You Find Hope for the Future in God - Not the Goverment

At their very best, elected officials are terrifying people.

They are supposed to do what is right and best for the people they represent within the boundaries of 'what is right according to God Almighty'.

Instead, they forget God, and they forget the people they are supposed to represent. They do what is right in their own eyes. They do what will benefit themselves most of all. For most politicians, their main concern is getting re-elected. For a few, their agenda is far greater in scope than getting re-elected. It is changing the world into the image of man. This group is only to happy to help anyone get elected or re-elected who will go along with their agenda. That is how the current liberal government came about.

The United States has a cesspool of terrifying elected officials. Thievery and corruption are the standards by which they live. They continually call evil good and good evil.

It looks like the American way of life is done for. Those who work will support a growing number of those who don't work. Laws will only apply to those who oppose the socialist agenda of politicians. Politicians believe they have the right to do wrong in order to bring about their own version of right. Everything is relative to their own selfish desires and personal gain. There is no truth that is above what is in their own evil hearts.

There is no way to escape the downward spiral brought about by their corruption and greed

UNLESS...... You simply stop focusing on the current government and instead focus on the Lord God Almighty!

The Bible says, 'The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.' Proverbs 9:25

It is time for Christians to change their focus from elected officials to the God of our salvation. It is time to put our trust in the Lord. This is the path to true safety. This is a better way to live than continually worrying about the agenda of those in Washington.

When a new administration goes into the White House, people tend to look to the government to save them if their candidate is the one going in. If it is not their candidate going into the White House, they tend to look to God to save them. It is better to look to God for salvation ALL the time regardless of who is currently in power. The Lord does not change. Jereiah 29:11 is true for us today just as it was true when Jeremiah wrote it. It says;

'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.'

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary explains that verse like this.

'We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them.' christnotes.org

To put your trust in the Lord, or to grow your faith in God, requires that He be first in your line of vision. Look at God before you look at the failings of the government. Look at God before you look at the problems in your own life, family, church, or job.

Then, you will find that whatever man or circumstance you may fear is just a small potato in the scheme of things.
Your trust in God will grow.
Your discernment will grow.
Your joy in the Lord will grow.
Your life will be better altogether.

God bless you.

Barbara Henderson

http://hellogoodday.com

How Do Christians Face the Path Ahead?

Facing the Future with Deep Apprehension, Gloom, and Foreboding

If you like the sub-title for this article, I got it from a line in an old movie called ‘Sullivan’s Travel’s’.  I highly recommend the movie.  If you haven’t seen it you need to find it and watch it.  You need a sense of humor to face the future.  A Christian who has both a sense of humor and hope is truly blessed.  (Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.  ‘On Christ the Solid Rock I ‘Stand’.  http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/m/y/h/myhopeis.htm )

 Before we consider all the terrible things facing America and the world let’s first remind ourselves of Psalms 2 – which says (paraphrased) that the heathens and the kings of the earth are setting themselves against God, but God will laugh at them and set them in derision.’

Psalm 37 and Psalm 59 say something similar as well.  When things look dark and we are facing the future with ‘deep apprehension, gloom, and foreboding, we can always encourage ourselves in the word of God.

 Of course we do live in this world and we do have to face the future.  America is facing the natural course of events when many of the people of a nation have turned from God.  When the majority of people have either turned from God altogether begun to follow a social form of Christianity it follows that ungodly leaders are elected.  Then, I have heard it preached that God simply stops protecting a nation and that is when the decline really sets in.  The end result is always bad.

 Many if not most of the churches have become more of a social institution than an actual house of God.

Church goers in general are ignorant of what the Bible says.  They have no idea of the importance of doctrine.  They don’t know theology.  They generally don’t even understand why there are different denominations, and they certainly don’t understand the theological differences that make up the different denominations.  They are led by feelings instead of God’s word.  They have no leaders to warn them of their stupidity.  Unfortunately, where there are Godly leaders, many people do not want to hear what they have to say.  These people go to a church with a preacher who pleases them but doesn’t really tell the truth.  It is an altogether sad situation.

 Such an ignorant set of Christians, or social Christians, are guilty of putting evil politicians in office by voting economically instead of righteously.  In other words, so called Christians vote for politicians who promise them more.  They do not care exactly where ‘more’ comes from as long as they get a good share of it.  They are without good character.

 By the grace of God, there are some Christians who take their faith seriously.  They actually do work at applying Bible teaching to personal actions.

 It is these Christians through whom God does work and will work.  Their job description is still the same.  They are to conform to the image of Christ, and not to conform to the world.  In times of crisis or national decline there may be more opportunities to preach Jesus Christ than in times of peace and plenty. 

