I’ve been keeping my eye on the recent events as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, India among other nations meet in Beijing. It calls itself the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), but appears to be a gathering of non-Western nations intent on making a statement about the solidarity of nations outside the US and Europe. This movement of nations is reminiscent of World War One where a single bullet triggered a polarized world into a conflict that engulfed a generation.
In Beijing, military might was a centerpiece, and China has positioned itself as the responsible, stable power to guide the world into the future. “We must confront the cold war mentality. We must block confrontation and bullying practices,” China’s leader declared to the gathering of leaders. Millions of dollars were pledged to nations who would join in its agenda. Naturally, this generosity is in the backdrop is a Western world thrown into economic instability and distrust by new US policies surrounding tariffs, immigration, and governmental control using military force within its own borders. Frighteningly, a new distrust has likewise been sown among its trading and political partners worldwide. “It looks like,” said an observer, “the America-first policies of the US has awakened a fresh and dangerous power.”
My mind goes to what is sometimes called “the Olivet Discourse” in Matthew 24 and 25. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars…Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:6-8). The word Jesus chose for “rise” is “to awaken – from obscurity, inactivity or sleep”. It is the transition between nations hoping to survive an economic storm to nations gathering to declare unity against an oppressor.
What is to become of the SCO is a narrative that future months and years will tell. But the message to believers in Jesus is clear: make sure that your faith is firm. The days of lawlessness are at hand, and the love for God of many believers will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Let’s see to it that our faith endures. Let’s see to it that our witness is clear. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus.
Just Church
At Just Church, we seek to obey the Lord in making disciples who will not only endure but thrive. “The vision of Just Church is to establish a church in just the way Christ called the church to be – true to His Word, loving Him, loving one another, and loving the lost.”
