Into The Wilderness

Islamic State running amuck in the Middle-East. Russian expansionism in Eastern Europe and generally rattling its military sabers before the world. China growing as a world power, also in a period of expansionism throughout the Asian seas. Europe and America looking like they’re heading into a new Dark Ages by way of cultural paradigm shifts; and looking to be in stasis, directionally.

Where’s God?

Heart disease, cancer, and new diseases a growing plague for the past fifty years and growing still, with no end in sight; remindful of the Bubonic Plague of the Middle Ages. Mass murders, serial murders, school shootings, sex trafficking, kidnappings, and political – business – governmental – and personal corruptions becoming more commonplace. Nation-wide drug and alcohol addictions ever-increasing, growing like a wild-fire out of control. Racial relations ever-deteriorating instead of healing, generally speaking. Famines, hunger, suffering, Tsunamis, earth quakes. Men, women, and children killing men, women and children.

These are exciting times! (No, I’m not speaking for the devil.)

Why? Because where is God? He’s still on His throne! He’s in the same place He was when His Son was hanging on the cross. He hasn’t moved from the place He was when he told us all these things would take place. And He is witnessing it all. Further, He brings it to our attention to bear witness also.

So, where is man? He’s in the court houses, in the militaries, in the governments, in the businesses, in the homes, in the schools, in the popular media, in the closets, in the mirrors, in the churches, in the clubs. What is man doing in these places? —-

He’s removing God.

Everything mentioned above is man’s doing (except Tsunamis, earthquakes and some diseases). Mankind has the age-old habit of bringing suffering on himself, while offering the excuse of good intentions, and he blames God. Man wages war against Christ without cause – and thereby brings about his own suffering and destruction by going as far into the spiritual wilderness as he can go in the name of “freedom.” And in the name of this same freedom, he has discarded the only Compass that could bring him back.

Even so, yet there is still much beauty and goodness to be found in the world in spite of all this. Why? Because God will not go away! His ultimate sacrifice guarantees He will conclusively maintain control of what belongs to Him. He will allow man to go only so far, and no further in his willful self-destruction.

And so! As Christians – what do we do about it?

We, personally and collectively, do what He commanded us to do:

“Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. In these are all the Laws and Prophets.”

In other words, do all we can as we do no evil, but only good for Christ’s sake. That’s quite a tall order in itself. Keeping our sanity while so many around us are losing theirs and blaming us, we must keep our focus on the Savior and His words, persevering straight along the narrow path. The Lord still has His work to do inside each one of us even as the world around us appears to be…well…you can put your own descriptive word here.

So let us continue on keeping our eyes on our primary objective primarily, even as we acknowledge that those with more opportunity have more responsibility.

As for me, I remember the Lord has always been better to me than I deserve. Bless the Lord.

Wherever we’re at, whatever we do, let the Word go forth – Christ and His word will NOT go away. He abides, and He abides still.

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength,

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:41 (NIV)

-g.w

Christ Abides