All you can do with a rat is kill him or let him be.”
              –Charles Portis (True Grit)

    “But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore!'”
              –Isaiah 42:22 (NKJV)
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It has been several years ago when in the middle of the night I could hear the claws of the cat running up and down the hallway grasping at the carpet.  It was unusual that I thought I better check what was happening.  Upon entering the hallway I saw a long, narrow tail go around the corner and into the girls’ room followed by a rushing cat.  It was a rat.
    I grabbed hold of a rifle and went cautiously into the closet and slowly began shifting through the pompoms and shoes in the closet.  Behold I saw a tail sticking out of a tennis shoe.  I wasn’t about to grab the tail for I had visions of that rat turning around and biting me on the arm, so I took what was in my hand and brought the stock of the rifle down where I expected the head to be in that shoe.  Once, that did it, but to make sure I smashed its head again.
    My father-in-law enjoyed reading and during World War II he found his books were missing.  Because of his rank his cot was close to the stove.  One night he was wakened with something pulling at his hair–a rat.  He grabbed the poker from the stove and as the rat moved under the boards he stabbed it through the opening in the slats.  The next day he received permission from the officer in charge to tear up the boards of their tent where they found dozens of rats.  They were the ones stealing his books for their nests.  Needless to say they had a rat-killing party.
    Rats, there are few things more despicable.  They are carriers of vermin.  Disease is spread by them, in fact, the rat was the primary carrier of bubonic plague–the Black Death–in Europe.  I was surprised that it came into the house with a cat, but it met its demise.  Rats tend to thrive in dumps, slum areas, garbage dumps.  Hmmm, look at Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, they are now a haven for rats, but it seems that they were also created by rats.
    Man thinks that he is more enlightened today.  But look around and you will quickly see that is a false notion.  In spite of good intentions on the part of man (or some men), the world remains one of war, poverty, hunger, disease, and uncertainty.  Man with all his wonderful knowledge lives like a rat.  He continues to do evil, and when I speak of evil it is not just the murder and the killings and the riotings, but it is also the sneaky ministrations of people in “high” places.  Look at them sometimes and the evil oozes from them.
    Some do not truly want to do evil, but it is in the heart of man to do so.  Yet there are those who delight in evil and in bringing it upon others.  People are lost and they seek to eat the flesh of those left in the streets.  They consume what they can and bare their teeth at those who are against them.  Through these streets we must walk, whether to school or work.  The rats may scatter and hide in the shadows, or they may band together and attack the unsuspecting wayfarer.  It seems that we have gone too easy on the rats of society.  Because of that they have multiplied, they have lost their fear of man, of good.  They have spread evil, poison, and vermin in society.  Perhaps it is time to issue a “writ on the rats”.
    This world represents and is, in fact, evil.  Yet, you must walk in this world.  Carry your weapons with you, whether they be physical or spiritual.  Be sure you are wearing the armor of God and know how to use the sword of the Spirit.  The rats are scurrying around looking for things to gnaw on and devour.

You have to be ready to roll with whatever the weather, the land, and other men throw at you.”
              –Lou Bradshaw (Blue Valley)

    “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”
              –Proverbs 14:18(NKJV)
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Oh, the storms may be raging, the winds howling, the rain beating down, and the floods rising, but in spite of the weather this is the day the Lord has made.  The life may be facing its own type of storms:  worry, fret, debt, doubt, disease, and on…, but in the midst of your day whatever it may be like, it is the day the Lord has made.
    Part of the problem is that we do not live the concept of Psalm 118:24.

         “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (NKJV)

No, we may recognize that the Lord made the days, and we ho-hum recognize that it is another day upon us.  Woe is me, another day of sorrow, of rain, of corona, of storm, of terror.  Woe is me.  If the day is bad, that’s your fault.  It is a day the Lord has given you, what are you going to do with it?  He has determined the weather, He has allowed the circumstances you are going through, whether you are to be sick or well.  He knows if you have good service at the restaurant or bad, whether or not the attendee at WalMart griped at you for not wearing a mask.  The important things is, what are you going to do about it.  The “Coach” John Wooden always instructed his players to “make each day your masterpiece.”  What kind of day will you have depends upon you.  Joseph Alleine lived by this maxim, “Let us live this one day well!”  Tomorrow will have its own problems, take care of today.
    “There will never be another day like today.  We may say that we will go to the same work, but with the same people, and go home to the same family but every day in individually distinct.  Every day has different circumstances, conversations, and opportunities.  This could be a day that something happens so that you remember it for the rest of your life, or this could be an average day with nothing spectacular happening, but it is still God’s day.  We need to be less concerned with the days in our life and more concerned with life in our days.” (Larry Turner)
    What you do with the day is up to you.  God has given it to you, how you use it and accept his gift can be a gift back to the Lord.  See, we may accept the day, but do we accept it with rejoicing and happiness, glad that it has been given to us?  Paul reminds us about the day, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV))  This is a day given to you therefore, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NKJV)  Take advantage of the day; take advantage of every opportunity that comes you way, whether great or small.

