Birth Pains

We are living in an in-between time period, a time after the ascension of Christ to heaven and just before the return of Christ to set up the long awaited kingdom of God on earth. After Jesus returns, those responsible will give an account of every careless word they have spoken, “For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:36,37). The writers of the New Testament compared this period in very painful language as the equivalent of birth pains. The New International Version actually uses the words ‘birth pains’. The first time we read about them is early in the Bible: “To the woman he said , ‘I will greatly increase pain in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children” (Gen 3:16).

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the sentence given to Eve was the multiplication of pain in childbearing. The pain is for a short while, then it comes to an end. After this painful period, the mother gives birth to a new baby. There is celebration, singing and present-giving to the mother and new baby. The pain is forgotten.

Matt 24:4-8, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:28 all speak of a time when there will be wars and rumours of wars, but we must not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes, and famines in various places. We are to look beyond this suffering when afterwards there will be laughter, dancing and singing. Then the suffering and pain of the present will be forgotten for ever in the Kingdom of God. Isaiah speaks: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer and mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground, bubbling springs” (35:5-7). This is my favourite chapter, when we shall inherit the promises to Abraham. Let us all be watchful so that we may receive this beautiful reward.

Bro Peter Kariuki (Loitoktok, Kenya)