Hopeful, not Hopeless Journal – #1 December 29, 2020
I have a sinking feeling today, sadly, one I’ve had a lot lately. It seems that life in our country will likely change dramatically in only a few weeks. Our government may change presidential and other government leadership. For me, it’s not about winners and losers. I truly believe that we ALL will be losers in the end, with regard to our freedoms, our life styles, our safety, our education, our economic status, and our freedom to openly acknowledge and worship the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and His son Jesus Christ…our redeemer…Immanuel…“God with us.”
I believe we all will be losers when our years of hard work and responsible living will be nullified, even vilified. I believe we all will be losers when and if Government leaders erase the footprint of America as we know it, gradually giving it over to foreign powers and those filled with greed who will seek to overcome and destroy. There will be no winners!
Part of my sinking feeling is the helplessness I feel in knowing that there is little or nothing I can do to change this trajectory. I can write letters, sign petitions, or perhaps participate in a demonstration. Yet, will any of that make a difference? Have we as a nation gone too far? It would seem that our government and judicial system are hopelessly infiltrated with those that exhibit hatred and/or disregard for God, embracing moral chaos and all that is in opposition to His Word. They, and much of America and our world, have chosen to celebrate perversion, embrace and enable a plethora of immoral behaviors and addictions, and, delight in lawlessness.
I have to say that I’m not really angry at anyone. Were it not for the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in me, I would likely be right there with them all, seeking a social justice that will never be attained due to the sinful nature of man, satisfying lustful and perverted desires, rationalizing killing and destroying anyone or thing that is not in agreement with me or convenient. God’s Word says that these people have been taken captive (2 Timothy). The emptiness of their hearts and souls has propelled them into a prison of true hopelessness, along with the debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures), anger and aggression that is part of that captivity. I am not angry at them. My heart grieves for them, as well as the repercussions I experience due to their whims.
In reviewing history, from the time of creation through the centuries, there have been many times when God demonstrated that He had “had enough” of man’s disobedience, Genesis 6:5-8 tells us…5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. And, many more instances… Genesis 18-19, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as numerous captivities experienced by Israel through the centuries as a result of disregard for and disobedience to God.
I certainly don’t claim to know the mind of God. But, He has given believers His Word as a means to know about Him, to have a relationship with Him and understand His sovereignty over His creation. Whether we like it or not, or, believe it or not, God is ultimately in control of everything. HE IS SOVEREIGN (The supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power). Again, there will be no winners with regard to our freedoms, our life styles, our safety, our education, our economic status, and our freedom to openly acknowledge and worship the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and His son Jesus Christ…our redeemer…Immanuel…“God with us!”
Why should we expect God, the creator of everything, to sit back and accept the foulness, perversion and deceitfulness of our day? It should not come as any surprise that He may choose to remove His hand of blessing and allow our “government elect’s” desired trajectory to drive our country and our world to the ultimate dysfunction and/or destruction it seems bent on seeking?
And still, amidst my dread and sadness for something possibly lost, I Take Heart! Truly, I do believe I am helpless at this moment to change the path America is on. With that said, I AM NOT HOPELESS! Indeed, I am HOPEFULL! As I review my life, I am increasingly aware of the wonderful blessings God has bestowed on me and my family. My faith in Jesus Christ has determined my trajectory in life, my World View. He has protected me from myself at times. He has forgiven my mess-ups. It’s truly amazing to me! And, I have no reason to doubt that He will continue to do so! His blessings might look different. But, He will continue to bless. I have to admit that I selfishly wish for my easy, blessed life to continue as it is. There is no doubt that my lifestyle may be dramatically affected by the greedy, godless and destructive government leaders who may come into power.
Thankfully, as a child of God, I know that, regardless of what goes on around me, I am His and He is mine. “My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but, wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand” (from the hymn Solid Rock). Although I/we may witness and experience many disturbing and inconvenient things around us, I’m soooo glad that I, as well as all followers of Jesus Christ, will be on the solid rock, safe in His arms. One of my favorite songs, “In Christ Alone” says….
“In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand.
