letter from Japan
‘You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed … There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains’ (Matt. 24:6-8).
With the war in Ukraine well into its second year, severe droughts in Ethiopia and extreme weather, this verse is a prescient exhortation. This verse came to mind whilst my mother was visiting us in Japan from the UK.
She arrived just a few weeks after the first test of the mobile-phone emergency alert system. Not surprisingly, Japan, in its emergency readiness, has in fact had this system in operation since 2007. With all the natural disasters; earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, to name a few, and Japan’s close proximity to North Korea, China and Russia, this system seems to be a very sensible precaution.
On her first night Mum and I were both startled awake by a very loud and intrusive alarm going off on our phones just after 4am. The message read that a large earthquake was to follow. Almost simultaneously we experienced some not insignificant shaking. However, it didn’t wake the children and nothing was physically disturbed in the apartment.
I made my mum a cup of tea as she was visibly shaken; being from the UK this was only the second earthquake she had ever experienced. Whilst enjoying the calming brew, Mum made what I thought was an interesting observation: ‘The alarm was more frightening than the earthquake’.
This made me think of Jesus’ words that tell us in no uncertain terms to not be alarmed. As Christians in Japan and the UK we should stand out in our attitudes to what is going on in the world around us.
'As Christians in Japan and the UK we should stand out in our attitudes'
With environmental concerns and conflicts abounding, and aggressive posturings by well-armed neighbours, it is easy to be fearful about the future. But for Christians these should be signs that lead to our encouragement. In verse 8, Jesus says these are the birth pains of the coming new creation.
Just like in actual childbirth, the pains are horrendous and almost more than one can bear, but those pains always come to an end. There is always a birth that puts an end to the pain and suffering. And as is true with most births, the joy of the new baby completely overshadows all the suffering that went before.
So Jesus is saying I know earthquakes are really terrifying, I know wars are devastating, and the suffering is almost more than you can bear, but don’t be alarmed, there is an end in sight. And in the end I’m coming back and all that is alarming will be gone for good.
