One reason people shy away from looking into current events, becoming mindful of Satanic influences, and the moral decay of our nation and world, is that, frankly, it's depressing!  When you read about how many aborted babies are sacrificed each day and year, how the occult is just saturating our society, how society is soaking it up, and how the world seems to be falling apart, unless you have your anchor in the Bible, you will eventually get washed up and depressed.

Berit Kjos once explained it well, that as adults, there are certain things we don't discuss with our children because it is too depressing and we don't want to worry them about it.  For instance, we don't consult with them about taxes or bills.  However, when they grow up, they will have to face things that are not always happy and blissful.  That's life.  Yet too many Christians have a peter-pan syndrome where they want to live in a child's care-free life.  That's not reality.

The Bible gives clear commands and precepts that Christians are to be knowledgeable of current events, doctrine, and to think critically.  For more on this subject, see some of my other articles.  However, the Bible also tips us off to the fact that we can expect depressing things.  When God revealed to Daniel what was going to happen in the last days, he was mourning and depressed for three weeks (Daniel 10:1)!  Later, in verse 8, he says that "there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength."  The timeline of events foretelling and after Christ's return knocked the wind out of him!  Later, in verse 16, he cries, "by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength."  Also, in Daniel 8:27, when Daniel was told of the intense degree of occult and Satanism that would be present in the last days, he said that he fainted!  Not only that, but he was "sick certain days" and "astonished"!  Daniel then did research!  In Dan. 9:2 he researched the words of the Lord that were given to Jeremiah, trying to find out more about the seventy weeks!  Later (ch. 9), Gabriel explained the seventy weeks to him and what would happen in them. That's then when he mourned for three weeks.

Another key verse that tells us the other side of knowledge is Eccl. 1:13.  "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith."  It is interested that the idea of exercised therewith covers to be occupied/busied with and also afflicted.  Verse 17 and 18 continue to tell us how he "gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.  For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Is this depressing yet?  Isn't there any good news to this?  Yes!  Understanding and seeing how God works in current day events, fulfilling prophecy, setting the stage, and preparing for His return is a great expectation!  In Daniel 10:19, despite all of the depressing news, Daniel was encouraged and strengthened.  "And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."  God promised strength and grace to those that ask and find favor in His sight.

Discerning events through a Christian perspective also helps you discover the reality that the Bible is God's inerrant Word, and that it is relevant to our world today.

"...wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that widsom giveth life to them that have it."  Eccl. 7:12