God never said believing in him would ensure your life didn’t have struggle.  He never guaranteed that you’d be without pain or suffering.  All he guaranteed you was that during those times, he would be there with you.”
               –G. Michael Hopf  (Last Ride)

     “Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
               –Psalm 46:2 (NKJV)
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There are some things I just don’t understand.  For instance, why are Christians, born-again believers, living in fear over this virus?  Now, that is not to say that this isn’t a serious situation, but where is the common sense mixed with faith that should be seen in Christians?  Do they not know their God?  Do they not trust in God?  I am not saying to forsake common sense, but don’t live in fear!

          “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
                     –Matthew 10:30-31 (NKJV)

The idea of Christians living in fear has always bothered me.  I am not a fatalist, but I do believe that God has everything under control including this virus!  It really all goes back to:  who do you trust?  I believe it must be God-led, for in my devotions this week I came across part of a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon.  Ponder his words; see how they fit your life.

          “Other men shake because they think this is all chance.  We, however, believe that the tempest is in the hand of God, and we can confide in our God in the midst of the storm.  It is for us to be peaceful and calm.  Why should we shake?  In all convulsions in the world, in all temporal distress and danger, it is for us to stand calm and collected, looking boldly on.  Our confidence should be very much the same–in comparison with the man who is not a believer in providence… . We are to say, ‘I know God is here, and I am His child, and this is all working for my good.  Therefore, I will not be afraid, though the earth is removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.’
          “There is never a reason to be frightened at every little thing, to always imagine the worst is coming, and to live in dreadful fear.  If you have evils today, do not multiply them by fearing those of tomorrow… .
          “If good things come, thank God for them, but do not set your heart upon them.  If good things go, thank God that He has taken them Himself, and still bless His name.  Bear all.  He who feels that everything that comes to pass is according to God’s will has a great mainstay to his soul.  He need not be shaken to and from by every wind that blows…”

     There is a virus among us.  There is no doubt of that.  But in the midst of the virus there is something even more sinister that’s being fueled by the media and the liberals and that is a pandemic of fear.  The purpose–control.  Satan brings fear, he brings confusion and chaos, and as soon as the Rapture of the believers takes place he is ready to take over.  Remember the words of Jesus that were a prelude to the ones written above: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…”. (Matthew 10:28) If we go to the grave via the virus, we shall rise in victory on that day when the trumpet shall sound, but do not spend your life behind a mask living in fear, and do not be deceived by the words of men.

So as we plodded along under gray wet skies, with only our own discomfort to comfort us.”
               –Lou Bradshaw  (Palouse)

        “‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’ Says your God.”
               –Isaiah 40:1 (NKJV)
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I promised myself at the beginning of the year, to do more serious reading this year, especially that of biographies.  I noticed on one of my shelves a book I had started, but with all of the moving it had been placed back on the shelf.  Upon retrieving it I glanced at the notes I had taken, and there were many.  The book–Five Years to Freedom, by James N. Rowe.  It is the story of one of the first POWs of the Vietnam War.  The man went through severe torture along with dysentery and infected fungus, add to that the psychological pressures he was forced to endure.  There was one point where he was forced to sleep without clothing or netting and the mosquitoes almost drove him mad.  He was completely covered with welts from the vicious insects and Rowe cried, “O Lord, please give me strength to make it through today.  I hurt, Lord, and I don’t know what to do about it.  Please give me strength.” 
     Most of the time he was alone, sleeping outside in a cage.  Now, we are crying about staying in a comfortable house–quarantined to an extent–and we complain, weep, and murmur.  This book brought back to mind the senseless and useless teaching of socialism.  It brought to my mind a cartoon I saw:  “Those who don’t remember history are condemned to repeat it; those who taught history are forced to watch it happen.”

          “If I say, ‘I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name, His message becomes a fire burning in my heart,
shut up in my bones.  I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.  For I have heard the gossip of many people,
‘Terror is on every side! Report him; let’s report him!  Everyone I trusted watches for my fall.  Perhaps he will be deceived
so that we might prevail against him and take our vengeance on him.  But the Lord is with me like a violent warrior….”
                    –Jeremiah 20:9-11 (HCSB)

     How long can you be silent if you know the Lord?  Do you desire to feel His presence?  In these times of uncertainty, more and more, we need the assurance that the Lord is with us.  I came across this little note in my weekly reading:

           “I desire God’s presence.  To feel Jesus, with all my senses.  I desire the rare moments when Jehovah manifests Himself and it overwhelms you.  We are unsure whether to speak or be silent.  Touched by the flame of God and let His still small voice touch the ear.  To be moved by the Holy Ghost in awe.  To be inspired of His person.  To have the light cast over me making even the shadows of darkness flee.  To be flooded by the love warming me to my bones.  To be where God is revealing Himself.”
                   –Russell Snoddy

    The key–to be where God is. 
    Let me mention one more thing:  We walk by faith.  We do not seek an emotional experience to know that God is there.  However, the value of our experience is something that is given to us, something that we cannot doubt.  If ever the devil comes and tells you that you are not saved, you stand on the Word of God and remember those times when you experienced the presence of the Almighty.

We’re all responsible.  Law and order is a job for all of us.  If we shirk it long enough we will have anarchy, and we’ve built will be destroyed.”
               –Louis L’Amour  (The Empty Land)

     “I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
               –Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
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Hatred seems to abound today.  The more tolerance desired, the more hatred is seen.  Governments have even encouraged people to spy on their friends and neighbors and turn them in if they are not practicing “conscientious protocol” during this “pandemic.”  There has been a strong attack against churches, one state even going so far as to say churches cannot open until there is a vaccine.  Hmmm, will the vaccine be mandatory? 
     Let me draw your attention to Matthew 10.  This is where Jesus first sends out his disciples.

          “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues…  Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.  But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
       –Matthew 10:16-17, 21-22 (NKJV)

There is a cry today, especially by the youth for socialism.  Stupid!  They know not what they ask for!  But above is a picture of socialism, for one of the first things it attempts to do is dissolve the family.  Children belong to the State to eventually do its bidding.
     However, I want you to see what Jesus did in sending forth men to do their duty.  Joseph Parker writes, “He does not promise them a down pillow; He does not promise them genteel society; He does not offer them any social bribe.  There is no mistaking the lot of the true Christian witness.  Goodness is always hateful to evil; the beasts that gather together in the nighttime hate the light–you torment them if you turn a sudden blaze upon them, and they will display animosity and resentment.  Goodness can never establish itself anywhere without a battle; it is a daily battle.”
     The culture of today is proclaiming that evil is good and that good is evil.  There is a purposeful confusion in our midst; postmodernism seeks to deconstruct everything.  Think of the chaos that is caused when family turns against family, when neighbors report on neighbors, when friends reject friends.
     There is a real battle going on with one side proclaiming progressivism, tolerance, political correctness which will bring a socialistic, peaceful society.  Let’s put away our differences to seek the better good.  “We have succeeded now in putting the fire out and have come to the age of courteous civilities and tender regard for one another’s evil habits.  The old goodness, the Christ-goodness, fought every day, not with a blade of steel but with that keener blade of conviction, enthusiasm, sacrifice that counted not its life dear unto itself that it might win the battle against evil and darkness and corruption.” (Joseph Parker)
     Try to explain true, pure, biblical goodness to someone and they will cry “racism,” or “bigot,” or “intolerance.”  It is not goodness that many want, but freedom to express their wickedness and live as they wish.  So as Jesus sent out His disciples with a warning, we should heed the same warning in this time.  Do not wonder if men revile you; do not be surprised at their evil, but be alert, be wary and guard the truth.