Psalm 37, Day 8

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

I have been young (and foolish) and now I am “old” and hopefully wiser. God IS merciful. Departing from evil is always a good thing.

Psalm 37:25-28 - I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 

Psalm 37, Day 7

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

Psalm 37:21-24 - The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. 

Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best

Mark 8:36 - For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

The statement to prepare for the worst, hope for the best, has been used a lot these past couple of weeks with all the intense weather that has occurred. 

Other statements recently heard:

•Once the storm comes it's too late to take action, so do what you need to do before it comes. 

•You can replace the material things, but lives cannot be replaced. 

•Err on the side of caution.

•Evacuate or die. (Yikes)

These are all true statements for life situations. It is also true when it relates to the salvation of our souls. Many believe God is not important in ones life...it's okay to believe in God, in their own way, or whatever god they desire, but there is only one true God who can provide the hope in our salvation and His name is Jesus. 

He requires an intimate relationship with Him, like a father to a child or husband to wife. He requires a repentant heart, not sacrifices or head knowledge of Him. Denomination means nothing to Him. He wants your heart. He wants your commitment. He doesn't just want you on Sundays but everyday. He wants you in your home, at work, at play. He wants your complete focus and devotion. 

Salvation is real and important. It's serious business. Those who have experienced it know! They know the changes that have taken place. They know the voice of the Lord. They know His power. They are gaining wisdom and revelation of who this God is. 

There will always be controversy about this subject. Remember, even Jesus encountered scoffers and persecution. Why would He have gone through all this if His Gospel message of salvation wasn't true? We are to seek Him while He may still be found, not wait, because we don't know when our last day will come...we must be certain today. I understand some think this thing about salvation through Jesus might be a myth. Then this: If what I believe is wrong, then I have nothing to lose. But if I’m right, then those who think contrary have everything to lose. Reread the opening scripture.

So, when the storms of life come, whether natural disasters or personal ones, who do you turn to? Doctors, science, government or anything of man can do just so much and I'm not saying we shouldn't seek their help when necessary. But when the chips are down and we consider where we will be when we die, do we have peace and hope in what Jesus did and what He tells us we have to look forward to? Our physical lives, once done on earth, cannot be replaced... People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)... unless we have received Christ as our Savior. There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. Have we been evacuated from our worldly lives leading to death or have we sought the One who has died that we might live? Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)

Straight from Jesus: 

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)  

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) 

Hope comes only from Jesus. Spiritual life only comes through Jesus.  He came that we may have eternal (spiritual) life. He came to give us hope and peace. We will still encounter storms of life, but we can know our hope is secure, even if we die. How about others? How fearful might they be? Consider the list of statements above and consider Jesus, the one who saves.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 - Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.

Hope

Psalm 146:5 -  Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

Romans 8:24-25 - For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 

Our hope should be in the Lord. I could end it right there! But I'm not so short-winded.

I have written for a time about the uncomfortable feelings some are having in our country. I blame it on one thing...loss of God. There is nothing wrong about judging as long as truth is brought into this judgment. What would God think? That's what we should be concerned about.

We do not know for certain where our nation is heading. While I don't want to present a calamitous view on this, the Bible specifically states in the last days what we see happening will occur...to greater and greater extent. Let me just say that the leadership of this nation adds to the outcome. And, boy, there are opposing views on leadership. I want only to point out where we can look for help and hope in difficult times. 

The Bible tells us as believers and followers of Christ that no matter what happens, we will not be spared difficulties just because we are Christians. That's where hope in the Lord comes in. It will not come in the form of leadership of this country unless this person is a follower of Christ and tries to lead us based on God's principals. But He often gives us what we deserve, not need. God, however, will guide, strengthen, give wisdom and allow us peace, individually, in our spirits in the midst of turmoil. If our faith in God is strong, His strength will allow us to endure even the most difficult of circumstances. We can be a light in the darkness for those struggling--without a relationship in Jesus Christ.  

We are called to live by faith, not by sight. When we cannot understand in the natural what is happening around us and we begin to fear, we are living by sight. We are living with our own understanding. God's ways are not like ours. They are greater than ours. He knows the beginning from the end in any situation. He knew before time even began, before He created the earth, just how everything would happen, EVERYTHING. If He is able to keep all that straight and we can't, wouldn't we want to put our trust in Him, our Almighty Father? 

When I look at our country and see where we've come from, disappoint grows. Our country was founded on the principles of Christianity. Congress used to begin their sessions in prayer. The Constitution states "One nation, under God." Many of the first states referred to God as "one God," "Almighty, "the Supreme Being," "the Creator," "Savior" and "Lord."  What I'm seeing today does not resemble anything like that.   

