Up until our son was about 4 or 5 years old, he would occasionally sneak into our bedroom and slip into the bed with us, as most children do from time to time. Somewhere about that age parents must draw the line, or they will never get a night’s sleep.

We were working patiently with him on this. I remember once being awakened in the early morning hours by a tiny hand rubbing across my face — just little touches all around my face. When I became aware of what was going on, I said, “John, what are you doing, son?”

“Oh, nothing, Dad,” he said. “It’s just that it is dark, and I wanted to see if your face was looking at me.”

We have been called to preach in spiritually dark days marked by unbridled sin. The end times are described as days where the hearts of men become increasingly wicked, love grows cold, lawlessness abounds, and men turn away from God and His Word. I believe the angels are now looking over the portals of heaven waiting for the Father to tell the Son to go and bring His children home.

While it is challenging to preach unashamedly in these last days, it is not impossible. As the days and times become spiritually darker, we must constantly “seek His face” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Go ahead … check right now … reach out … feel.

On your darkest night, you will find His face toward you.

Now “the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

Please make plans to attend the 2016 South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference Nov. 14 at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce. You will be encouraged — in these last days — to continue to preach the Gospel of Christ unashamedly (Romans 1:15-17).

— Mike Runion is pastor of City View First Baptist Church in Greenville and president of the 2016 South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference.