Loved and Protected

Scripture often uses the term “in the day of evil.” It also says a time is coming when good will be called evil and evil will be called good. Unfortunately, these words seem very appropriate for the time in which we live.

The stimulus package our lawmakers are passing bodes the beginning of the end, I believe, for capitalism as we have known it. In trying to redistribute wealth, all motivation to work will be gone, and, as if we didn’t have enough people who won’t work, people who have always worked will now see no point to it.

But you and I are not to give up hope. We don’t work merely for a paycheck if we know Jesus Christ; we work for Christ. Even if taxes increase, if we do have a job, you and I need to work and do the right thing because we belong to the King of Kings, and we want to be a light to the world. And believe me when I say that as the darkness grows ever darker, that light of Christ will shine like the noonday sun, because everyone will need answers that actually work. Rhetoric will no longer suffice. The plans of man will fail.

But God says He is our Jehovah Jaireh, our Provider. And He says 365 times, enough for each day of the year, “Do not fear.”

If you struggle with what’s going on in the world, refuse to get into worry, and instead get into God’s Word, where you can be encouraged and stay focused on His plan and not on what you see with your eyes. It’s not going to be good, that much is clear, but God is sovereign. He is still on the throne, and He’s promised never to leave or forsake His people. So if you are called by His name, hang tight and stay in the Word. Get into an attitude of worship, and praise His name, for He inhabits our very praises. Pray for our decision makers as never before, because the pressure to cave in is tremendous. Pray for wisdom, for the truth to shine as never before, and for men and women to have hearts to listen to the spirit of God.

Then get out there and share the gospel. Ask God to make you bold. Tell people Jesus is coming soon, and that heaven isn’t guaranteed, except to those who are washed by the blood of Jesus. Soon people who know you are a Christian will stop you to ask what you know about Jesus. Will you be ready to share the message of salvation?

Unfortunately, the hard times have to come for our country to stop worshipping the dollar. The dollar has to mean nothing, and material wealth must fail in order for God to recapture our attention.

So here’s the plan: keep short accounts with God. Walk away from hidden sins of any kind, because they will keep you in bondage when you need to be right with God. Scripture says we are to have the mind of Christ, and learn to hate what He hates. Let go of bad attitudes, and develop a tender heart to hear God’s voice, because we’re going to need that more than we ever have before. And remember, none of this is taking God by surprise.

Jeremiah 20:13 says: “Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers.”

Those who are discerning are upset, even angry right now, and I can’t blame them, because it seems as if wisdom has been thrown out the window. But all throughout history, this story has repeated itself, and no matter who was in power, or how evil the times, God was always there for His people. And He won’t leave us now. But it’s up to us to seek His face and ask Him what to do, in order to be effective tools for the Kingdom.

It’s time to stop playing church and be the Church of Jesus Christ, standing for what is right, speaking the truth in love, and letting Jesus assume lordship of our lives. Only those who live this way will overcome until the end. And I, for one, want to be counted among that number. What about you?

Because of His great love,

Nancy

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