The other day I found myself drowning in a sea of estrogen as we attended an all girl birthday party for our neighbors. Being 1 of 2 men at this party, it didn't take long before I found myself surrounded by excited mothers sharing their birthing stories! It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before, but I was not prepared for what happened a few hours later!
Later that night, we went to the Encounter God Service (EGS) and the speaker was teaching on the end-times and how we are charged to "watch" so that may discern the season of the Lord's return. Jesus then went on to describe the "signs of the times", something which He called the "birth pangs".
Suddenly I had these two worlds started colliding in my mind like a bizarre metaphorical cocktail that left my head spinning - the young mother birthing experience was crashing against the eschatological revelation of John!
We understand that all new life experiences the struggle of birth, and the new heaven and new earth will be no different. They will be birthed in the place of pain and struggle known as the great tribulation. But we must also understand this, we will not be delivered from it, but will go through it!
Unlike the comforts of North American medicine, there will be no cosmic C-section to "rapture" us out of the pains of this new birth - we will go through it, just as God designed birth to be experienced!
(I also highly doubt there will a "Divine epidural" to alleviate the pains of this amazing ordeal)
God in His infinite wisdom Has set this a date for our delivery and only He knows all of the why's behind the whats, but rest assured in this - it will happen just as He has declared in His revelation to John (whether you think you can understand it or not).
So the question becomes this; if I know that new birth is coming, and I will be going through this incredible birthing process, why am I not preparing myself with some form of "spiritual lamas"? Strengthening my spiritual fortitude through fasting and prayer and the study of the word so that I will be able to not only endure this season of transitional shift, but actually be prepared to equip others as that day approaches?
Let's face it, we only get one shot at this one, so my thought is this...I better start having frequent (and lengthy) appointments with the Great Physician so that I trust His hands on the day of my deliverance - that great and terrible day when light breaks forth amidst the cries of children being born into the Kingdom of God.
What's your birth plan?
Jon
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