The future of America has no effect on the future of Christians.  I love my country.  I pray for God to bless America and that America will return to God Almighty.  But my first citizenship is in heaven with God.  My first allegiance is to Jesus Christ.  I try to do what I can that will have even a small impact for good on America, but as much as I love my country I am thankful that it is not my eternal home.

Christians need to dis-attach themselves from the things of this world to some extent, even the blessing of being born an American.  We are to be thankful for all our blessings, but to understand how temporary they actually are.  We are to love God, love our families, love the church, and love our country.  That puts our earthly citizenship in 4^th place.  Duty to God, duty to family, and duty to our church/evangelism/missionary effort are all above our country. 

 But, it still hurts very deeply to see our country decline.  When we see our leaders making terrible decisions and turning more toward humanism/collectivism, we tremble.  Christians know God is not mocked.  There will be a day the nation as a whole has to pay the piper.  It doesn’t seem fair that we have to pay the price for the rebellion against God by the unbelievers and ignorant Christians.

 We need to remember that God is righteous.  We need to trust Him.  My youngest grandson recently asked me, ‘Bema – what does it mean to trust God?  How do you do it?’  I told him that to trust God is simply to believe Him.  Believe He is telling you the truth.  God is able to make a promise with the full knowledge that He has the power, authority, and resources, and personal resolve to keep that promise.

 In the midst of trusting God, we need to make a new commitment to do what God has called each of us to do.  We need to remember that we are ALL called to stand in reverent awe God and keep the commandments.  We are to do the things God says to do.  We are not to do the things He forbids.  We are to help fulfill the commandment that the Gospel be preached to all the world.  If you are not a missionary to a particular place or particular people, you are to support missionary efforts.  By the way, my personal opinion is that the little churches supporting missionaries around the world are one of the major things contributing to the stay of God’s Hand of judgment. 

 I have seen people facing a difficult situation use their difficulty as an excuse to sin.  There is no excuse to sin.  When Job was in the midst of his unbearable trial, he did not get drunk or take on a mistress.   He didn’t cheat on his taxes.  In a situation where he was totally out of his comfort zone, where he had no idea of what to do to ease the situation, he did what he knew to do.  He continued to love God and try to do what pleased Him.

That is what Christians are to do in these uncertain times.  We are to continue to do the things we KNOW we are supposed to do.  We are to trust God to lead us through the uncertain times ahead.  We are to help preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world. 

Our world may be changing rapidly and terribly.

Our job description is still the same.

Set your face like a flint.  You will not be ashamed. 

 ‘For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.   Isaiah 50:7’

An aside here is this:

I just watched ‘Captain America’ with my grandson.  I know it is fiction.  In case you haven’t watched it (and why would you watch it unless you have a fantastic grandson who wants you to watch it with him) Captain America is a normal guy who gets super strength through some impossible scientific experiment.  He doesn’t have spider webs shooting out of his wrists like Spider Man; he is just super strong and has recuperative powers 4 times faster than normal.

Captain America saves the day by fighting evil ones who also have unusual powers.

All this reminded me that there are beings with super powers who are in a continual state of war.  We have a Biblical example of this concerning Elisha the Prophet of God.  Elisha and his servant were in a city under siege by a fearsome enemy.  The servant was afraid.  2 Kings 6:15-17 tells us:

15.  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16.  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17.  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Things have not changed today. We don’t see all the fighting going on around us.  They that be with us are more than they that be with them (the enemy).  Remarkable help and deliverance is available to God’s children. 

The story of Captain America began in World War 2.  That war was filled with real hero’s fighting the evil of Nazism.  The war between good and evil will not end until time itself comes to an end.  In the mean time, there are many (usually unwanted) opportunities for heroes of the faith to please God.  I think many of those heroes/heroines will be people of all ages from all the ages who simply did their duty to God in trying circumstances. 

Trying circumstances are coming for all of us in one way or another.  When they come to you, you will face them in a manner their either pleases God or pleases His adversary the devil.  As we face every day, whether it seems good or evil, we need to continually hide in the Word of God.  Remember verses that comfort you personally.  A favorite of mine is Galatian 6:7-10 which tells us:

7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 Verse ten is really a good motto by which Christians should live.  It sort of re-states the ‘ treat others the way you want to be treated’ concept of Christianity with an extra encouragement to treat out brothers and sisters in Christ well.

So, among the turmoil and uncertainty of the world today, we have a firm foundation on which to stand.  Things of the world change with every breeze that changes the direction of a weather vane, but our God does not change.  No matter what the earthly circumstances may be, God Almighty does not change. 

A very fitting hymn for troubled times, whether personally or nationally, is:

‘How Firm a Foundation’.

