Christians don’t need to fight for themselves or flee. God is all the refuge we need.

“In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1-3)”

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 1:9)”

“In the world you will have tribulation but take heart, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)”

A Christian stores up barrels of extra food for the ‘imminent tribulation’ oblivious to the fact that many Christians already don’t have food. Another Christian flees to a rural area to hide from ‘satanic’ technology and the ‘satanic’ government. Recently a Christian told me the Devil is trying to get inside Christians through chemicals! Apparently, God is doing a special sifting work amongst Christians because Jesus’ return is very close.

I am always curious why Christians in the wealthy West know so much more than Christians elsewhere who are dying for their faith. The Bible is clear: the preaching of the gospel is what sifts people; the Devil can never enter or control anyone who is a real Christian (why would he want to?); and no one has any idea how close Jesus’ return is.

Jesus said He will return when we least expect Him (Luke 12:40). I fully expect Jesus will return before you’ve finished reading this. If He doesn’t, I fully expect that He will return tomorrow at breakfast. If not, I fully expect He will return before lunch. I’ll keep fully expecting Him every moment for the next 100 or 1000 years. I fully expect Jesus’ return all the time because Jesus tells me to.

Why are some Christians being silly? The reason is because when the ‘foundations are being destroyed’ the righteous want to flee. The ‘foundations’ are those established institutions and cultural values for the civil ordering of society.

In the West our ‘foundations’ were massively influenced by Judeo-Christian values. For example, marriage was given protected status. It was generally considered men and women were equal but different. Now that our society is secular, ‘foundations’ like this have gone. Gay marriage is treated exactly the same as any marriage or no marriage at all. Marriage now means very little. There is no longer an objective ‘male/female’ distinction and someone is whatever he/she/they/ze chooses. Trying to protect people who consider themselves ‘different’ our society now opposes anyone who thinks differently.

When Christians see the ‘foundations’ collapsing like this, some panic and want to ‘flee’. Others turn against society hoping to fight for a ‘Christian’ foundation. Fleeing or fighting are not the only alternatives. David rejects the advice to flee. Instead, he tells us to find refuge in God. We have only to ‘stand still’ and see the salvation of the Lord.

Paul told Christians to ‘submit to those in authority’ during a time when pagan worship was the only foundation! Paul urged persecuted Christians to do good, to obey the government and to submit even during persecution. Peter tells us even to submit to bad slave masters!

Christians do not need to flee or fight to save themselves. God is our refuge. God protects us. He doesn’t need our help. All Christians everywhere go through the tribulation at varying levels of intensity.