I watched the news this morning as another natural disaster pummeled another nation, Japan. The largest earthquake in Japan's modern history not only violently shook the nation, but also set off a tsunami that totally destroyed many areas of Japan, sending waves all the way to the west coast of the United States. The increased frequency of these earthquakes will certainly be explained away as the natural process of the earth.

But is it? Yes and no.

According to Jesus words, these increasing events are more than a natural phenomenon. They are at the same time a sign of something. Jesus called them birthpains. The earth, for thousands of years has been subject to a curse of futility placed on it because of the sin of Adam and Eve. Paul said the earth is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God. Creation is buckling under the pressure of sin's impact and is crying out for the sons and daughters of God to be fully manifest in the earth. In short, creation is yearning for the New Creation to be set in place.

The birthpains are birthing something. What? The birthing of a new age, the coming of Christ to establish his kingdom on the earth. It is not judgment from God, but a series of natural signs that Jesus said would mark the beginning of the end. They are signs that creation has had enough and creation itself is indiscriminately crying out for the last days outpouring of the Spirit so this thing can be wrapped up and creation can be free once again!

Here's to hoping that our cry for the manifestation of the sons of God is just as real and just as violent, not against people or creation, but against the kingdom of darkness!

Chuck