Surely, today we are living in troubled times. In a country where, during my lifetime, we have faced relative peace and security and freedom within our borders, we are being told there is an ongoing pandemic that necessitates an array of restrictions to our freedoms. These restrictions, which are often quickly passed, temporary laws or statutes imposed by various levels of government, supposedly for our safety and intended to stop the spread of this alleged novel virus, and supposedly based upon good science are destroying our economy and redefining our way of life for the future.
This scenario is true of most of the rest of the world today as well. Regardless of the cause, it seems to be an opportunity for a group of powerful individuals with a decided business interest to drive us towards a new world order. There are many signs visible if we look around and listen to their words. God even told us what was coming, so we should not be surprised that this could be true. What if it is?
Good-bye America based upon what?
The very life and freedom our soldiers supposedly fought to provide for us is being cast aside based upon the words of a few in power with multiple agendas. Can we trust them to tell us the truth and not have a conflict of interest? Which party is telling us the truth and which is lying? What if they are both lying to us and have been for a while now?
Is every dissenter against the current state of affairs as defined by those doing the official talking a nut case and a conspiracy theorist? That’s what we are being told routinely by the media and most politicians. You either believe and support the current cover story – a moving target to be sure – or you are against the government, a threat to public health, and an unfeeling so-and-so.
We as Americans want so much to believe our government officials are telling us the truth (at least the ones in our party), that we are the good guys, that Washington cares about us and is not using us. We especially don’t want to think those in office might be influenced or controlled by others behind the scenes. We cannot imagine there could be something going on not in our best interests when our leaders end their speeches with, “God bless America!” and all claim to be Christians or at least on our side. Are they? Does the evidence support the words?
Waking up
It appears that many of us are starting to wake up and realize something smells really wrong. The absolute influence of the media seems to be dwindling as more and more of us realize their news is often scripted messages mixed with lies intended to influence our thinking into a certain direction and to distract us with fluff. Perhaps their goal is to stop us from thinking using entertainment mixed with scare tactics, rather than to report the truth about what may be going on.
So, where do we turn to find the truth? And don’t tell me it’s one of those fact check sites run by …? While the influencers of our society may still give lip service to Christianity, clearly, we are losing ground as we have willingly embraced the world and invited it into our churches and homes. It is unlikely you will get more truth from a Christian than anyone else today. How that must trouble God himself.
What does God say?
God intervened in Old Testament times when Israel drifted away from him. He eventually took them down because of their idolatry and their rejection of him and his love in favor of their fleshly practices and pride. Why would he not do the same with us today? Surely our world is beyond some of the worst cities of biblical times when God sent fire down to destroy them, or when he used a world-wide flood to reboot.
Two passages come to mind considering all this current trouble. One is 2 Chronicles 7:14, which God said to Solomon at a high time in his relationship with Israel following the dedication of his temple:
14… if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
God told Solomon that he was always ready to listen to those who are called by his name, regardless of their circumstances, if they humble themselves before him, pray to him, seek his face, and turn from their wicked ways. His response would be to hear again from heaven, to forgive their sin, and to heal their land. The healing of the land was sometimes delayed for many years as God dealt with nations and people who denied him and fought against him and his people, but his forgiveness and his presence were immediate for those who did as he said
That was then?
While this promise was made to Israel at a specific time in history, I believe it can be applied to us and is consistent with God and how he deals with man throughout time. Those who follow Jesus as savior and lord are grafted into him – the same vine that Israel came from – and we have this same promise.
We also have the same warnings against idolatry and the same consequences if we forsake the Lord and his commandments and turn to other gods. These consequences may ultimately involve the utter destruction of our lives and our country. We are dangerously close to the latter and must as his people humble ourselves and pray and seek his face and turn from our sins, and perhaps he will yet forgive our sins and heal our land.
In times of trouble
The second passage is the primary purpose of this writing. Surely, we are in troubled times, and surely we must return to him and humble ourselves and repent and pray, but it is his choice and timing what is going to happen with our country and this world. In the meantime, we have his presence and his promise of his staying hand about us as perhaps judgment falls on our nation and even this world. He doesn’t promise we will not suffer, but he will be with us and limit what happens to us.
In Psalm 37:1-9 God tells us:
1Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.3Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.b
4Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.5Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
We do not need to worry about what those who seem to be in power are doing. God sees their schemes and their lies, and he is able to thwart them at every turn as he chooses. He will use them for his purposes, just as he used evil nations in the past against Israel to bring them back to him, but he is still in control. He may not dispatch them in our lifetime, but their end is sure.
Our part is to trust God and do what is right and good and faithful. We are to learn to love him and delight in him and he will reveal more and more of himself to us. We are to trust in him and to wait on him and to refrain from anger and wrath, for God will take vengeance on those liars and evildoers in his timing and as he chooses.
God will establish our steps
Further he tells us:
23The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.
God will establish our very steps – he will lead us and be with us – when we make him our delight and obey him. We may fall due to the world and its hatred towards us, but God will hold us in his hand even as we fall to limit the damage to his choice. And one day if they kill us, it will be our joy and unparalleled pleasure to be in his presence forever!
We must turn from evil and do good
Once more he reminds us in this Psalm:
27Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
It matters how we live. God said so. Repeatedly throughout all the Bible he tells us to turn from evil and do good. It is God’s command to us, and it hasn’t gone away in the New Testament. We cannot be saved by our righteousness. That is only possible by faith in Jesus Christ and our commitment to him as lord and savior. But our very salvation is evidenced by our obedience to God, by turning from evil and doing good. It is further evidenced by our love for God and each other, as John says throughout his writings.
These two passages provide a roadmap to follow not only in times of trouble, but anytime. It is wise to follow the Lord and obey him. It is foolish to trust in ourselves or other men, no matter who they are. No president or preacher or celebrity or superhero will save us; it is only God who does that through his son Jesus. Trouble will continue in this evil world, but our hope is in the Lord, and he is able to stop every evil that man intends and to protect his own.
Searching My Heart 