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Here is a third reason why we can be secure in uncertain times.
God is Sovereign
God has a plan and a purpose for everything that He has made. Everything is for His glory. All things were made by Him and for Him, and He is working all things out according to the council of His own will. He doesn’t need a consulting firm to give Him any tips, He doesn’t need any university professors to give Him any guidance, and He doesn’t need any religious leaders to give Him any counsel.
In the days in which we live God has a plan for His people, the body of Christ; He has a plan for the nations; He has a plan for your life. God is working out His plan. Nothing can stop His plan or frustrate His purposes. God is not worried about what will happen or what He will be able to do. God knows what will happen and He knows what He will do. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He sees the future and He is already there. He knows where He is leading your life and He knows how to get you there in His perfect time and way.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6 [KJV]
In this posting I am featuring some thoughts taken from a monthly letter written by Christy Wilkerson of Maozisrael Ministries. Her words are very timely and I sense that some of you need to be encouraged by them today. I will continue my thoughts on security in an uncertain world at my next posting.
“Every day as we listen to the news we hear how the world is changing at lightning speed. To the natural mind it can be frightening…but to our spiritual eyes and ears, it alerts us to be vigilant and recognize the “signs of the times.”
We cannot live in fear—it is a noose around our neck. We cannot panic—or we will make poor decisions. We must not lose hope—for hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Do not lose desire! Do not panic! Do not fear! For the Lord thy God is with thee, wherever you go!
The Lord is with you…right by your side…helping you not to fear, not to lose heart, not to panic…He is right there, orchestrating your path, guarding your footsteps, leading and guiding you.”
-Christy Wilkerson
Here is a second reason why we can be secure in uncertain times.
God is on His Throne.
God has not made the earth and then abandoned it. He has not retreated somewhere in the universe and gone into hiding. He is today where He has always been, on His throne. God sees all things, knows all things, and is all-powerful. God is all in all. He is above all. Nothing is above Him or equal to Him. There is no king or ruler that has more authority than God; there is no political figure that has more influence than God; there is no nation that has more control than God. No one can outthink Him, or outsmart Him. He is God Almighty. He has all authority in heaven and earth. His enemies are under His feet. He reigns and rules. He is the majesty on High.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Psalm 45:6 [KJV]
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Psalm 47:8 [KJV]
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 [KJV]
There’s a new ad campaign put out by Travelers Insurance (the company with the red umbrella for a logo) that does a great job of addressing the need for financial security. In the ad we see a dog who is very worried about the bone that is in the dog dish. The dog tries various ways to find a secure place to put his bone, while a song called Trouble plays in the background. No matter what the dog tries, it cannot find a safe place to put the bone. Finally, at the end of the ad we see the dog happy and content in the backyard playing with a ball. What gave the dog peace of mind? The final scene takes us back to the dog dish. Inside the dish sits the bone. This time, however, we see a red Travelers’ umbrella standing over the dog’s dish.
The clever ad is Travelers’ way of convincing us that if we are troubled about our investments and our financial security, we need to give our money to them. Once we have done that we can relax, be at ease, and live life worry free.
The financial lessons of the past year have been good reminders for all of us that the financial world is unpredictable and unstable. If our hope, our trust, our future, and our security are tied to the financial world, then like the dog in the Travelers ad, we have reason to be troubled.
We are living in times of great uncertainty. The Bible makes it clear that there is only one thing that cannot be shaken; it is the Kingdom of God. Everything about His Kingdom is solid, unmovable, unshakeable, incorruptible, and undefiled. The wise person is one who is building his life on the person of Jesus Christ, on the truth of His words, and on the reality of His Kingdom.
In the uncertain times in which we are living, God wants us to live as people of faith and not people of “sight”. We are to be people who live amidst fear, yet have peace; people who live amidst sorrow, yet have joy; people who live amidst trouble, yet have comfort; people who live amidst uncertainties, yet have hope.
People of faith in God are not people who have found a way to avoid uncertainties or escape trouble. They are people who have learned to live in this world, but not be of it; to face difficulties and overcome them; to face hardships and walk through them. God is their security. Their trust is in God’s character, their confidence is in God’s ways, their hope is in God’s promises, their joy is in God’s presence, their strength is in God’s power, their stability is in God’s kingdom.
In an uncertain world, God is the God of certainties. The certainties of God provide the anchor for every believer’s soul. They pave the path for the pilgrim on his journey home; they are the covering for the soldier as he goes into battle; they are the blueprints that the carpenter uses to build his house; they are the track shoes that the sprinter uses as he runs for the finish line; they are the seeds that the gardener sows into the good soil of his heart as he awaits the final harvest.
The Travelers ad reminds us that there is much to be troubled and worried about in the world today, but when our lives have been placed in the security of God’s hands, we can live in the confidence and security of His covering over us.
In this posting I am presenting one of the reasons why we can be confident and secure in God’s hands. More reasons will be given in future postings.
