Christian Living
Oh Lord!......What Are We Gonna Do?!
As many are saying, this great country of ours is at the greatest crossroads She’s ever come to – making this past election the most intense and crucial one ever. Many of the freedoms we and past generations have enjoyed are being stripped away one by one. What emotions do the ACLU and political buzz-words like socialism, the Fairness Doctrine Act, Hate Speech (or Belief) Crimes, Marxism, or even Communism evoke in you? These things evoke much fear and anxiety for those who cherish traditional American values and rights, which includes most of the country. Or how about the economy? For those with investment portfolios and 401K plans, it’s hard to be at peace and remain hopeful!
But what about all of us Bible-believing, God-fearing Christians who live in this great country too – do we not have legitimate cause for alarm and great concern? If we love freedom and have investments that have recently gone south, of course we do. Yet if most of us are honest, we’re inclined to take it a few steps further than “concern” - especially if we lack discretion in regards to our intake of the daily news in its various forms. Are we to become hermits and be disengaged or oblivious to all that’s going on around us? Should believers not listen to talk radio, watch the news or read the paper? Of course not, unless we’re talking about Alan Colmes, CNN and the New York Times (ha-ha!). Kidding aside – though it will look different for each of us, the Lord admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds from anything that robs us of the peace, joy and rest we have in Him. If anything causes our spirits to be inundated with harmful emotions or thoughts, which often leads to a number of ill-effects on our physical well-being, we need to avoid it or chuck it out! As the Word says, we are to fix the eyes of our hearts on things above, not on earthly things, and to fill our minds and spirits with that which is pure, lovely, honorable, praiseworthy, etc.(Col.3:2 / Phil.4:8).
Now concerning the moral decay of our country or what party holds the most seats in Congress: as we watch the news and play our part in the political process - and especially by praying and fasting for this nation, we need to remember, the Bible makes the following truths abundantly clear: God is the sovereign Creator and King of the Universe, sustaining it by His very word. HE is the One who exalts and it is HE who humbles. The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. Though God delights to involve us in His plan for history (or His-story), He is not dependent on man or his service. He provides for His beloved in their sleep, and He works ALL things after the counsel of His will – for His glory and for our ultimate good. Because of truths like these, we can rest in peace, joy and hope in our Father, knowing that our security, safety, freedom, provision and future are totally in HIM - not in Congress or the Senate, the White House, Wall Street, our jobs or bank accounts. Listen American believers! We are called to honor, respect and pray for our President and his administration, but we need to remind ourselves that the only true “Messiah” and Agent of hope and “change” came over 2,000 years ago (just in case you don’t know who I’m talking about, Jesus Christ is His Name)! It was never God’s original intent that His children be governed by earthly kings to whom they looked for security, provision and power over their enemies (I Sam.8). Yes, God tells us to submit to governing authorities and to pray for those in position of power, but it is the fallen nature of man which has necessitated these roles throughout history – not because it was the Lord’s desire or will. Because of this, our true allegiance, respect and worship belong to Him alone, and only “in God we trust” for our every need.
We all know this, but I’ll say it anyway: we are way off base and will be sorely disappointed if we’re placing our hope or the success of our future in whoever occupies the Oval Office or in the Stock Market. Yes, we want to be culturally relevant as we engage the un-churched, but that’s not what they need most from us. What they need, and what the earth itself is longing to see, is the children of God truly living out their identity in Him – those who live not from earth towards heaven, but heaven towards earth. Some say we shouldn’t become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. Unfortunately, that can actually happen due to a distorted and self-centered spirituality. But our Father’s perfect will is that we be so heavenly minded, so filled with His Spirit, and so in love with Him that we will be of GREAT earthly good (Dan.11:32)! If our affections are truly set upon Christ and the glory of our inheritance in Him, much fruit will abound through our everyday lives for the good of this world and for the glory of God (Col.1:1-12).
In closing, the point I’m trying to make is NOT that the media is evil or that keeping up with the news is a bad thing. Nor am I implying that being culturally relevant and politically engaged is unbiblical or wrong (actually, it's consistent with what the Bible teaches). The point is: we must see to it that we are daily filling our spirits and minds with that which will build our faith and encourage our hearts, while avoiding things which evoke fear, anxiety, doubt, despair and unbelief. And when such negative emotions and thoughts begin rising up as we witness all that’s going on around us, we must quickly take them captive to the obedience of Christ – confessing and claiming God’s promises of provision, protection and restoration over our families, health, finances and our future. This surely doesn’t exempt us from suffering, but regardless of what comes our way in the days ahead, our spirits can be at total rest as we remember God’s glorious plans for us will always hold true: “In this world, you will tribulation; but take heart, I have overcome the world….. Let not your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Peace I leave with you; peace I give to you…….I Am with you always, even to the end of the age……I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future!”…….“Look at the nations and observe! Be astonished and wonder – for I Am doing something in your days – you would not believe it if you were told” (John 16:33, 14:27 / Matt.28:20 / Jer.29:11 / Hab.1:5).
And one last thought to consider in regards to God’s sovereignty over the schemes of Satan, man, or even the election: Have you ever wondered how many “Pharoah’s” or “Herod’s” the Lord has raised up over past generations (or will raise up) whom He uses to display His unfathomable wisdom, power and glory? Our awesome God has been known throughout history to take what the Enemy aims to use as our greatest defeat, and cause it to be the very instrument He uses to glorify His Name and accomplish the greatest victories for His children! The Cross is the ultimate example, is it not?!
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