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	<title>UpFaith | Hope Archives</title>
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		<title>The End of the World</title>
		<link>https://upfaith.org/the-end-of-the-world/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fernanda C]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2020 22:41:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Hope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nature | Science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apocalypse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[end of the world]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[end times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global warming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[world destruction]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://upfaith.org/?p=519</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://upfaith.org/the-end-of-the-world/">The End of the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://upfaith.org">UpFaith</a>.</p>
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<p><strong>II Peter 3:11-13</strong><br><br>“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”</p>



<p>In the times we live in, a lot is said above global warming. The governments of nations gather together to study and discuss how to block this global warming, but they have not yet come to a common denominator that can put a brake on the warming process. Scientists predict that, at the current rate, life on our planet could disappear within a timeframe that is not too far out. With this, we would arrive at the end of days of our world, in accordance with Apostle Paul’s prophecy, “…the heavens will be destroyed by fire. And the sun and moon and stars will melt away with much heat.” What seemed absurd and impossible for many, not too long ago, has become a matter to be studied and imagined.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="300" src="https://upfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/city-destruction-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-526" srcset="https://upfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/city-destruction-1.jpg 800w, https://upfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/city-destruction-1-300x113.jpg 300w, https://upfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/city-destruction-1-768x288.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure></div>



<p>Now, if this can be the end of the world, let’s raise the question: when did this <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://upfaith.org/fear-corona-fear/" target="_blank">disaster </a>begin? The degradation began on a certain day and in a certain pleasant place called The Garden of Eden. God had concluded His creation, including that wonderful garden, where He placed His creation’s crown: man and woman, Adam and Eve. God formed human beings with the capability and freedom to make choices and decisions.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, Adam and Eve, the original parents of the human race, were tricked by the devil. They forgot that with freedom comes responsibility and it always has its consequences. This is very true and still applies to this day. Due to the disobedience, sin was instilled in the life of human beings, and this was when the beginning of the end started.</p>



<p>To rid us of this hellish terror, <a href="https://upfaith.org/prepare-before-it-happens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">God provided us with an escape</a>: Jesus Christ. This is the door we must enter through to be cleansed and made well with God; only through Jesus Christ. So now, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).</p>



<p><strong>Jesus came to give us eternal life, not to “finish” us along with the world.</strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://upfaith.org/the-end-of-the-world/">The End of the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://upfaith.org">UpFaith</a>.</p>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fear, Corona Fear</title>
		<link>https://upfaith.org/fear-corona-fear/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Fernanda C]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:41:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Hope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust | Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corona fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elijah in fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fear]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://upfaith.org/?p=508</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>When we are in fear, our tendency is to ask God to help us and save us. But, in the Bible text of I Kings 19:1-9, we see that the opposite happened. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://upfaith.org/fear-corona-fear/">Fear, Corona Fear</a> appeared first on <a href="https://upfaith.org">UpFaith</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>When we are in fear, our tendency is to ask God to help us and save us. But, in the Bible text of <strong>I Kings 19:1-9</strong>, we see that the opposite happened. Elijah was in fear and this left him desperate to the point where he asked God to end it all, to just take his life. His fear was not imaginary. It was very real: he could not tolerate the pressure which he was subject to; Queen Jezebel wanted to kill him and she had the means to get the job done.</p>



<p>This dreadful
and frightful feeling is normal; who under these circumstances would have no
fear of dying?</p>



<p>When we are insecure and desperate in dreadful and frightening circumstances, we do not know how to ask. God hears our prayers, but He answers them in His own manner. Elijah asked God to die but God gave him rest in order to cheer him up. Elijah was not alone; the Lord was with him and on two occasions had ordered an angel to feed him because he was upset and weak, so much so that he needed to sleep again.</p>



<p>We do not have to be heroes (Elijah was also not a hero – he gave up on everything), but, whether the cause for the fear be real, as in Elijah’s case, or imaginary, as it can happen many times, it is important for us to take our worries to God and ask Him to take care of them. The Lord himself will give the strength and courage we need when we give ourselves into His hands. Do not lose hope in the Lord, <a href="https://upfaith.org/trust-in-god/">trust in Him</a> “…those who hope&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Lord, will renew their strength…” <strong>(Isaiah 40:31)</strong>.</p>



<p>For as long as we have breath in our lungs, there is hope. And even if we pass from this earth into eternity, life will go on, but at a level much more intense and real than we can perceive and experience with our mortal body. With an understanding of what Hell is, according to the Bible, no one would want to go there. So, let’s live life in this world as God directs us through the Bible so that we can be with our Lord and Savior when our number of days on this earth comes to an end: “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.&nbsp;You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to You; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.&nbsp;And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You”&nbsp;<strong>(Psalm 39:4-7)</strong>.</p>



<p>Corona Fear? What to do? As we soak in what has been happening around the world in regards to the Coronavirus pandemic, how things are playing out, and brace ourselves for what can still happen in the coming weeks or months, we are to stay positive amidst difficult situations. If others are facing quarantine or being prohibited from traveling overseas, be mindful that it may happen to you. So, do your part, prepare yourself and your family physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, pain killer, and any RX medications for your basic survival for the next few months if drastic measures need to be taken. As we are informed that the Corona Virus can infect up to 150 million people worldwide and that there is no vaccine in place against this virus, let’s not take this information lightly.</p>



<p>Even though times are difficult, the Bible tells us that events such as these would come and it is necessary for it to happen. God is love, but He is also a just God (more on this at a later post). We need to be praying to God to have mercy and spare this generation from worse things to come. Let’s also not forget to ask God to allow researchers to discover the correct vaccine against this virus very soon and give wisdom to the country leaders to guide their citizens in an appropriate way.</p>



<p>As the Bible makes it clear for us in <strong>Job 14:5</strong>, a person’s days are numbered. God knows <em>your</em> number of months. A person cannot live longer than the time God has set for him or her. We want to start eternity in the right way, so, let’s be humble before God, ask Him to keep us safe in times of trouble but also seek to do His will, no matter how difficult it may seem. At the end of the day, when we close our eyes on this earth, we will open them in eternity, and that [eternity] is a place we will not be able to leave. So, let’s make sure we strive to go to the side we won&#8217;t want to run from. </p>



<p><strong>When you’re at “the end of the line,”
remember: God’s line is eternal.</strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://upfaith.org/fear-corona-fear/">Fear, Corona Fear</a> appeared first on <a href="https://upfaith.org">UpFaith</a>.</p>
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