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/o/w/howfirm.htm

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

 Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
 What more can He say than to you He hath said,
 You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;

 In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
 At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
 As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

 For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
 I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
 Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
 
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
 The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
 For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
 And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

 My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
 The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
 Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove

 My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
 And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
 Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,

 I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
 That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
 I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
 
Barbara Henderson

You are invited to visit my Amazon author page. 

http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Henderson/e/B007YWIYFU
I have three books available on Kindle:
‘The Broad Way’  (fiction)
‘Oh Worship the King’ (fiction)
‘Christian Encouragement and Self-help 2012  (article collection)

What Were People Facing When Jesus Came?

The World When Jesus Came

Barbara Henderson

His name was Micah and he was a Zealot. He lived in a time a brutal government control, taxation, and religious persecution.  Micah personally favored armed rebellion against Rome and he was willing to personally join in the war to free Jerusalem from Rome.  Rome had oppressed the Jews religiously by making worship of God Almighty equal with worship of the pagan Roman gods and goddesses.  Worse, Caesar, a simple mortal man filled with greed and drunk with his own power, was supposed to be worshiped as god. Jews were taxed into poverty to fund the evil government which ruled over them.  Micah had had enough.  Whatever the leaders of the Zealots decided would be fine with him.  Micah’s thinking was the same thing as the patriot of the future who said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death!’  (Patrick Henry – Patriot of the United States of America. 

Micah did have a few issues that needed to be set right before he actually went into battle though.  First the leadership of the Zealots was in turmoil.  Every time a promising leader arose that was able to command the allegiance of several bands of Zealots he wound up being crucified on a Roman cross. 

Death by crucifixion, besides being a horrible way of dying, pretty much disqualified the dead person as being the long awaited Messiah.  Micah wanted a leader like David or Gideon to arise and deliver the Jews from Rome.  Since Micah believed the scripture accounts of Israel’s deliverance from enemies far mightier that Israel, he had no problem believing that God could deliver Israel from Rome.  So Micah waited.  He was a true Zealot, and he would one day prove his love for his country even if it required his death.  Although he did hope his death would be in battle because crucifixion was one dreadful way to die.  Whatever happened he prayed he would be brave.  He also kept in mind that when the Most High God was fighting for Israel there were often few casualties in battle.  All he had to do was be sure he was putting his life on the line for a leader like the winners from Israel’s past.  And he prayed when the time came he would fight like the mighty men of valor from the time of Israel’s past glory. 

So Micah waited.  And he listened.  And he prayed to God for help and direction.  After all, Micah reasoned, it would require at least a handful of men to make up a righteous army.  Those men would need to be faithful to God.  Micah knew the non-religious Jews would not be in the army of faithful who defeated Rome.  He knew God would set them free and if murder was what it was going to take then murder it would have to be.  After all, defeating Rome in open battle was possibly impossible even for God.  Micah spent hours each day praying to find the leader God had already chosen.  Micah was keeping an open mind about the pre-qualifications of the leader.  After all, King David had been a lowly shepherd when God called him, so the next great savior might be man of lowly birth as well.  Micah was also willing to admit that every time God had bailed Israel out of bondage to foreign power in the past Israel’s gratitude to God only lasted a short time.  Pretty soon they were back in the same old pattern.  First they tolerated idolatry and other forms of wickedness, then they joined it, and finally they demanded everyone else join them in their debauchery.  Sometimes he wondered if there were enough Zealots watching for the Messiah for God to consider the time right for salvation.  He comforted himself with such doubts by remembering that God would have spared the great cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there had only been ten righteous.  Surely there were more than that in Jerusalem.  Surely God would send the deliverer.  

And then it happened.  Micah heard the Man from Nazareth.  Micah saw that the help he longed for, the help he wanted for Israel, was not going to come in the temporary form of a leader able to defeat Rome.  Such a victory would only last until the next great power came and crushed Israel again.  Through Jesus Christ Micah saw eternal salvation for himself and any who would believe.  Micah did a one-eighty with his life’s ambition.  He turned from thoughts of an earthly kingdom to thoughts of a heavenly kingdom.  Micah asked himself what he could do for Jesus.   He became a zealot for the Lord……………..AND 2000 years later here we are today asking the same question.  Christians personally know Jesus Christ, His love, His plan for salvation, and His plan for our eternal future in heaven as a joint heir.  What can we do for this world today?  Are we to become zealots for the Lord now the same as when Christ Himself gained followers Jerusalem so long ago?  Ummm …. Well… yes!

