As a mom there are many times I have to hold my kids firmly. Sometimes it's to protect them when they do things like scale the couch at one years old. Often it's to comfort them when they are sad or hurt. Sometimes in a moment of discipline and parental disappointment they need to feel the firm yet compassionate love of a mom who will never abandon them. Other times fear or confusion grip them and they need the sense of security and safety found in their mother's arms. Doesn't our heavenly Father do the same? Doesn't He hold us firmly when our grip from Him slips as the struggles of the world weigh us down?
To say these are uncertain times is the understatement of the century. From the coronavirus pandemic to political unrest to a deeply divided nation nothing seems sure. Will this virus change life as we’ve known it forever? Will our country go to war with itself as we continue to view political opposition as public enemy number one? Will our children become adults in a nation stripped of freedoms we thought might last forever? Is this the end? Is there anything that is certain anymore? These are worries and fears I see flooding my feeds and hear in conversations.
I can’t answer most of those questions, but I can answer that last one. There is something, or rather someone, who remains certain. Who has been certain since the beginning of time and will remain certain for all of eternity. There is One who’s power and hope doesn’t rest in finding a cure for sickness, how you vote, whether you wear a mask, how you school your kids, or any other finite matter. In Romans 8 Paul tells us that creation groans for the day it will be freed from death and decay. Just as creation groans so do we. We long to be released from sin and suffering. We hope for a day when death and destruction are no more. In Jesus we can have have such hope. Hope that is certain. Hope that gives joy and peace in the best and worst of times. Hope that is held firm by the giver of Hope Himself.
Psalm 37 says, "Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.” I’m not saying we should ignore evil, never speak out against injustice, stop defending the weak, or be politically and socially apathetic. The Psalmist also says to “trust the Lord and do good.” There is a lot wrapped up in that. We certainly should look to God for wisdom in how we seek to do good in our homes, communities, nation, and world, but we don’t have to walk hopelessly. We don’t have to place our hope in people and things that will fade like withering grass. We don’t have to worry or rage about all that is wrong in the world. We can be still and wait patiently for God, knowing He is working all things according to His purpose for His glory and our good. Even when we don’t get the outcomes we believe are best or that we think we deserve, we must remember He is God and we are not. Who are we to argue with God if He allows something we disagree with? I know that’s a bit blunt, but I think we lose perspective of our limited ability to understand God’s will and purpose. I mean would any of us have decided the best way to win a battle would be to march around a wall and blow horns (Joshua 6)? God’s ways aren’t always conventional or practical to the human mind. God’s ways are higher than our’s and we may never fully understand why he acts in a certain way or allows certain things. As much as we often see public enemy number one as a person or a group of people, the truth is our greatest enemy is against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12) and Spiritual enemies require Spiritual battles of eternal Truth and faith.
When we blow it, His grace covers our sin.
When people fail us, God stands firm.
When medicine doesn’t heal, God’s love and care hasn’t ceased.
When loved ones hurt us, God is near to the brokenhearted.
When injustice is rampant on earth, we can know justice will prevail for eternity.
When our good deeds seem to get us no where in this world, we can know that we will receive a heavenly inheritance that lasts forever.
When leaders fall, God still reigns.
When we lose faith, He remains faithful.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love held firm in the saving faithfulness of Jesus (Romans 8:38). "Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us and overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:37)."
These truths are unwavering regardless of our circumstances, our weaknesses, or the actions of any physical or spiritual being. If you have confessed Jesus to be Lord of your life and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved (Romans 10:9). You don’t have to doubt or wonder if this or that will cause the Spirit of God to flee from you. You don’t have to worry that when you are lead astray or give into temptation that your salvation is lost. You don’t have to fear the actions of others destroying you to the point God is no longer with or for you. We don’t have to fear the destruction of the church because God is the one building it and holding it together. We can know that "The LORD rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him (Psalm 37:39-40).”
Now, should we throw our hands up and live apathetically or sin freely because grace will abound? In the words of the apostle Paul, “by no means!” Sin no longer dominates our being and the Spirit lives within us to enable us to do the good works God has planned for us. Sure we will still battle sin, but we can now walk with hope and peace knowing there is victory in Jesus from having sin destroy us! In Him we are redeemed from our individual sin and we don’t have to fear and fret about the ways sin has corrupted people, structures, and institutions around us. Seek to do good within them? Absolutely! Spend our days consumed with fear and worry about them? Absolutely not!
Brothers and sisters, your faith doesn’t hang in the balance of your own faithfulness or the faithfulness of others. You will fall and others will too. Satan will tempt you to despair. He will prowl around like a lion hoping to devour and destroy, but there is overwhelming certain absolute victory through Jesus who loves us. By His love we are held firm!