One of the things that The Lord has patiently taught me is to be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:4-7). The modern media, with a 24 hour news cycle can tug us one way or another. The news managers of all the networks purposely tug our emotions this way and that, keeping us, like hundreds of canaries in a cage, agitated.
Take a moment, slow down and read the news over your open Bible.
As I write this on 11 July of 2014, for example, Iran moves closer to having a nuclear capability, ISIS (the new Islamic Caliphate in Iraq) has acquired 40 Kg of nuclear materials (think dirty bomb) , Israel is under hour by hour rocket attack from Hamas in Gaza, the US Southern border is being over-run by illegal immigrants with the apparent blessing of the US Government, high profile Billionaires and the US Chamber of Commerce …. It can be depressing stuff.
A dear friend of mine wrote recently discussing his depression from the news. I get it. Me too…, till i take time to reflect on history… Already written.
Already written history? Yes! The prophetic writings in the Bible are historical accounts written in advance. God’s name for Himself, “I Am” is a wonderful descriptor. He is “present” simultaneously in our past extending to before the beginning of time, He is present in our, well, present time and he is present in our future and beyond the end of time. God is always in our timeline.
The un-fulfilled history of Israel, for example, has Jesus on His Throne ruling from Jerusalem in the Millennium. This can’t take place if Jihadists destroy Israel. Because God says this will take place (history yet un-happened) I trust Israel has to remain. Therefore, while I pray for Israel, I rest in the sure knowledge that God loves Israel and Israel will survive.
Besides the promises inherent in the un-happened history, The Lord gives us promises which have no expiration date. How about the words of Our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34? This is the passage famously having Jesus extolling he takes care of the tiny sparrows, so surely He will care for us.
For me, I rest …. “rest” … in Jesus and His Grace. Whatever is in store for me at the as yet un-happened history, I trust that the Lord is here with me now as well as at that next point in time. If He cares for the sparrows, certainly He will care for me.
For me, I am ‘exercised’ over the news, but its the anger of the righteous over sin, not the anxiety from fear.
I like the following lyrics of a song by Steve Green. Its on my list for my funeral service đ
Come and See
Jon Mohr/David Huntsinger/Bonnie Huntsinger
Romans 6:18/Colossians 1:13
To all who are tortured and ravaged by sin
The frail and the wounded about to give in
There’s news of release and captivity’s end
We’ve been set free, come and see
Oh sleeper awake, come out of the night
Throw open the door and step into the light
For sin is undone and the wrong is made right
We’ve been set free, come and see
Chorus
Come and see, the power of sin has been broken
The gates of your prisons stands open, come and see
Arise, believe, for the power at work both to rescue and save
Is the power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave
We’ve been set free, come and see
I, too, lived in slavery, unmercifully bound
Battered and broken I finally knelt down
And there in obedience freedom was found, I’ve been set free
And now through the dungeons of darkness and night
I run in the freedom of liberty’s light
And shout to the captives, “Oh prisoners take flight
We’ve been set free, come and see”
Chorus
If the enemy’s holding a knife to your chest
Demanding you give up or die
In Christ crucified you’ve already died
And now you are free
Chorus
Friends, I have comfort in troubling times simply by God’s Grace. This comfort is available to those who have completely placed their trust in Christ; to Christians. Are you resting in Christ? Have you heard God’s tug on your soul? Have you responded? May God richly bless you.
M