Many are wondering if we are in the last days. The disciples wondered the same thing. They wanted to know what would be the sign of Jesus coming and the end of the age.

Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Mathew 24:4-8

As I read the Lord’s words, my eyes lingered on the last verse, “the beginning of sorrows.” I was expecting to see “the beginning of birth pains.” The NKJV and NIV versions, respectively.

Then what came to mind is Charles Spurgeon quote, “As there is no birth without travail, so is there no spiritual harvest without painful tillage.”

Are we breaking up the fallow ground? Are we travailing for the world? Are we sowing in tears to reap the joy of the harvest that is going to come?

“Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6