If you, like me, are looking at the turmoil in the USA government with sorrow, dismay, frustration, and anger, then you too are wondering what to do.  You are looking for the next deliverer.  I want a man who will rise up on the political scene and fight for literal interpretation of the constitution, for the rights of individuals, for lower taxes, and for smaller government.  I want a man who will actually do or attempt to do the things he says he will do.  That is all I want.  I won’t settle for anything less!  ON THE OTHER HAND…..  I know the Man from Nazareth.  I am supposed to be following His example.  So, I looked at how Jesus handled the corrupt political and religious situations of that time period.  He denounced the wickedness of the religious hierarchy.  If there had been a system for voting leaders in or out of office I am sure Jesus would have voted.  But His focus was on preaching the Gospel – telling people to be reconciled to God and instructing them on exactly how to do it’.  He met the needs of those around Him whether it was feeding the hungry or healing the sick.  He said render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.  We have clear instructions here to pay our taxes.  I don’t think this means we cannot lobby and vote for lower taxes.  That falls within the boundaries of being a good steward with the blessings God has given us.  But government and social problems should never be the focus of our lives.  The life of a Christian should be focused on the solution that is the answer to every problem – which is Jesus Christ.  Through Him peace with God is possible.  That is the ultimate solution and the beginning of the solution to every earthly problem.  Christians must remain vigilant lest the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is reduced to a mere social gospel.  Yes, churches are to be involved in good works, but the first and foremost duty of the church is to take the Good News to the world. 

In the face of looming monstrous new taxes on all but the poorest of the poor, Christ gave us instructions on what to do.

1.     Don’t worry about it.
2.    Seek first the Kingdom of God.
3.    And look to God to supply all our needs according to His riches.

What a friend we have in Jesus!  He not only bears our sins and our griefs, He also takes us on to support.  Salvation is the good news, and the rest is more good news. When we look at the impending financial bankruptcy of the nations of the world we are seeing a real problem.  In Cyprus recently the government bailed itself out by confiscating all the money from private savings accounts.  Can any nation be far behind?  Years ago I was wishing I had enough money to put something away in a KEOG retirement account.  My dad told me to forget about it.  He said the government could not keep their hands off the money people struggle to put away in retirement accounts.  There is way too much money and they won’t be able to let it alone.  I thought dad was wrong or that it was far in the future – like at least 200 years away.  But now it looks much closer.  Currently our government will bail out everything except working families.  BUT….. we have a bigger bail out program with our God.  And, there are no limits on His ability to help us and see us through the bad times.  We have a joy in the Lord that is outside time and space and current circumstances.  This is fundamentally true, but it can be difficult to make the adjustment to joyful living in the middle of circumstances that really are dreadful.  This is where faith comes in.  We can choose to either believe God when He says He will care for us, OR chose worry and anger and frustration over circumstances that are beyond our control.

Philippians 4:5-7 encourages saying,

6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’

This is how Christians are to face the uncertain things that are facing Christians around the world right now.  We are to give thanks – probably not for the trying circumstances that are temporary even though they may be life-long.  We can always give thanks to God for the peace that passes all understanding right now, AND for the eternal things of life in heaven with God and the treasures we have laid up there.  Give thanks for the eternal.  Give thanks for God’s daily benefits during trials as well as in times of peace and contentment.  In every situation give thanks and then let God know what your concerns are and ask for help.  There is peace in trusting God that cannot be gained in any other way because it is true peace.  This the hour of Christians to let our lights shine.  Now I will be perfectly honest.  The Christians around the globe being persecuted, tortured, robbed, and murdered for their faith are the ones on the frontlines.  Personally, I thank God that is not happening in the USA at this time.  If the Lord delays His coming, I believe murderous persecution of Christians will go global.  Right now is the time for believers around the world to pray for the lost to be saved and for help for the brethren.  It is also the time to support missionaries. It is time to take personal evangelism seriously.  This doesn’t mean a Christian has the power to bully someone into becoming a Christian.  But, we should live a life that show we are different than the world.  That includes the joy of salvation that is available to all believers. 

The focus of our lives is supposed to be pleasing God through everyday behavior.  We don’t have to go on a quest for the Holy Grail.  Remember the world already has a Savior – it is Jesus Christ.  Each individual Christian is called to do basically the same thing.  We are to obey God.  In obedience to God some issues will resolve themselves.  The ‘love one another as I have loved you’ clause does cover a lot of territory when it comes to getting along with people in many situations.  It does not guarantee a peaceful trouble free life, but it is still the best way to live life.  Stay within the boundaries set by the Bible in your personal behavior.  Give thanks.  Ask God to help you not to sin by fear, worry, ingratitude, or whatever sin troubles you the most. 

Turn the problems and things of the world over to God on a daily basis, or when plagued by worry, frustration, or outright anger turn them over to God on a minute by minute basis. 

When Christians sin by putting worry about the bad news facing the world first in our thoughts, we make matters worse.  We have a heavenly Father who cares and is willing and able to help us.  That should be our focus. 

Remember to pray without ceasing, and to pray for each other.  Be a zealot for Christ. 

God bless you.