06/01/2022
Do the events that are occurring in the world today frighten us? Is our confidence in the Lord shaken, and is our faith in Jesus Christ fainting as the storm of man’s own making rages on? Well take heart because God is still sovereign, and His power is over all things. Jesus, even today, comes to us by walking on the raging sea, but do do not be afraid when we see Him coming because His hand stills the water; the wind remains God’s creation, and is His to rule. Let nothing in the world, on the world, or of the world, frighten us.
“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.””
Matthew 14:26-27 ESV
When we are so frightened of world events that we also fear the coming of our Lord, thinking Him to be a spirit that is part and parcel of the world, then where is our true faith? Today Jesus walks atop the sea of earthly troubles that we consider unstoppable, insurmountable, and beyond all control, and in all of this, our uncertainty and fear, our God remains the Lord over all. Don’t we trust Jesus when He says…
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
We know through Christ’s own words that the world is overcome by Him, and is subdued. We know that because of this nothing in the world should cause us to quake, or faint in fear, and that even beyond this, we should not let the sight of Jesus frighten us when we see Him coming; after all, we already know the reason He has come, and will come for us again? In our opening scripture we read that the disciples were afraid when they saw Him walking on the water. They were afraid because they were still seeing Him through worldly eyes, and believing what they saw based on the teaching of earthly laws, but our God is the master over those laws, and is not subject to them. So in everything He does, we should believe, and have faith that His foremost desire is to love us, and save us from our own sinful undoing…
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:17 ESV
In the days before the birth of Jesus, the Jews spoke of the coming Messiah, but they didn’t know how to look for Him, and when He came many were unable to see Him. After He arrived His disciples had to be taught to understand and see Him correctly, and through the Holy Spirit their eyes had to be opened fully to Him. Now, in this age, we await our Risen Lord, our Messiah, to return again and claim us, His Church, and His bride. Today we are prone to slip back into the world, and its fear, when we should be joyous, and calmed by the promises we have received. We speak of our joy, and the second coming of Jesus, but, as evidenced by our fear and dread of worldly events, are we true believers, or simply placating ourselves with stories… without any real hope, just as the Jews did in the days before the birth of Christ?
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Matthew 24:44 ESV
Today let’s wait expectantly for Jesus, and not let the tribulations in the world defeat our belief, but rather let these things of a fallen, and imperfect, world strengthen our faith instead. The troubles of the world are not ours, and have long been prophesied. These events will cause us a degree of pain and suffering, but will not overcome us if we believe, and maintain our faith, in God, and Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that wrath will come, but it also tells us that we will be delivered from it, and that our God will walk with us through these valleys. This is our hope, our promise, and our joy. This is the mercy and grace of God that calms our every fear. Do we believe enough to see beyond the fear in the world, and see Jesus coming?
“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the hope, joy, and peace we find in you, and the promise of your Son’s return to claim us. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that gives us remembrance of your Word, of the gospel of Jesus, and who helps us to pray as we should… even amidst raging seas of wrath. Help us Lord to lean on you as the world trembles, and your wrath descends upon it. Keep our focus on your wonderful promise of a heavenly eternity with you, and the joy we will experience there as you dry our every tear. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always, and works all things together for our good. Praised be your name for the joy we find on the far side of every trial and hardship that we endure by our unwavering faith. Merciful are you Father, and we lift you up in song and worship, thanking you, and singing of your glory in all things great and small. Your grace is sufficient, and saves us despite our unworthiness. It is only by the blood of Jesus we are cleansed of our sins, and made over again in His image. We pray that you will see only Him in us on the day of judgement, and will find us worthy of eternity with you as you gaze upon us. Seat us at your table Holy Father, and speak the wisdom of the ages into us.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:2-6 ESV
Rich Forbes