Many countries in the world view the economic and social status as a keymarker for the "health" of the country. For example, if Singapore were to experience continuous hyperinflation or years of recession, some people would say, "Singapore is dying".

And yet, God gives a different twist to the story of whether a nation survives. One determinant he uses is the level of sexual purity in that country. In the book of Leviticus, he clearly explains sexual sin and the definition of what is unclean and unlawful.

Towards the end of chapter 18, he says, "Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you."

Note: (The group of people he was addressing was the Israelites, and the groups of people he spoke about that were driven out due to sexual immorality (or were killed) were the ancient Egyptians and Canaanites.)

At face value, it may seem like a joke. Ever seen a face on a plot of land? Nope. Vomiting sounds all the more ridiculous then. Thinking a little harder, how many "natural" disasters have we had? How many nations have had people being killed not by another person, but by the physical land that they live on? And interestingly, how many times have people blamed God for them?

No one can fathom the events of the end of the world. Maybe these "birthpains" are a good sign that justice and righteousness will soon finally take their place. However, the birthpains are also huge smoke signals that the world will keep getting more evil till the day of Judgement, and that we're running out of time to reach out to those who need to hear about what is right and true: God's gospel message.

God, give me the strength and ability to stay faithful to you for the rest of my life. Help me keep pure, set apart for you, harvesting the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) every day, and to share about your love with those who need you. Amen.