1. You are the Lord’s.
It is no accident that you are alive today. He has made no mistakes concerning you. He has given you all the light you need to know His will, and He has given you all the grace you need to do His will. He knows everything about you—your ups and downs, your highs and lows. He knows your thoughts, He knows your heart, and He is acquainted with all your ways. He has laid His hand of blessing upon you, and has placed His covering over you. He knows you by name and calls you His own. No one knows you better or loves you more. Today, you are in God’s place, in God’s time, to fulfill God’s plan, in God’s way, by God’s grace, for God’s glory.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139:15-18 [KJV]
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:15-16 [KJV]
A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible and knows that which passeth knowledge….The man who has met God is not looking for something—he has found it; he is not searching for light—upon him the Light has already shined. His certainty may seem bigoted, but his is the assurance of one who knows by experience. His religion is not hearsay; he is not a copy, not a facsimile print; he is an original from the hand of the Holy Ghost.
We are waiting for a trumpet note that will call us away from the hurly-burly and set in motion a series of events that will result at last in a new heaven and a new earth.
We can afford to wait.
—The Root of the Righteous, A.W. Tozer
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Romans 12:9-13
In our walk with God, there are things that He does and there are things that we do. In Romans 12:9-14 Paul gives us a list of things that we do. We don’t do them apart from God, but we do them through Him, unto Him, and because of Him.
Paul makes it clear that the things we do are an outflow of the love that God has put within us. He tells us that our love should be genuine, a real and sincere manifestation of the love of God. God’s love in us is expressed through us in various ways—through our words, our attitudes, our actions, our choices, and our character.
Let’s look at the things Paul tells us to do.
Abhorring: Abhor what is evil…It’s okay to hate and detest certain things, to have nothing to do with them, and to keep them as far away from us as possible. Evil is one of those things (You who love the LORD, hate evil! Psalm 97:10.) Anything that is devilish, bad, lewd, malicious, or wicked is evil. If evil tries to get close to us we must push it away, if it tries to get in our thoughts we must reject it, if it tries to make us fearful we must not give it any ground. The answer to evil is always “no” and it is something we should always flee from.
Clinging: cling to what is good…God not only wants us to run away from what is evil, but He also wants us to run toward what is good. Goodness is something we are to wrap our arms around and fully embrace. Our relationship with goodness should never be an indifferent one, a casual one, or an occasional one. We are to have a superglue relationship with the things are good, creating a bond from which we cannot be pulled away.
Loving: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…One of the things that believers have in common is that we are all members one of the same family. Being devoted to one another is an expression of the tender care that is common among those who live together in a family. Being devoted to one another in love means to give genuine affirmation, express deep appreciation, and convey heartfelt affection to those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Preferring: give preference to one another in honor… A practical way that we can honor others is to put their needs, their advancement, and their overall success above our own. We give preference to others, when through our example, take the lead in demonstrating what it means to be considerate, respectful, and thoughtful.
Not Lagging: not lagging behind in diligence… God does not want us to become sluggish, bogged down, listless, or running late regarding the things that He asks us to do. We are not to be people who are burdensome or hard to deal with. Always be on time and up to date regarding the things of the Spirit. Do not be like the frantic rabbit in Alice in Wonderland who went about saying, “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date.” Walk in the Spirit, at His pace, and stay in step.
Serving: fervent in spirit, serving the Lord… When we serve the Lord we enter into a love relationship that binds us to His heart for others. Our expressions of love are always done through Him and unto Him. It is something we do from the heart, not indifferently, not coldly, but from a spirit that is bubbling over with compassion and tender care.
Rejoicing: rejoicing in hope… A serving heart is a happy heart that is filled with the assurance of knowing that it is pleasing Him. A servant of the Lord can walk in fullness of joy because his confidence, expectations, and hope are in the Lord and not in man.
Persevering: persevering in tribulation… God wants His people to stick it out, even when things are tough. Every servant of the Lord will face various kinds of hardships, difficulties, testing, and trials. Just because we walk and serve out of love, it does not mean that everyone will receive or welcome that love. We also have an enemy who will try and hinder or discourage us from giving love. When we face persecution, whatever the form, we are to preserver in our love, never losing heart or hope. We must never give up doing what His love is calling us to do.
Praying: devoted to prayer… We are to pray and keep on praying. Prayer is not an afterthought or a last resort. Jesus said, “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Don’t lose heart when you’re knocking, asking, and seeking after God in prayer; don’t lose heart when the needs are great; don’t lose heart when you have to wait; don’t lose heart because God may seem slow, but He is never late.
Contributing: contributing to the needs of the saints… Those who care will be those who share. Within the body of Christ there will always be needs to meet. Often, God involves many people to meet the need of one. It is important for us to know what we are to contribute. We may not be able to do everything, but we can do our part.
Practicing: practicing hospitality… There’s an old saying that’s fitting for hospitality, “If there is room in the heart there is room in the home.” We don’t need a big home to extend hospitality to others, but we do need a big heart. It is the love of Jesus, not our expensive dishes or fancy furnishings that will touch the lives of those who come into our homes.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2
The lost look to Jesus and see the loving Savior.