I believe the problems arising in this country are because we have changed our course. The world has changed its course as well. I don't believe God is very pleased about it. We're in the birth pangs of the last days, as the Bible states, of turmoil and uncertainty because we have turned our backs, as a nation and world, on God. What's good is now considered evil and evil is good. Millions of abortions are glossed over but the life of one lion (and I am not too keen on killing animals) takes center stage. There's something wrong with that picture. The commandments of the Bible are not looked upon as truth anymore. There is a lack of closeness with God and a lack of wanting a relationship with Him or desire to know who He is and what He says. 

I thank God that even though He might be turning His back on us, He has not turned His back on His children. He stands firm in His covenant with those whose hope is in Him, who do not lose faith in Him and maintain focus on Him. He will not break His covenant with us, although we might with Him, as is seen in this country. He is our deliverer. He delivered Israel out of Egypt and He will deliver us out of this world someday. I eagerly await what I cannot see...for Him, for His return. In the meantime...

Psalm 121:1-2 - I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Out of the Rubble

Psalm 121:1-2 -  I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

We've seen disaster after disaster here in the United States. First the tornadoes, then the flooding and now fires blazing uncontrollably for now. It's heart rending and curious. What will come of all this? No doubt we will rally together to bring those people and communities back together. We're good at that.

My question and my prayer is, will God be glorified in all this? Yes, glorified! Glorified in the rubble. Praised despite the circumstances. 1Thessalonians 5:13 - ...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Will He be the  center of all these people's lives as they rebuild? Will He be the one to truly raise them up out of the rubble?

These people have lost so much. Insurance can help to rebuild naturally. But I will always say the best insurance is Jesus Christ. I'm sure some who know Christ as they are going through all this are trusting He will take care of them. Some who know Christ might not be as strong in their faith and might not see where good might come out of all the disaster. Others might fall away completely in anger or disappointment coming from a lack of understanding of God's sovereignty. And then there are those who will come to faith because of this...because all else has been depleted. Because someone showed them God's love and told them about Him. That's God's hand at work.

I heard about a church awhile back in Joplin, Missouri that was very badly damaged by a tornado. It didn't stop them from clearing an area where Convoy of Hope could set up a distribution center. And they had Sunday service in their parking lot. They were a blessing to the community in the midst of their problems. And they showed their dedication to God, no doubt worshipped Him with all their hearts. And when we step out to help others in our own time of need, and continue to bless Him, I believe the Lord steps in to provide whatever we need...

I personally know how when one goes through a horrific experience how the power of the Holy Spirit will rise up within to bring about a witness to God's faithfulness and strength in the midst of all trouble. It's amazing how the boldness comes and words flow. It's like the Holy Spirit Himself rises up out of our own inward rubble and God is revealed within us like never before. I pray that this is what is happening all across the United States as rebuilding of lives and communities takes place.

But it is important to know Jesus before these things happen. So many times I've heard, "I can't imagine going through tough times without Jesus." Where's the hope if people don't know Him? Do they hope in their insurance or government? That's fine and good for the present, in the natural, but hope in Jesus Christ is the better way. He promises to take care of us, to never leave us nor forsake us... if we know Him personally.

Christians know that they have lost earthly possessions and maybe even family and friends in this tragedy, but they have not lost their2 Jesus. That's the beauty of a relationship with Christ. It's the only and best thing we have. God is eternal. This earth is not. Things of the world may fade away but God's Word lasts forever. That Word is Jesus. His promises despite our situations hold strong to those who put complete trust in Him. He is our Jehovah Rapha, the healer of ALL our troubles. He is our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.

When we look at all that is happening in this world and question the meaning of it all, it helps to remember that God is still in control. What may seem disastrous could be the very thing that brings about good, even if that means turning to Jesus at a bad time in our lives.  If we rely too much on what we hold so dear and our focus is off the Lord, perhaps He is just stirring things up that our focus would be steered back to Him. Look at all the times the Israelites turned their backs on God only to be taken captive by their enemies, or were thrown into slavery, or God removed Himself for a time from their presence. It was His way of getting them to see what they had done, repent of their sins, cry out to Him for deliverance, and return back to Him.

Jesus wants us to cry out for deliverance...out of the rubble of our lives, He will clean us up and renew our lives. He will bring renewed joy and confidence. He will show us how much He loves us and wants to take care of us. It only takes our own willing hearts to receive this from Him and let go of the world's false hopes and desires.

