I went to bed Election night with a knot in my stomach and woke up the next morning with a heavy heart. First thing in the morning I went on facebook looking for a verse that my sweet friend Carrie had posted on election day. She uses facebook to encourage people in the Lord each day rather than to share personal moments. I thought that my kids might need the encouragement, too, and that was the fastest way to look it up.
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God... Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing..." From Romans 13
The stream was an odd mixture of despair and gloating.
One comment stood out to me. It was written by one of those celebrating victory, and said something to the effect of each group thinking that their person was "God's will" and that those who's guy did not win were saying with sighing resignation, "God is still in control."
- - As though He would now have to scramble to come up with Plan B.
This begged the question,
"Is it God's will that Barack Obama should continue to be the president of the United States?"
I thought about that concept all day as I did mundane chores. The election did not have the outcome that I had hoped for - not because I thought that
God's will should have been what I willed, though I had hoped that it was, but because the outcome PROVED God's will - what the path will be for our country - and that is a path with which I am not entirely comfortable.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
This was on my mind when Chuck Swindol's
series on the book of Daniel that is currently playing, came on the radio.
A few days earlier, he had preached about the writing on the wall and the fall of Babylon. He explained how
Isaiah had prophesied its fall about 170 years earlier, and had said that this amazing city - one of the seven wonders of the world - would
never, ever be inhabited again.
Ever.
He was in the library trying to find out anything that he could on current day Babylon and found nothing. Finally he came across something on The
Ruins of Babylon and read that it is a completely barren and uninhabitable place. "Praise God!" He had said out loud, startling the man sitting near him.
It made me think of this verse:
"God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19
I know enough of
last-day prophesy to know what is coming: wars, natural disasters, one-world government, persecution of the Church, judgement... things seem to be lining up for all this to happen.
They HAVE to!
This is not something to FEAR, but it is an opportunity to say "Praise God!" because as these things unfold before our very eyes, we are watching the fulfillment of all that God has promised - this is evidence that He exists!
Last night the girls asked me if I think that we are living in the Last Days.
"I don't know." I said.
"Ever since Christ ascended into heaven,
all Christians have believed that they were living in the last days!
"This is not bad thinking, though," I added. "Jesus said that it is really important to live each day as though it could be the last day, and be ready."
"But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet... Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." Mark 13:7, 33
What if it is not the Last Days? What if the Earth continues on, business as usual, for another thousand years?
We still need to LIVE READY!
What does that look like in practical life?
Don't borrow from the future, and live a "ready" kind of life:
"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13
Like Daniel,
repent for the sins of the Nation. Even if you are not part of the problem, you CAN be part of the solution!
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2Ch 7:13-14
Pray for our nation and our leaders.
WITH THANKSGIVING!
In her book
One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voscamp notes that most often in scripture,
giving thanks precedes a miracle.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Face the truth about the reality of the world that we live in and
prepare ourselves and our children to live in this kind of world by immersing ourselves in the Word of God.
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ...But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." from 2 Timothy 3
I have heard it said that
the safest place to be is in the will of God. This is often said of those going on the mission field to dangerous locations, but it is actually true for ALL of us!
We can be SURE that, no matter what is happening around us, that God IS in control. He is orchestrating each and every detail of His plan and, though we may not be able to see how each thing fits, we can confidently trust in His knowledge, His love and His care.
Besides.
We know how the story ends!
"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." Revelation 21:1-6
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