It doesn’t take much guts when you cover your face and ride with a mob.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (Texas Standoff)

    “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.”
              –Psalm 37:1 (NKJV)
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There has been much said during this time of “virus” about it being the “end times.”  That being said, is it really?  Now, don’t be alarmed that I wrote that.  I am not one of those scoffers, but I do believe that we can spend too much time in wonderment and not continue to be doing what we are called to do.  Is the Lord on the horizon?  Could be, or He could wait a very more years, but I doubt very much longer or there would not be many of the elect left.
    Paul very clearly describes what it will be like in the last days.  He tells us, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” (2 Timothy 3:1, NKJV).  In other words, the way of life will be perilous, dangerous, difficult, grievous, or terrible.  Jesus said those days would be “a time of distress such as the world has never known (Rossier, Matthew 24:21).  No it is not the Day of the Lord, for that will follow after these “times.”  Barclay says that this will be “a time of terror, when evil would gather itself for its final assault and the world would be shaken to its moral and physical foundations.”  The “perilous times” lead up to the Rapture of the Church and the following Great Tribulation; it is therefore, a prelude to the evil that was to come.
    One more description of the word, “perilous” is used to describe the demoniacs that met Jesus among the tombs.  They were violent and dangerous.  Plutarch used to the term to describe an ugly wound (Barclay).  Perhaps one that is festered and full of gangrene.  Barclay continues, “There is an idea of menace and of danger in this word.  In the last days there would come times which would menace the very existence of the Christian Church and of goodness itself…”
    Second Timothy 3:2-5, then goes on to describe characteristics of those “perilous times.”  

         2 – For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
         3 – unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
         4 – traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
         5 – having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!  (NKJV)

Read that description and then look at the news.  Every aspect of that is seen.  Hatred is unfettered like it has never been before.  Life will never go back to what was once called “normal.”  People cry for a normal life, but it will not be that way unless one can call evil, normal.  And if that isn’t bad enough, Paul continues to write, “But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (3:13, NKJV).  
    With all of the dreadful words being said, I want to get to the main idea of my note this morning.  In the message last Sunday, one phrase jumped out at me.  “Perilous times are precious times.”  How can that be?  When people, whether friends, family, or even strangers, go through an ordeal together there is a bond.  In the West there was a saying that “he’s a man to ride the river with,” meaning that in tough times he’ll do his part and you are glad to have worked side by side with him through the ordeal.
    In the days of this corona, what have you done to help someone else?  How have you continued to minister?  How important has friends and family become?  You should be in the custom of giving encouragement, helping their faith to grow, exhorting them to continue through.  “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory forever and ever.  Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18, NKJV)
    Stand strong, continue in the doctrine, be ready and on the alert.  Remember the hope that is yours and let your faith grow knowing that God is with you in these “perilous times.”

The bank of clouds now swept hugely out of the western sky.  Its front was purple and black, with gray between, a bulging, mushrooming, vast thing instinct with storm.  It had dark, angry, threatening aspect.  As if all the power of the winds were pushing and piling behind, it rolled ponderously across the sky.  A red flare burned out instantaneously, flashed from the west to east, and died.  Then from the deepest black of the purple cloud burst a boom.  It was like the bowling of a huge boulder along the crags and ramparts, and seemed to roll on and fall into the valley to bound and band and boom from cliff to cliff.”
              –Zane Grey (Riders of the Purple Sage)

    “He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm.”
              –Job 26:12 (NKJV)
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My mercy, it looks like a double-whammy is on its way this week.  Two hurricanes are converging on Louisiana and Texas and only time will tell of their fury.  Storms – we can try to run away, but a person just can’t get away from storms.  A tornado lowers its deadly tail and people head for the storm shelters.  Interesting term–“storm shelter”–for what is it really?  Psalm 46:1-7, speaks of a shelter.  Storms of nature and storms of nations can be found in the shelter that God provides.

    1 – God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
    2 – Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,
    3 – though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
    4 – There is a river—its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
    5 – God is within her; she will not be toppled.  God will help her when the morning dawns.
    6 – Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
    7 – The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah (HCSB)

Spend some time meditating and contemplating of this portion of Psalm 46.  Right from the beginning it adds to our hope and faith:  He is “always found in times of trouble.”  WOW!  He is the God who is there in the midst of chaos, confusion, and calamity.  He is the God who is there is the midst of suffering, sorrow, and even death.
    The enemy of our souls will whisper, some in the streets might cry out–“Where is God?”  Ah, my friend, He is there; He is always there.  George Wood puts it this way, “You have a choice:  Trust God and do not fear, or mistrust Him and fail.  You will get no emotional benefit or comfort from His presence unless you realize He is there:  your refuge, strength, and help.”  Nations rage, viruses come and devastate, fear grows and is urged on, there is terror in the streets and Satan is laughing.  However, he cannot and will not laugh when you realize that God is there in the midst of all that the enemy throws at the world and at you.
    Who knows what will happen when the two hurricanes collide?  Who knows what will happen in the streets of our cities?  Who knows what will happen to the kingdoms of this world; a world that has only known war, pain, and sorrow?  But, you oh Christian!  Realize that God is there beside you whatever may befall.
    Thunderstorms!  I like a good old thunderstorm.  I used to be afraid of them, but now I enjoy them.  I see the power they have.  When the lightning cracks and pops, when the thunder rolls it can be a fearful thing, but I see them as something created by God and they are only a smidgen of His power.  What is around His throne?  We think that is power, look at what happens when He lifts His voice–oh my.  
    So don’t fear–run to God, run to the fortress that is your refuge and strength.  Just think, one day we will live in that city that cannot be touched by storm, by evil, by sin, by war, or by the threats of the devil.

         “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
          Our helper he amid the flood or mortal ills prevailing.
          For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
          His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
          On earth is not his equal.”
                   –Martin Luther

So when the devil squawks, when there is a flood of disease, when he tries to kill and destroy you–remember, God is there, run to Him.