Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7b-8
God is in control and has a plan for our lives. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Let us trust in Him as we prepare to worship Him this Lord’s Day.
An elder in a previous church of mine shared, “We live in a dying world. The moment that we were born, we began to die, and it’s been that way ever since Adam’s cosmic treason.” This is most certainly true. People often speak as if things are worse than they have ever been. This is of course silly, since one only has to go back a short time to encounter the Vietnam War, or the previous generation to find World War II, or the one before that to experience World War I. There have always been troubles, and in this fallen world – broken by sin and death – there will always be trouble. People talk as if we ought to be able to escape death, but this is outright denial of what God tells us in His Word.
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. – Hebrews 9:27-28
Still, God promises in His Word that there is redemption from sin and the wages that it earns.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23
What we do have today is LIFE. What Jesus purchased for us is LIFE eternal. This is the amazing, astounding reality that deserves to consume our passions today. Life, not death. We are each called to share life with one another. Recent fearful panic – COVID, shootings, insurrection, culture wars – reminds us that man’s judgment is clouded. When you fear God and Him alone, you need not be afraid.
For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. - Ecclesiastes 5:7
We see a lot of panic. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit uses the pandemic, tornadoes, and other threats to bring more faith into view. If it were up to me, or to my savings accounts, or to even my own perseverance, I would indeed be lost. But, it is not up to me; all is in God’s control. And for this we can be very grateful.
Where should we turn when we see trouble? To God in prayer, of course, and to the people of the church that He has established for our comfort and encouragement. After all, God brought the generations before us through wars and struggles so that you could be right where you are today. This Lord’s Day, get with God’s people and celebrate His grace and mercy. On Thursday, May 4th, join with God’s people on the courthouse steps
for the National Day of Prayer. We live in a dying world, but Jesus purchased us the hope of eternal life. Let us join together to thank Him for His covenant faithfulness. In times of trouble, we need to train ourselves in godliness. Just as athletes train on a team, we need each other. Therefore, I thank God for you.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13
