Times Such As This

 

Let every soul be subject to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except under God.  Now those which are, have been set under God, so that he who is resisting an authority has withstood Gods mandate.  Now those who have withstood, will be getting judgement for themselves, for magistrates are not a fear for the good act, but to the evil.  Now you do not want to be fearing the authority.  Do good, and you will be having applause from it.  For it is Gods servant for your good.  Now if you should be doing evil, fear, for not feignedly is it wearing the sword.  For it is Gods servant, an avenger for indignation to him who is committing evil.  Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of indignation, but also because of conscience.  For therefore you are settling taxes also, for they are Gods ministers, perpetuated for this self-same thing.  Render to all their dues, to whom tax, tax, to whom tribute, tribute, to who honor, honor. 

Romans 13: 1-7, Concordant New Testament

Without a doubt, one of the major concerns on the minds of many believers these days is the state of the world in which we live.  With war waging in Europe and a seemingly uncaring government here at home, many believers wonder if these are indeed the end times.  Well, I wish that I had a better answer for that question.  For nobody knows, save for the Lord, the hour or day which the Lord God will make His triumphant return to proclaim His kingdom {Matthew 24:36}.   In the past few weeks, I have listened to many a radio pastor proclaim what is to come, as it they somehow the Lords time schedule.  I have no such dissolutions.  I know that I don't have the answers.  So, what are we to think of a sinking economy, rising gas prices and a unstable world?  One thing, God is in control.  For there is nothing which has or ever will occur that God has not allowed to happen.  With this knowing, we believers should be in a much better position to deal with the current state of this world.  Sadly that's not the case.  I have Christian friends who live each and every day in total uncertainty.  What's going to happen?  How high will those gas prices go?  Is this the beginning of World War three?  All of these concerns are legitimate, but they are indeed above my pay grade.  Like most people, the best that I can do is speculate, and that does nobody any good in the end.  Jesus Himself proclaims that we are not to worry about the things which we need {Matthew 6:25-34}.  I can definitely say that this is sound advice, because I have known the physical ailments that arise from worrying far too much.  God does not want us to worry.  God desires that we turn to Him in our times of worry.  Jesus proclaimed this as well {Matthew 6:33}.   Seek first the Kingdom of the Lord, for there are far more important things we need be concerned about than what the world provides us.  

"Therefore I am saying to you.  Do not worry about your soul, what you may be eating, or what you may be drinking, nor yet about your body, what you should be putting on.  Is not the soul more than nourishment, and the body more than apparel?" 

Matthew 6: 25, Concordant New Testament

I've always considered myself somewhat of a political scientist.  Someone who looks upon the situations of the world and knows the root causes and possible solutions to such situations.  Even though this can be an interesting hobby, more often than not it takes my attention from where it really needs to be.  Why worry about high gas prices when I should be thankful that God is providing for me?  Why worry about the political turmoil in my own nation, are these not representatives appointed by the Lord for times such as this?  Is my own opinion superior to that of Gods work?  I think not.  So it is that in times such as this when everything we see seems to point to the final days of a fallen world, we do well to remember that He who created all that we will ever see continues His work in His kingdom.  Our attention should not be riveted to the television news, but to His word.  Kingdoms will rise and fall, but it is God who reigns forever.  At the end of the day, it is not the Lord who has changed, but we have.

"Yet seek first the kingdom and its righteousness, and these all shall be added to you.  You should not, then, be worrying about the morrow, for the morrow will be worrying about itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own evil." 

Matthew 6: 33-34, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~