I never really got into playing basketball, but I’ve played a few games here and there in my younger days. I was always pretty tall, so I got invited to jump into some pickup games. It turns out being tall was the only asset I really brought to the game. I couldn’t shoot. I didn’t understand coordinated plays. I was the goofy-looking lanky guy who could run around and set a pick, and I could rebound, but that was pretty much it.
What’s kind of funny is that regardless of whether I was on the winning or losing team, as the game began winding down, people on the losing team seemed like they started committing more fouls. Ever notice that? Maybe it was to try to stop the clock and catch their breath. Now and then it was because the guy they fouled wasn’t good at free throws. Most often though, it seemed like it was out of frustration with the increasingly clear notion they’d soon lose the game.
I don’t know what kind of timeline God’s working with, but it’s been nearly 2,000 years since Christ died on the cross. It’s been a few less decades than that since Christ said “Behold, I am coming soon” in the book of Revelation. We’re a lot nearer to the End Times than we used to be. Prophetically, there’s no event that needs to occur before the Lord raptures His saints. There’s nothing standing in the way. It could literally happen any hour now.
Our enemy, Satan, knows this, too. He doesn’t know how much time he’s got left, but he knows his time’s getting short and that when the clock runs out, he’s in for a world of hurt. He, too, is dealing with the increasingly clear notion he’ll soon lose.
What that means for us, though, is we’re going to get fouled more often. Satan’s always been sneaky, played dirty, and taken advantage of every opportunity, but that’s how you have to be if you’re trying to compete with someone who’s stronger than you. He can’t hope to compare with God, even if he can convince a percentage of people otherwise.
Between now and whenever the Lord pulls His team out of the game, look for those fouls to increase in frequency and to get more flagrant. Your sense of decency will be assaulted. Nothing will remain sacred. Innocents will be dragged into the fight. Hatred for Christians and Jews (but not other religious groups) will rise, and so will hatred for Christian and Jewish principles.
I say this not to scare you, but to help you anticipate the challenges we’ll be facing. Doing the Lord’s work will come with more conflict than in the past. At the same time, however, God will still equip you with what you need for following His calling. We’re not immune from harm, but we’re on the winning team. Step with boldness into the Lord’s assignment for you, and let the enemy forces rage.