During last convention season, we built a relationship with an amazing couple, who shared some deep truths that astounded us. It revolutionized how we saw judgment and God's wrath on the world. I asked the husband if he would be willing to write down his story in a blog post to share with our faithful listeners and supporters.
This is his story, and his own teaching on the topic.
At World's End?
In the early months of 2021 I was looking on in fear of what I perceived as an ever darkening Geo-political landscape worldwide. I feared war with China and/or Russia, the threat of nuclear war, and the loss of our rights and freedoms in the face of advancing Socialism and medical tyranny.
In February or March of 2021 I became aware of a bunker community in South Dakota. 575 2,000 square foot retired army bunkers from WWII. It is a growing community of freedom and constitution-minded people in a defensible position in the middle of nowhere and far from any strategic route that any army would ever take.
For just $30k I could own a bunker and secure a place of safety and security for my family. I convinced my wife to also be afraid of what was going on and so we agreed quickly to buy a bunker. I pulled as much as I could from my retirement and financed the rest in house.
We were in!
Well... four months go by and God is not providing for it. We never missed any bill or monthly installment on any of our loans and we never wanted for daily provisions, but there was nothing left over. We would routinely chew through our tithe just to make it all work. Around that time, God led me in my Bible reading to Luke 12:16-21. Jesus is telling the parable of the rich fool whose land produces bountifully and he stores his grain houses up, then thinks to himself that he will rest securely and drink and be merry. The Lord then says to him "Fool! This very night you're soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?"
After reading that and perceiving that God was showing me that I was doing the same thing as the rich man, we ran into our first budget shortfall since signing on to the bunker community. My wife at first suggested we drop our support for Compassion international; to which I responded, “No, if we're dropping anything, it's the bunker.”
She then revealed that the spirit of fear was no longer on her and she had wanted to be free of the bunker for some time. I called the guy who runs the community. I was prepared to walk away from it and count my losses; however he wouldn't let me do that. He made an offer to buy it back from me fifty cents on the dollar of what I had already invested in it. This was an offer I quickly accepted. Right away, we could see God rewarding our obedience. We gladly took a half bath instead of a full bath on our fear based decision.
For over a year, God has revealed depths of His Grace I never knew! He is replacing our fear with trust in Him. I used to read Psalm 11 and focus entirely on verse 3 "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" now I read that Psalm and my focus is verse 1 "In the Lord I put my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"
God has shown us in His Word, and all throughout history, that in every case where His judgment comes on a people, nation or even the entire world, He always saves and sustains a remnant of His people through the judgment.
He does this for His Namesake. He does it to show the world that their gods do not have the power to save and sustain. Only He can save and sustain; and He will! The Lord's people are allowed to endure the pleadings of God and the judgments of God on a people, nation, or the earth.
Hear me: the Lord's people are not appointed to His wrath. His wrath is appointed against the wicked who, having every opportunity to repent and turn to Him, have instead lifted their fist in defiance to Him and sought to work their salvation out by their own means.
Consider Luke 21:25-28. 25, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
Jesus will not present to Himself a bride who is unrepentant, unfaithful, distracted, idolatrous, disobedient, and weak. He is going to present His Church to Himself awake, glorious, and proclaiming His Name; and His Church will meet Him with well trimmed lamps burning; awaiting His return.
I believe that is our call at present. To prepare the Church for the wedding feast. That means bringing more souls into the body AND sanctifying those already in the fold. We truly do not know the day or hour that the Lord will roll up this current creation like a scroll and destroy it and build the new earth and Jerusalem. However, we must advance His kingdom now. We must be wholly His, awaiting His return. We must proclaim the Gospel all the louder as the hour draws nigh; for Jesus is worthy of the reward of His suffering that all should be saved.