He split the rocks in the wilderness,
And gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
He also brought streams out of the rock,
And caused waters to run down like rivers.
Did you ever wonder if you understood what's really going on in our world? The headlines grow more ominous with each passing day. Societal norms that were certain when we were kids are no longer tolerated. Marriages have crumbled, our nation is tottering, the economy teeters on the brink of collapse. In fact,if you don't agree with the political correctness of the day, one is derided as a bigot of some sort. We were raised to grow up wanting the herd's approval, and so are afraid to go against the status quo by standing up for the truth. In fact, what is the truth? Everything is relative, or so we have been taught, there is no right and wrong anymore. As I read this morning in the book of Judges:
"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (emphasis mine) Judges 21:25
But Jesus warned us this all was going to happen. In fact, it happened even in the days of ancient Israel.
Isaiah says, in chapter 5:
20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!
24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,
And the flame consumes the chaff,
So their root will be as rottenness,
And their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people;
He has stretched out His hand against them
And stricken them,
And the hills trembled.
Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets.
For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still."
There is nothing new under the sun. The corruption that plagues us today corrupted the nation of Israel before they were carried away into captivity.
Solomon, son of David, also spoke of a time of confusion in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 10:
5 "There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
As an error proceeding from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity,
While the rich sit in a lowly place.
7 I have seen servants on horses,
While princes walk on the ground like servants."
If you want to really know what is going on, the best place to look is the Bible (not the local news or men's opinion) and if you read to the end of the book, you will find out who the real winners are. Though the great men of the earth strut about and make their plans for world domination, God says in Psalm 2:1-6:
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
Our times grow more and more confusing, the headlines more and more perplexing. These rulers and dignitaries actually think their plans will succeed. On the other hand, as believers in Christ we know there is just one steady and sure anchor, Jesus our Great High Priest who finished the work and is sitting at God's right hand until, as it says further on in Psalm 2:
7 “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
(emphasis mine)
The writer to the book of Hebrews makes clear to those of us living in these days that He now only speaks to us through the person of His Son, that He alone is the One constant thing to look to and rely upon in an ever-changing world.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4 (emphasis mine)
Those who put their trust in the Lord will not be ashamed. Let us rehearse and recall the names of God and apply them to ourselves personally in times of trouble: God my shield, my provider, my protector, my refuge, my fortress, my deliverer, my rock. Jesus is the only sure thing in this world of confusion. As I put my reliance in Him, He will hold onto me, as indeed He holds onto everything in the universe. Finally, one glorious Day He'll roll this world up like a scroll, creating a brand new one that will never be corrupted again.
Very encouraging! Love the picture!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! Pic was too pretty to pass up, thank you!
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