God is always monitoring and making adjustments according to His good pleasure. It is not His will that any would perish; however, some people will not let themselves be monitored – governed by Him. So, come to all of us the storms aroused by sin all over the world.
Confidence, whether in storm or calm, is the hallmark of people of faith. This is the constant message in the Old Testament and in the New. These, we are taught, are our examples of how to live our lives – – – through and by — faith.
In a free country faith in faith can seem to work for us and is frequently met with financial success. In America opportunity abounds. Ever hear there’s a sucker born every day that can be sold a bill of goods? That is, an aggressive positive minded person might be selling worthless goods. Maybe; maybe not: the car salesman, the timeshare sales people. Are they caring about us, or just incentivized by big bucks?
The best sales people know that a buyer is facing a need and trying to make a wise selection: selling should be helping. And. more so, if selling -sharing our faith with another.
Is love our motivation? Do we really believe – – – that it is the Lord’s will and desire? This “goodness of God in the land of the living” that we preach? This “All things work together for good” if we will yield our destiny to the Lord in trust? Do we believe He is trust-worthy – always? God forbid that we are trying to build a church: that is what Jesus does. Is our motive as His? “For God so loved the world . . .” do we reach into other’s lives because we care for their best interests?
Do we obey Him and that is why we “Go into the world” and share – preach – teach? Do we touch at least sometimes with healing being the promised results?
Have we even once anointed another with oil because we are told to?
Do we dare to believe that the impossible with man can be accomplished – and will be such that the Lord would say, Because of thy faith? Those examples in the Old and New; they are not stories; they are the history of men who through faith saw miracle happenings.
It is both. God does His good pleasure in bringing many sons to glory: His Son too who surrendered that glory for a season, for Love’s sake.
Study your Bible and you will see often horrific and corrupt leadership – even in Israel – even in the church: yesterday and today; but not forever. There is righteous King Hezekiah standing nearly alone in the world history of Israel. There is his righteous great grandson, King Josiah. There is King David who was a great and righteous leader when he wasn’t a bad one — also. God moves toward the end within it all; but in charge of it all.
Both good and evil serve Him. Consider Pharaoh. God always shines. “He is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.” And His word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.” And darkness cannot put it out. And we can and are told to “walk in the light as He is in the light” . . . and that is our “way” to go “Steady as she goes.”
We lean on Him. We hide ourselves under the cleft in His side. We acknowledge Him; what he has said especially that “He is a present help in time of trouble.” He likes that. He will never let us down.
Positive thinking can’t match faith. It can be – or may not be the truth. “These all died having not seen the promise but believing it afar off.” Until the Rapture, when history reaches its final phases and the dead and alive are gathered in the air with Jesus, every one of us will have yet unseen expectations.
So, brothers and sisters in Christ, if our land becomes over-run with anarchy, God is in it. If we are mocked for our faith, God is in it. Not if – when corruption abounds politically – when claims of government-offered care does not produce cures in our poverty rates, in our education levels, in our defense practicality, in our out-of-control spending and debt – – – God is in it.
Israel was to be known as God’s people through whom peace would come on earth. But corruption seems to have blocked that: ever read about Babylon, about Persia – and Rome? Have we learned that the Jews have been cast out nearly everywhere on earth they have gone. God claims that He orchestrated this: keep watching. It’s not over until the Lord says it is over.
Steady as she goes, friends. Our God is God and He does have us in His grip and He will land us in the Promised Land. Join Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph who in real-time history believed God and will not be denied.
Join Peter, and Paul, and James and John who believed God, left everything else behind and followed Jesus. Follow Him too. Steady as she goes, friends. See you on yonder shore. Love you. Praise Him whom from all blessing flow.
Buddy