2016 looks like it could be a pretty hard year. The wicked tower over us, and they think their time has come: they will separate God’s people from Him, once and for all, and engineer the demise of Christianity. They will hold on to all the power they’ve accumulated for themselves, and do everything they can to get more.
Looking at the state of this fallen world today, the thought comes creeping in, “Are we crazy? Don’t we see what’s being done? How are we to trust in God?”
Because, if we trust in God, and we’re wrong, then we lose everything. Absolutely everything.
But there’s a catch. By not trusting in God, we can’t hold on to anything. Not even our souls.
But if we’re right to trust in God, if we’re right–
Well, then we gain everything. Everything. Eternal life. A place in Christ’s kingdom, and a share in His glory. A mansion in His Father’s house. Blessings without number. No matter what we’ve suffered, no matter what has been taken away from us, we gain. And what we gain will be infinitely greater than our loss.
Faith is very much an all-or-nothing proposition. There is no safe middle ground, no way to put just some trust in God and reserve the rest. Playing it safe will get us nothing.
They tower over us, and we are like grasshoppers in their sight.
But as Caleb said, when the other spies reported on the unconquerable might of pagan Canaan, inhabited by giants, “Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30)
Trust in the Lord. Pray harder. Sing louder.
And remember what happened to Goliath.
God is bigger than all. I love these verses.
Psalms 25:2
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Psalms 56:3
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Psalms 56:11
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah
Psalms 71:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Jeremiah 1:8
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 42:11
Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Amen. We have to remember that God is over all and not be discouraged in discouraging times.
We can certainly lose our livelihoods, our possessions, our reputations, maybe even our family. But no one can take away our faith, or our integrity, unless we let them. There is something to be said for judging things by their fruits to determine whether we should follow them or not. Where does not trusting in God take us? We quickly slide down the slope of moral decline, no matter how “good” our intentions are. But those who trust in God, even when they suffer as a result, are blessed and become a blessing to others. Some people are so concerned about looking like a “fool” from the World’s perspective, they lose out on that gift and become a fool to God. Which is ultimately the more foolish? In the words of one of my literary heroes (Puddleglum from the Silver Chair), “I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.” Even if I’m proven wrong in the end, at least while I’m here, I’ll be able to look myself in the mirror and know I tried to be a bearer of good fruit.
It’s just a shame that American Christians are so afraid of being made fun of by idiots that they can’t stand up to the slightest quiver of adversity. The war started in 1961 and we didn’t answer the bell.
It’s a good thing God doesn’t need us, to carry out His plans.