The wayward look to Jesus and see the only Way.
The confused look to Jesus and see the perfect Truth.
The empty look to Jesus and see the abundant Life.
The meek look to Jesus and see the suffering Servant.
The humble look to Jesus and see the risen Lord.
The blind look to Jesus and see the glorious Light.
The bound look to Jesus and see the conquering Warrior.
The oppressed look to Jesus and see the triumphant King.
The wounded look to Jesus and see the healing Physician.
The needy look to Jesus and see the caring Shepherd.
The hungry look to Jesus and see the living Bread.
The restless look to Jesus and see the Prince of Peace.
The mistreated look to Jesus and see the Righteous Judge.
The weak look to Jesus and see the Lord God Almighty.
The defenseless look to Jesus and see the great High Priest.
The barren look to Jesus and see the fruitful Vine.
The homeless look to Jesus and see their Dwelling Place.
The poor look to Jesus and see their Unsearchable Riches.
The lonely look to Jesus and see the ever-present Friend.
The insufficient look to Jesus and see their All In All.
The work of Christ on the cross did not influence God to love us, did not increase that love by one degree, and did not open any fount of grace or mercy in His heart. He had loved us from eternity, and needed nothing to stimulate that love. The cross is not responsible for God’s love; rather it was His love which conceived the cross as the one method by which we could be saved.
-A.W. Tozer
We would have been satisfied if He had allowed us to eat the crumbs of His bounty beneath the table of His mercy; but He will do nothing by halves. He makes us sit with Him and share the feast. Had Jesus given us some small pension from His royal chambers, we would have had cause to love Him eternally. But no, He wants His bride to be as rich as Himself. He will not have a glory or a grace in which she will not share. He has not been content with less than making us joint-heirs with Himself, so that we might have equal possessions. -C. H. Spurgeon
All I have is yours; I have given it to you in Christ. All the Holy Spirit’s power and wisdom, all the riches of Christ, all the love of the Father; there is nothing that I have that is not yours. I am God, and I love you. –Andrew Murray
Fret buster #41
Christ lives in you, and He is not anxious.
Fret buster # 42
Nowhere in God’s plan for your life does He tell you to learn how to make it on your own.
Fret Buster #43
What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.
Only be still, and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And all-discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving;
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust His word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.
-George C. Newmark, Christian Book of Mystical Verse
What does it mean to fulfill our destiny? Some define destiny as our future place in heaven; others define destiny as discovering our present purpose on earth. It is common to think of fulfilling our destiny as “reaching our full potential” or “being all that we can be.” It is common to hear people say, “We must dare to dream big and accomplish our goals.” This sounds very noble, but it can be misleading and bring a lot of frustration and disappointment into people’s lives as they pursue self-fulfillment.
The word “destiny” can carry some highly challenging, motivating, and inspiring thoughts within people’s minds. It can also carry some allusions of grandeur. Many want to do big things or great things for God, but not too many want to do the little things or the unnoticed things. It is easy to assume that if people fulfill their destiny they will become important, popular, or influential.
Some teach that our destiny is found when we fulfill certain opportunities God gives to us to achieve greatness. Our destiny is not fulfilled through opportunities God gives to us, but through our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. No one’s true destiny can be realized without Christ. In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul defines our destiny in two distinctive ways—“We exist for Him” and “We exist through Him.” The person who is in Christ is not someone who is looking for opportunities to fulfill his destiny, but someone who has fulfilled his destiny and found His divine purpose (there can’t be a higher one.) Being in Christ means that you are where you need to be, you don’t need to look anywhere else or do anything else to “arrive” at your destined place.
There is a difference between fulfilling our destiny and doing the will of God. While God’s destiny for each of us is the same (to be in Christ), His will for each person can be very different. The will of God may lead some to be in a private place and others to be in a public place; lead some to be rulers and others to be servants in Caesar’s household; lead some into the marketplace and others to be keepers at home; lead some to the mission field and others to a local ministry.
The will of God for each of us is for Him alone to decide. The will of God for one woman may mean traveling around the country speaking at women’s conferences; the will of God for another woman may mean staying at home full time. This does not mean that the woman who travels and speaks has fulfilled her destiny and that the woman who stays at home has missed her destiny. God sent Corrie Ten Boom to speak from pulpits all around the world, and he kept Susanna Wesley at home to raise up boys who would impact the lives of millions.
The Apostle Paul’s destiny in Christ was glorious, but the will of God for Paul’s life did not look very glamorous. Nevertheless, Paul whole-heartedly embraced the will of God regardless of the difficulties or what others thought of him. Here, in his own words, Paul gives us a clear picture of what it cost him to follow the will of God…
“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake…We are weak…we are dishonored… being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now."
1 Corinthians 4:9-13”
Never forget that today, your destiny is not to find some great thing to do, but to know Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever. When you have finished your earthly journey and fulfilled God’s will for your life, whatever it may be, your glorious destiny in Christ will continue on forever.
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