A World on Fire

When All is dark, what then?

This day dawned with personal sorrow.  Today is Bev’s birthday, but she is no longer celebrating them, having joined the saints of all the ages in the home of our Eternal Father a few weeks ago. Obviously, much of my sadness is related to that loss. I am also feeling the pain of my broken world. The problems in the world are multiplying like rabbits!

·         Since January, ISIS has brought terrorism and death to multiple locations, bringing down an airliner over the Sinai, bombing in cities from Turkey to Kenya to France to this US of A; and just yesterday, in Belgium. Their brand of religion creates a fanaticism that defies our imagination, attracting thousands zealots ready to die for the cause.

·         Old racial tensions have rekindled in America stoked by politics of fear and division. In my entire life I have never observed the kind of hatred and anger that is simmering in this nation. It does not bode well for the future that so many are ready to choose a leader who specializes hate, who acts like a spoiled boy, who threatens those who criticize him.

·         Americans are accustomed to a lifestyle that simply cannot be sustained as our economy flattens and our population ages, growing less productive. Our health care system, our justice system, and our educational systems are collapsing before our eyes under the weight of entitlement, thoughtless policies, and unrestrained selfishness.  And, there is no real leadership in sight to help us re-chart our course.

·         Our culture is a cesspool of filth, injustice, greed, and unfaithfulness. Porn merchants fill the Internet with sexual perversion, produced by men who destroy lives with no remorse.  Wall Street grows richer at the expense of a growing underclass.  Political power is largely used protect the privileged, with no discernable real concern for change.  Families are devastated by failure of to keep the covenant.

Through it all, Christ’s Church is fumbling to find her voice, to find words that people can understand.  She has become more interested in maintaining social position than with speaking truth and is taken up with trivialities nobody cares about. The very Body that is entrusted with the Spirit and the Gospel, is mostly self-absorbed, talking about traditions of little consequence. The Gospel is often twisted into a recreation of the “American dream,” more about personal fulfillment and prosperity than finding delight in the love of Christ.

With a broken heart, struggling with personal sorrow, I feel the weight of the world today.  I would love to say that I face these things with great courage and optimism, but that would be a lie. Yet . . .

Despite these things and more, I have hope! Why?

Because I know that God reigns; that the Empty Tomb is on the far side of the Blood-stained Cross!  Our Christian hope is found in our secure place in the Kingdom of God, a place from which we reach into the troubled world to minister God's grace, to speak His wisdom, and to offer His salvation. We realize that even death itself cannot destroy us because it did not destroy our Lord, who died and lives again.

Walking with Jesus through Jerusalem, during what we call the Passion week, the disciples pointed out the grand buildings, admiring them as symbols of what they thought was an indestructible city. Jesus brought them to reality. His words probably frightened them. He was not wildly optimistic. He told the truth about the toll of evil! “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:4-13, NLT) Jesus was telling His disciples that this world would go off the rails again and again. This is the way of evil and sin. Nothing of this world - governments, social systems, or grand buildings - can resist the inevitable advance of decay. False religions, wars, and natural disasters will be cyclic, throughout history, He warned, "but the end won't follow immediately."

Some Christians see the sin-sickness of their world as reason to withdraw from it, to abandon it to evil, and/or to create escapist prophetic scenarios.  But, what does Jesus ask of us? "Stand steady against the onslaught of evil! Don't compromise and slide into spiritual apathy." Those of us who know the Eternal God, who live in His purposes, who have accepted the promise of Resurrection Life are equipped to wage war against the evil around us - a war of love that holds out the hope of redemption and salvation to all who believe in the One who came to 'save us from our sins.'

Difficult times provide great opportunities for the advance of the Gospel of Christ. The cost is high, the reward inestimable.

Here's a word from the Word to take to heart today. "So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.  In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. " (Ephesians 6:11-18, The Message)

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Happy Birthday in Heaven, sweet Bev.
You now know the promise that we long for – peace and joy in the Father’s house.