I have been asking the Lord about what the future holds as I see the United States circling the drain of history. Power is in the process of shifting from west to east with Russia and China rising while the United States and western Europe in decline. If you look at politics in the United States today you can see we are not far removed from that movie idiocracy.
The "news" today has devolved to the point where I literally cannot stomach it for more than a couple minutes regardless of the source. It has become toxic. Here is where the Lord has stepped in with some Divine wisdom that confirms more or less why the "news" should for the most part be off limits for us. Consider:
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Is there anything true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, anything of virtue or praise in the news anymore? I cant find it. So how much time should we devote to it? Little if any. I wonder how much time our Lord spent reading the Roman newspapers of His day? He didn't have to keep up with the news because He was (and is) the news.....
I have found myself encouraged by moving away from this world's toxicity according to what we read in Phil 4 above. After Phil 4 we can consider this:
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
While the world agonizes over which political, social and economic solution will fix their spiritual problem and things continue to get worse (they should pause to wonder why nothing seems to fix their ever growing problems), we are to rest. We are to rest, and be patient. We are not to fret over the evil we see all around us growing by the day.
Be patient and rest. Thats good news indeed. Where have we heard something like this before? Maybe here:
Rev 3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
We do not know when the Lord is going to do what He said He would do but we know with certainty He will do what He said He would do. We know we should not fret over all of the wicked who appear to get away with murder, fraud, deceit and wickedness of every kind without being brought to justice. We know we should be patient and rest in the Lord. And.....we know we should be watching for His unexpected coming at any time.
The Lord is coming back. We are not focused on the coming of anti-Christ, we are focused on the unexpected, surprise, "secret" coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who told us over and over and over again to be watching for His surprise unexpected coming.
Mark 13
32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
The Lord our God who cannot lie told us emphatically He is coming back and it will be a surprise:
32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
When the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ doesn't even know, yea I think we can call it a secret.
So, we should be resting in the Lord, watching for our Lord's return and all the while doing that work that our Lord has equipped us to do. We are all different with different talents and abilities which we should be putting to use as the Spirit of the Lord directs us.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Be encouraged. We are in this world but we are not of this world. We have some fantastic promises made to us by Almighty God who cannot and does not lie. We are hanging onto those promises as we watch for His return. This world is in for trouble and more trouble but we are not to be troubled. Rest in Him. Stay in the Word, let it encourage you, guide you, guard you and provide for you (and me) as we walk through this world on the way into His kingdom.
grace and peace
(please don't forget to pray for the complete removal of gout and/or whatever else may be causing pain in my feet. Thank you!! :-)
