Most men never discover what they’ve got inside. A man has to face up to trouble before he knows.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Daybreakers)
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
–John 16:33 (NLT)
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I’m really scratching my head. I wrote a little about the going’s on with the Confederate statues yesterday, but can someone tell me what the difference is between say, the KKK and the Black Panthers are, except color? Are not both extremist groups? If these groups came in contact with each other, wouldn’t it be simple to say that there might be some sort of collision. So why is “everyone” upset that President Trump condemned both extreme sides? Plus, I do not recall the previous President to ever condemn extreme left groups.
Nietzsche was looking forward to the day when there would be great chaos and confusion. One of the problems, in fact the major problem is that people do not see things with spiritual eyes. People cry “peace” and “brotherhood” but there will be none, and there can be none until Christ comes to rule. When the nation began to reject the morale from holy Scripture, when they began to denounce God in their thinking, God will turn them over to believe a lie, and when that happens there is nothing left except chaos. And one more thing that you cannot tell the world, because they are part of it, is that Satan is the author of chaos and confusion.
Through all of this, what about tomorrow? What will happen to your children, and your grandchildren? Do you actually think that things will get better? Oh, they will, maybe for a short time with the early rule of the Antichrist. But better, no. Not unless there is a national awakening. One of the greatest enemies of the soul and life is anxiety. Satan will use anxiety, fear of the future, to steal and ruin your life and take away your victory. You cannot answer the question, “What will happen tomorrow?” The key is to trust in the One who is already there.
The Holy Spirit knows about our tendency to fret about tomorrow. We are to have faith and recognize that Jesus will take care of tomorrow. He is in charge. You made it through yesterday, and are on the way to making it through today, and Lord willing, He will help you get through tomorrow as well. Milton Zeeb wrote, “Our anxieties about ourselves, about our loved ones, about our friends are useless because God has already taken care of them.”
“There is one thing that you can do, however, and that is trust God that he will do what he has said. Live today in the strength that God gives, and you know that tomorrow you will be able to do the same, regardless of what may come; God is there.” (Zeeb) With troubles seemingly all around, the true Christian can boldly stand up and face today…and tomorrow.
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“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!”
–Psalm 57:7 (NASB)
A few more thoughts on praise. Praise is the statement by the believer that he is in cooperation with God. Paul tells us that in everything we should give thanks. When we learn how to do that we are walking side by side with the Lord. “Praise is the recognition that life must be accepted with gratefulness–all of it.” (Stephen Brown)
When the believer is truly praising, he then can face whatever comes his way. When the believer is truly praising he is affirming the basic truth that God is, indeed in charge. Brown states, “Praise is the essence of fulfillment. Fear is transformed into trust, and darkness into light.”
The world, the nation, in chaos, praise the Lord, for He is with you in the midst of it all. Leaders, so-called leaders, and people walking the streets may be dazed and in confusion, but God is never confused. Listen, the future doesn’t frighten Him; He is never shocked by the events that take place.
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“We can tell the world: God has started something in the world. You may not like it; you may laugh at it; you may think it is insignificant–but you can’t stop it. Some day God is going to close the last page in the history book, and the trumpet will sound.” (Stephen Brown)