07/28/2022
We are inclined to think of the wrath of God when the storms of life move in, and trouble brews. We look at leaders who are His adversaries, enemies, men filled with evil, or leading lives of sin, and fear that we will be consumed by the God’s indignation, and anger, as He deals with them, but although the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, He knows all of us who have taken refuge in Him. Are we ready to trust in His goodness, and mercy as He deals with countries, and people who oppose Him?
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
Nahum 1:7 ESV
Our wonderful days are those we choose to remember, and we want to forget the ones in which we have suffered, but both are good for instruction, and benefit those who love the Lord. When times are hard He is no less our Father, nor has He abandoned the fact that He is our God. We are meant to lean on the eternal truth that God loves us, is good, and protects us as we gather to Him… His children.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
So, when we are caught up in a catastrophic storm that is meant to wash away some worldwide, corporate or National sin that is running rampant, or on a lesser scale we find ourselves in close proximity to a person who the Lord is dealing with as He humbles them, and leads them to know Him through Christ, always remember that He knows us, and welcomes us as we seek refuge in Him. His Word is sharp, and true, and it will separate us from the sins of those around us just as certainly as it carves our own sin from us without destroying the whole.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
It remember a time in my life in which I was working for a man who was far from God, and I suffered because of my association with him. For years I lifted this man up in prayer, and prayed that the Lord would give me relief from the harm that was being done to me by him. Although I trusted in God during that time, I must say that there were days when I didn’t know if I could endure the situation another minute. However, even as the years went by, and this man did his best to destroy me by using my faith against me, my Father’s hand was upon me. In the end, I was separated from this lost man, and he was eventually forced to leave the company. I have not seen nor heard from him for many years, but I still pray for his soul, and one day I hope to hear that he came to know Jesus, and that his life was thus saved. The point I want to make is this… during those years I learned many amazing lessons about forgiveness, prayer, demonstrating one’s faith in the face of persecution, and how to separate the sinner from the sin as we pray for the lost souls of others. Our God knew me, and was good to me, despite the trouble that was swirling about me, and in the end He restored to me all that I had lost…. He did this for Job, He did this for me, and He will do this for all of His children.
“And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”
Job 42:12-17 ESV
Are we prepared to turn to God as our stronghold in times of trouble, and take refuge in Him? If so, He will know you, and keep you.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being our strong tower, and the stronghold that shelters us from the wrath you pour out on those who sin against you, and all who oppose you. Thank you Lord for separating us from the sin of the world, and though we are tossed into the same wind that blows away the chaff, we thank you, and praise you, for allowing us to fall to the winnowing floor where you collect us for yourself. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls us each by name. Praised be your name for using every trouble, or storm in our lives to know you better, and increase in faithfulness. Merciful are you Father who never places more burden upon us than we can carry without first having given us help in Jesus Christ. Your grace, your redeeming love, and your resurrection power, are all lessons we learn during desperate times, and even as we hang from our crosses. Wash us Father with the blood of Jesus, and cover our sins as you do so, and we pray for forgiveness in His name. Judge us not for who we are alone, but who we are in Jesus. We pray that although you call out our name, and know us as those who sought shelter in you, that we will be judged pure in Christ as He abides in us, and we in Him. Have mercy upon us Lord, and welcome us into your presence for all eternity.
Rich Forbes