Leading In The Now - 2025

“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
(Matthew 24:6)

For more than two thousand years Christians have thought their stage in history was the worst; they were living in the period leading to the end of days. So far, the end of days hasn’t arrived, although in the 1980s I heard a very well-known preacher prove from Scripture and current events that Jesus would return in 1988.

He didn’t.

Two things should inform our leadership:

1. Whenever the last days are, our own time on earth is finite. It’s vital we don’t focus on catastrophising the times we live in, but rather look for opportunities to be as effective as possible in showing Jesus to our world, according to our call and gifts.
2. Every generation has had reason to fear the future. The role of the Church and its leaders is to work to dispel fear by showing Jesus, using whatever means at our disposal. That may be social justice, support, being a calming influence. What matters is that we point to Jesus rather than what there is to be afraid of. Many leaders don’t know that.

When Christian leaders forget their role as followers of the Prince of Peace, it’s an easy default to calamatising the state of our world instead of remembering who we are called to represent. The Church of Christ, its leaders and its people, are strategically placed into every season, every generation, every people group and race to show who Jesus is to a world which lost its way millennia ago. Our enemy is not different people groups; he is the one who is cited in Revelations 12:10 as ‘the accuser of the brethren’. Good news: the Bible says he has been cast down. Accusation can never be an initiative or a vehicle for a leader who brings the Christian message.

Jesus Christ mandated His people in every generation to work with Him as He ushers in His Kingdom. He doesn’t conquer by force or accusation, but through laying down His life. The love of Christ is the most powerful weapon on the planet because of its direct challenge to the enemy’s tactics of hatred, fear, and deception. Love challenges anxiety, bitterness, confusion, conspiracy theories, and the rationalising of discrimination and exclusion.

We have been sown into our towns, homes, workplaces, and nations in 2025 so that by using the power of love and its byproducts of acceptance, forgiveness, courage, generosity, grace, wisdom, we may clearly show Jesus Christ in all His fullness and glory to a desperately fragmented world.

Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that NOW, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

The NOW time of God is the most thrilling time to be alive. 2025 is our NOW. We are the leaders who will spearhead our organisations into this new year. May we do it with faith and hope instead of dread and apprehension.

Emmanuel – the God who is with us for life, not just for Christmas.