My heart aches for all that is happening in the world. Seems like every day it is something else that has happened. Monday, after hearing about the Las Vegas shooting, all I wanted to do was cry.
The last couple of weeks have been especially draining emotionally. Whenever I start working on a conference, the enemy moves in like a lion and not only tries to distract me but tries to discourage me and in case you haven’t noticed he’s getting stronger in the world. On one particular point in my message, he has really been trying to get me. But I know that Greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world. It’s a real battle sometimes and we have to put on God’s armor and fight when necessary.
While I know and even preach that we don’t put our trust in people, I still get disappointed. Especially in people who call themselves Christians. Posting things on social media that are Christ oriented, does not make you a Christian. We need to be people of our word; mean what we say and do what we say, and so many aren’t. If your walk and your talk do not line up with the word of God, people know it. For some, Christians are the only Christ they will see. If what they see looks just like everything and everyone else in the world, we need to examine ourselves and spend more time on our knees in prayer.
We have to live in the world but we should not become like it. We should be different and people should recognize that there is something different about us. If they don’t we need to ask ourselves why not and do some soul searching.
This world is not our home and we shouldn’t be that comfortable in it. John 15-17; “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Loving and being sold out to the world prevents fellowship with God. It’s what is wrong with the world.
I’ve heard many people, including myself, talk about being in the end times. I believe it, but if we truly believe it we need to be about the Father’s business of saving souls and acting like He would act. I heard someone once ask if you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? A very sobering thought because many of us would not have enough evidence to convict us.
If we’re not acting Christ-like, why should be expect someone to believe that we are a Christian?
With everything going on in the world and you’re not praying and seeking God, you are going to feel anxious and afraid. God is the only answer. He already has a plan and before the world ends, things are going to get much worse. You need God to hold onto and to get you through so you can feel His peace and presence. If you don’t know Him, you will feel more than a little anxiety and fear; you will be terrified.
Someone recently asked me why I could keep smiling while all of the mess of storms, riots, etc. is going on in the world. First of all, I love to see people smile back. A smile lights up your whole face and it changes your demeanor. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled at someone and they did not smile back. I love to see people smile and a smile doesn’t cost you anything. Also uses less muscles to smile than frown. Sometimes I have to smile to hide back tears or conceal pain. Just helps to smile through your troubles.
But my real answer is I’ve read the back of the Bible. It says God wins and that means as His child, I win too. Contrary to the fact that some peoples’ actions seem as if they think the world revolves around them, it doesn’t. It’s not about us at all so it doesn’t matter if the world is falling apart around me, God is sovereign. He’s in control. He has a plan He is going to see to fruition just as the Bible says, so why should I be downtrodden and lose my joy? Why should I complain if things aren’t going exactly like I want them to go? I need to be about the Father’s business of saving souls, transforming the world for His glory and letting Him take care of the other details.
We’ve forgotten who God is and who we are in Him. Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour, are children of the most high King and we need to start acting like it. We want to proclaim God’s love but we forget He is just and about His justice. It’s not the same as the justice we would give. He is patient, more so than any of us could ever be, but His justice will be doled out. We see it over and over in the old testament and He gave more than enough ample time for them to turn back to Him. When they didn’t after being given chance after chance, they experienced His justice. We can’t accept His love without His justice. God hates national sin, just as much as He does personal sin. As a country, we definitely have sinned. I don’t believe it’s too late for us to come back to Him, but the time is growing short. Start spending more time with Him and in His word. Develop that relationship daily with Him. And pray like you never have before in your life. Let go of all that is going on in the world and around you and trust God. ©2017

VICTORIA SIMMONS is an author, columnist, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com