It is a thing I must remember, that men must always remember, that civilization is a flimsy cloak, and just outside are hunger, thirst, and cold…waiting.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

    “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
              –Matthew 24:44 (NASB)
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Apocalypse/Post-Apocalypse!  What comes to mind?  Most likely a movie as it has been a major theme of many film producers.  Perhaps you thought of the virus that is upon us.  The term is now being used again.
    Now, I don’t proclaim to be a Bible scholar, nor an eschatological expert (why, I can hardly spell it, much less say it), but I would like to give a few thoughts to the idea of Apocalypse.  The word, I found in studying, is actually a Greek word meaning “revelation” or “an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and could not be known apart from the unveiling.”  It speaks of the unknown future and has taken on the concept signifying the end of the world as we know it.
    First of all, Post-Apocalypse is not destruction, but restoration.  However, before looking at that I do want to say that there will be an Apocalyptic time.  This time is the Great Tribulation and will culminate with the Battle of Armageddon, or the Day of the Lord.  It will surely be a time of troubles that the world has not seen since the time of Noah, and it will actually be worse with all the wrath that is upon the earth.

         “The harvest of the earth is ripe…  Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.  So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into a great wine press of the wrath of God…  He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.”
                   –Revelation 14:15,18-19;19:15 (NASB)

This coronavirus will be mild in comparison to what will take place during the Great Tribulation–Apocalypse.  There will be pandemics the likes of which mankind has never seen, plus a myriad of other calamities–Apocalypse.
    But after Armageddon–post-Apocalypse–the earth will begin a process of restoration.  The “curse” will have been removed.  Jesus will rule from Jerusalem.  It will be a time of prosperity, safety, and plenty.  Satan will be bound, the Tempter will be in chains and in the “bottomless pit.”  Makes me want to sing the words of J.M. Kirk’s song, “Satan will be bound a thousand years, we’ll have no tempter then…”  Imagine this wonderful Millennial Reign of Christ.
    When we read the signs of Christ’s return found in Matthew 24, there is a very important verse.  Jesus has been speaking of what it will be like before He returns.  He speaks of various kinds of disasters and troubles, but notice verse 8:  “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (24:8, NASB)
    The Lord is preparing to return!  The COVID 19 is only part of the beginnings of birth pangs.  Don’t fret, don’t worry, don’t be anxious, but set your eyes upon Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith”.(Hebrews12:2, NKJV)

You must live your life.  Make it worthwhile.  Every man, every woman has a burden.  Lift yours cheerfully and begin to climb…  Love those with whom fate has placed you.  And fight—fight the dark moods, the selfish thoughts, the hateful memories!  Work…love.”
              –Zane Grey (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

    “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is…  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”
              –Ephesians 5:17,20 (NASB)
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Have you ever come to the end of the day and remarked, “My that was a wasted day”?  If so, you must ponder the reasons that it was wasted.  Some waste time away with wantonness, other waste the time away in daydreaming.  We are told to “redeem the time,” yet all too often we find that we are wasting time.  
    I’m sure that most of us, at one time or another, has made the following statement, “Well, that was a waste.”  You purchased something and it didn’t prove to be what you thought it would be; it didn’t do as you expected.  Perhaps you have given money to a homeless person, and someone has said to you, “You wasted your money.”  Recall the words of disdain when the woman broke the vial of perfume to anoint Jesus, “But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted?'” (Mark 14:4)  In John, the words are attributed to Judas, but it seems that many were in agreement.
    Watchmen Nee says this about “waste”:

         “What is waste?  Waste simply means giving too much.  If a shilling will do and you give a pound, it is waste…  A waste means that you give something too much for something too little.  A waste means that the one who is receiving the something is not worth so much.”

    The world would say that if you have talent and you use it for the Lord then you are wasting it.  You could be making much more money.  Many would say to Christians that you waste too much time in service for the Lord.  Don’t waste your money on that small church, give it to some decent charity, such as the United Way.  “When once our eyes have been opened to the worth of the Lord, nothing is too good for Him.” (Nee)
    It seems that the Christian wants to be blessed, yet wants to sacrifice little for the blessing.  Is the Lord satisfied with our labor and service?  It is vital that we recognize, and shamefully some have not, that our service to the Lord is not on commercial lines.  It can never be; our service must be to please Him.
    Take some time to inventory your works.  Then take more time to prioritize them.  See what you are doing for the Lord, then check why you are doing them.  Are you working for a blessing, or to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?

No human creature ever entered an desert oasis without joy, nor left it without regret.”
              –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

    “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”
              –Matthew 5:6 (AMP)
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In this time of trial, take time to taste some of the Lord’s goodness.  When I was reading for this part of Psalm 36, the following chorus came to me.

         “Drinking at the springs of living water,
          Happy now am I,
          My soul they satisfy;
          Drinking at the springs of living water,
          O wonderful and bountiful supply.”
                   –John W. Peterson

Let’s take a look at the rest of Psalm 36, from the Holman version.  Let the verses refresh your soul, mind, and spirit.

    7 – God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
    8 – They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,
    9 – for with You is life’s fountain.  In Your light we will see light.

In these perilous times; these times of unrest and uncertainty, we should enjoy the “refreshing stream.”  The NIV puts it this way, “rivers of delight.”  People are trying to do this or that; they are trying to find things to do at home.  Why not turn to God’s “refreshing stream”?  Instead of binge television, or binge movie watching, or binge eating, why not a “binge” of reading and studying God’s Word?  Ahhh, the water is so refreshing.

    10 – Spread Your faithful love over those who know You, and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.
    11 – Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near me or the hand of the wicked one drive me away.
    12 -There the evildoers fall; they have been thrown down and cannot rise.

Look how high the love of God reaches.  His love, His faithfulness, His righteousness is unlimited.  Think about Him and what He has done for man.
    God is there to sustain us.  He is our refuge, food, drink, life, and light.  He will be there if we should fall to pick us up.  We are not like the wicked who are “thrown down and cannot rise.”

         “I head the voice of Jesus say, ‘Behold I freely give
          The living water; thirst one, stoop down, and drink, and live.’
          I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream;
          My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.”
                   –Horatius Bonar