My prayer is for God to be glorified in all this. If He has some great plan, let it happen. Let us be able to look back someday and say, I can see God's hand in it all. Things around us at times might seem overwhelming. We might seem to lose ground in life's circumstances, but as God would say, "fear not." He is there wanting us to trust in Him. Oh, let us praise Him... Psalm 45:2.

If we know this Jesus who captures our soul and looks out for us, we can know that He is by our side through all things and we just need to call out to Him. If you don't know Jesus, you might want to. Seek Him in the rubble of your own life and He will raise you up. He will put your feet on solid ground and bring a new outlook on life.

Psalm 39:7 - "and now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You."

They Have Gone Far From Me

Jeremiah 1:16 - I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 

I opened my Bible to where the bookmark was located. It was the Book of Jeremiah. He was one of the major prophets of the Old Testament. I was struck by some of the words God asked Jeremiah to speak to the people of Israel, although I've read them before. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2Timothy 3:16). It is just as important to read the Old Testament as the New. The Old shows us what happened to Israel when they did not follow God...and it shows us today what can happen. The New, on the other hopeful hand, shows us where our salvation lies, in Jesus Christ. It shows us the plan God had in place to help this fallen world. We need to know history so we are able to understand what is happening today. We can't ignore our past, even the ancient past, which is rich in details.

We can recognize what's happening to us today and look back on world history to see similarities. There are more similarities in the Old Testament if we look hard enough.

Jeremiah was asked to show the people what they had done and the judgment God would bring against them for their actions. We cannot assume that God does not have a hand in today's world, because He truly does. He is not some distant "higher power (ugh)" whose job was finished with creation. He is a God who knows the beginning from the end and we have not ended yet. He is keenly aware of every detail of every person's life and every circumstance taking place in this world. What is happening today was prophesied thousands of years ago in the Old Testament and it's time we take notice. We must also grasp the promise given to us in the New Testament through salvation in Jesus Christ.

Without that salvation, without the acceptance of His free gift, without the knowledge of Jesus, there is no hope. Despite what might be happening in this world, if we know Jesus personally as Lord and Savior of our lives, we have nothing to fear. There is no doom and gloom. If what is perceived is considered doom and gloom, Jesus does not reign in that life. 

Despite the worst that could be upon us, the best is yet to come through the return of Jesus Christ. Oh, again I know there are many who will scoff at this thought...just like the Bible tells us will happen in the last days. This is God's story and He's sticking with it!

Like so many I personally know, my church, even Glenn Beck, we know that we know that we know that our country is in peril because "we have forsaken God." Little by little He has been ignored, even by intelligent people who have bought into the "let's not offend, let's embrace the diversity of all religions" concept. I'll tell you, it's harder to stick to the guns of Christ and Christianity than it is to accept the worldview. But then our strength is in the Lord.

Here are some scripture references I underlined from Jeremiah because they spoke to me about our nation:

They have gone far from me.

(The LORD) brought us up out of the land of Egypt.

I (the LORD) brought you into a bountiful country.

The rulers also transgressed against Me...and walked after things that do not profit.

Have you not brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God when He led you in the way? 

Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God.

Why do you gad about so much to change your way?

(Jeremiah 2:5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 36)

These scriptures aren't just for us as individuals, or us as a country, but even to the Church. Remember, churches are man-made. It is harder to find a church today that is totally sold out for Jesus, not willing to become complacent about what God says a church should be. We must also understand that although God is a loving God, He is also One who will judge.

Remember this: God never changes. What He has done in the past He can do today. There is a major theme in these scriptures...we have forsaken God (verse 5). Isn't He the One who brought us out of our slavery from England (verse 6)? Isn't He the One who brought us to this "bountiful country" that we might flourish under His blessing (verse 7)? Aren't we experiencing rulers who are more power hungry than caring about the people of this nation (verse 8)? Haven't we as a nation brought this all on ourselves because we have not stood by God (verse 17)? 

I'm not trying to portray doom and gloom...just the facts. There's always a hopeful side to this, even if our country as a whole does not want to do this: We have a hope in Jesus Christ. Those who follow Him faithfully, closely, unashamedly, may endure struggles. Will endure is more like it. But it's not what's here on earth we are to be obsessed with. It's our relationship--not religion--with our Savior, the One who has brought us out of our sinful captivity and given us a spiritual freedom that cannot be taken away no matter what happens in this world. 

Below is just part of the hope and promise given in Psalm 146. Take time to read the entire, encouraging Psalm. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146:5-6 - Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever.