Is there anything of good report in our nation and the world today? The media seem driven by the need to dwell only on sensational, paper selling stories, with little or no attention given to what might remotely look like truth. Overtime, a steady diet of “just give me an award kind of reporting”, with no regard as to what the definition of truth is, will no doubt create a sense of uncertainty, division, despair and fear within the citizenry.
The Psalmist lived in an environment likened unto this. Even worse! With enemies on every side, he could have easily buckled under; but instead, he called on the Lord in his distress and the Lord answered him and set him in a safe place. God’s help prompted him to say, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me” (Psalm 118: 5-6)? He realized without the peace of God, security would never be his. So what has changed?
Sadly, enemies of the cross of Christ are on the rise. Christians must always look toward the throne of God for strength and encouragement. In doing so, they may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me” (Hebrews 13:6)? With Jesus on the side of the righteous, who can stand against God’s might?
The apostle Paul, writing of the eternal security Christians have in Christ, declared, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)? Furthermore, the apostle instructed the elect they could be certain of God’s love, for He “…did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)? Is there anything in this present world that can keep God’s children away from His love? Can misguided men or evil governments separate Disciples of Christ from the love of the Father? Can “…tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword” (Romans 8:35) snatch His children from Him? None of the above mentioned situations can impact His care for those whom He loves.
The Apostle Paul was convinced that “…neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Even though the underpinnings of our nation are shaking, Disciples of Jesus can say with confidence, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress; my God, my strength, in whom I trust” (Psalm 18:2). Trusting God will enable the faithful to “walk in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7), all the while, dispelling the darkness from every corner of this present world.