks or hostile acts of one nation or group towards another can even provoke military responses and, ultimately, lead to what we all know as war.
But why do these disputes, attacks, or hostile acts occur? Yes, beyond the visible root: religious beliefs, geopolitical ambitions, inequalities. Have you ever thought that there’s more beyond the visible?
Well, beyond what’s presented, expressed, and visible, there’s something not necessarily considered; and that’s the heart of the human being.
The deepest feelings nest in the human heart, not always directly exposed outward, especially when these feelings are not good, honest, or proven. Yes, we can show a smiling, friendly, embracing face, but if we delve into that heart’s depths, we often find hypocrisy, lies, envy, hatred, not necessarily displayed, at least not initially and depending on the individual’s interests.
Because it’s like that, in the heart of man, immeasurable feelings can nest, unfathomable interests, and potentially deep desires for revenge and destruction towards those who oppose his/her path.
Let’s do an exercise, this exercise is personal and only you and your Creator will know the answers. Here we go:
- Have you ever felt envy because your family member, colleague, or friend has better possessions than yours? A better car, a better house, a better job, a better salary.
- If you’ve ever been harmed, insulted, or lied about, how did you react? Maybe, did frustration, sadness, hatred, and even revenge arise in your heart?
- If someone has ever tried to take what’s yours, any possession no matter how small it may be, have you at least had the intentions to go all out and take it back, claiming it’s yours? Come on, this might have happened to you as a child or even as an adult. How did you react?
A very small exercise that, if done, will clearly reveal the intentions of our heart and, if these intentions aren’t properly dealt with, sooner or later, they can degenerate into violent acts, conflicts, ultimately into wars.
Well, the Word of God warns us and says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).
The nature of the human being is not inherently good, their heart is plagued by sin, and until we come to genuine repentance before our Creator, our heart will experience serious conflicts, a lack of genuine peace, and potentially provoke conflicts around us on a smaller or larger scale.
The renowned Augustine of Hippo stated: “The purpose of all wars is peace.” However, this thought doesn’t always reflect reality. We don’t doubt that in the intentions of many who embark on a war, there’s the genuine and deep desire to achieve peace for their team, for their nation, but also, if we’re realistic, many embark on a war to achieve their own interests, whether valid or not.
The first war every human being must conquer is the struggle against personal sin – we’re all sinners, there’s none righteous, no, not one –; and the only way to do it and to overcome is through surrender. Yes, just as you read it, through surrender. If we recognize deep in our heart that we’re sinners, that we can’t do anything to cleanse ourselves from our sin, and we genuinely and completely surrender to our Creator, to Christ Jesus, we will certainly overcome the worst war we face in our entire life.
So, honesty is necessary to recognize the true condition of our heart; humility to bow in repentance before the only wise God, who can forgive and free us; and courage to decide for Christ Jesus and proclaim that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life that lead us to our Creator and Father, to receive salvation and transformation.
Wars are definitely a matter of the heart. In fact, Jesus expressed it very well: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matthew 15:19). And so, the most intense war that every human being must vigorously fight is the one against sin and eternal damnation.
If you want to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal life, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Cecilia (Cecy) Yépez was born in Ecuador, South America.
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