So many people in the world are living in fear during this current climate of chaos and unrest. Government controlled media spills out it’s daily dose of gloom and doom in it’s efforts to control the crisis. Whatever, and wherever, it had it’s beginnings, God permitted it to shake the world to it’s core.
Hebrews 12: 26-29 “……but now He has promised saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire”.
Our place of safety is being IN the Shaker, for His kingdom cannot be shaken.
Anxiety and fear have no place in a child of God, secure in the knowledge of who his Father is, Creator and Master of the universe. These natural emotions will occur within us, but Christ has given us His resurrection life to put these imposters to flight when they seek to find a foothold in a troubled heart. In moments of testing we reveal whether the truths we declare have been wrought into our lives…….or are they just empty words that fall to the ground because we have not yet gone through the fire of walking in them? Our birthright in Christ, all the fullness of God, is available to us. Daily opportunities will arise for us to claim the ground and be tested on it as we “walk by faith and not by sight”, (2 Corinthians 5-7). Hebrews 11:6 instructs: “Without faith it is impossible to please God”.
The Lord Jesus can enable us to be a carrier of His peace and presence even in the storms of life. If the testimony of Jesus is operating in our lives, unbelievers will ask why we are not troubled by the world chaos. 1 Peter 3:15-16 teaches: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience……..”. A sanctified heart is also a prepared heart, enjoying daily fellowship with the Lord in humility. Our conversation to answer their questions should not be declared arrogantly, critically or proud fully, but, according to the scripture, with meekness and reverence. Nothing in science can produce, or compare, with what the blood of Jesus Christ can give.
This current climate can create opportunities for God’s supernatural intervention. In recent weeks a friend gave testimony to this. He left home with his life in turmoil, not knowing where to go. On receiving his phone call and cry for help, a brother invited him to come and visit for respite and counsel, to find God’s direction for his life. At that time, the country’s border was closed to unvaccinated travellers, yet, inspite of that, the man passed through the border without questioning! God supernaturally undertook in his circumstances and brought him to a safe haven…..to God be all the glory!
Where do I put my trust? In God, or things? As our spiritual journey progresses, we begin to discover God’s character. Romans 1:18-25 depicts how some failed to glorify God, AS God, and thus through rejecting Him, became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened, worshipping the creature more than the Creator. Do I worship God AS God, because of who He is…God, or do I put His attributes before His name? Firstly, God is God……to be worshipped AS God. He is not firstly a loving God, a kind God, a just God, a faithful God…….He is God. As I learn to embrace this truth and bow and worship Him because He IS God, I then discover His wonderful attributes of love, faithfulness, justice, grace, mercy, righteousness, long-suffering, forbearance, judgement, loving chastisement etc. All His attributes are perfectly balanced and synchronised in His character, reflecting His glory in perfection. There is no darkness or trait of evil in Him. When I see Him as He really is, how can I help but respond and bow, and worship Him? The more I worship Him as God, the more I get to know Him and prove He is who He says He is, enabling me to trust Him because of His indisputable, unchanging character.
Our heavenly Father has deposited all His fullness in His Son, Jesus Christ. The dark days hold no grip of fear in us as we crown Jesus Lord of our hearts and lives, for He becomes the Light of our life and our testimony.
The last verse of the song “In Christ Alone”, (Stuart Townend & Keith Getty), is our standing in Christ and encourages our hearts:
“No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me,
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny,
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand,
Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand”.
