IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US
It’s a new year and the world continues to revolve in
mounting unrest. Yet, even though we live in a dark world consumed with
sin, I wish everybody a “Happy 2014”! Perhaps being ‘happy’ may seem an
unobtainable goal as we watch intensifying global upheaval, increasing
calamities of nature, escalating violence and evil, worsening governmental
corruption and deception, and man’s adamant turn from God. Nevertheless,
if we are born-again believers, we can joyfully and confidently declare
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psalm
118:6)
What indeed? Intimidate us, yes! Threaten us, yes! Imprison
us, yes! Such possibilities, even death, are grim and present realities for
believers in over 60 countries, but God is, and always has been, in total
control! We read in Matthew 8:27 the following - “What manner of man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Believers, whatever “storm” this
ungodly world may throw at us, the Almighty Creator is with us, providing us
with an unexplainable peace that floods the soul; a peace that is grounded in
God’s constant presence, and sustained through prayer. (Philippians 4:6) “And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) When fear invades our thinking,
remember Jesus said “…my peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Jesus’ tells us we will have tribulation. “These things I
have spoken…that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Tribulation may mean general trials and afflictions, but sometimes in Scripture,
tribulation denotes troubles which result from worldly persecution. To what
degree this type of persecution may touch us, only God knows! Yet fully
understanding and accepting that at Calvary, Jesus made Himself a sacrifice for
our sins, conquered this wicked world, and guaranteed the ultimate defeat of
Satan, believers should be willing to suffer for Him. Ineffective is the
believer that allows fear to silence them. “For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear… (II Timothy 1:7)
Jesus also said, “…fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28/Luke 12:4) The world loathes those who
speak out for Christ and Christianity (John 15:18), but will the ‘war’ on
American Christians accelerate to the same level of persecution in other
countries? God’s Written Word tells us “…this know also that in the last days
perilous (dangerous/death-defying) times shall come.” (II Timothy 3:1) Simply
stated, world conditions will increase in frequency and severity as the Second
Coming of Christ grows ever near! But even the possibility of death due to one’s
declared belief and faith in Jesus Christ should not make a believer hostage to
fear. After all, the Lord has already given the believer victory over death
through His own death, burial and resurrection. “Jesus said….I am the
resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live.” (John 11:25-26) “Oh, grave where is thy victory...” (I
Corinthians 15:55b)
The extent believers may suffer is unknown, yet Noah provides
a clue. “ …the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the
ark:…For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days
and forty nights;…” (Genesis, Chapter 7) Seven days BEFORE the first drop of
water hit dry land, God called Noah and family into the ark, guaranteeing safety
and security from His righteous judgment (wrath)! What a magnificent picture of
the believer being removed (raptured/caught-up) from earth prior to the seven
year period of God’s wrath, the Tribulation! We may face earthly persecution,
but because we are “justified by his blood” (Romans 5:9), we believers will be
saved from God’s wrath!
