The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalms 9:9)
Notice the writer does not say that the Lord will remove all our troubles, or that we will be made to rise up victorious in each and every case. Also note that he is not speaking to those who are walking the flower strewn pathway of ease and joy, but rather is relating to the oppressed; to those who have been hurt, put down, run over, or overlooked. God is speaking through His servant David that not only will He provide us a safe haven, but that He is our safe haven; our hiding place, our fortress of peace during times of adversity.
It doesn’t take long to find that, in the real world, life is not a Hollywood movie or TV series in which all problems are solved in a matter of literal minutes. In the real world, there is not always a happy ending. Anyone who doesn’t understand this is in for terrible disappointments.
It is true that many of life’s problems are not always simple or easy to solve, but we think that they should be. Today, we are living in an “instant” society where we have come to expect a “quick fix” for every unwanted situation we face. We think there should be a “delete” button for any trouble that may have found its way into our lives. This mindset is only encouraged by the hordes of “word faith”, “seeker friendly”, “and prosperity preachers”, that have infiltrated the religious society of today.
Why do we expect that everything must be one hundred percent perfect one hundred percent of the time, and when problems do arise, why do we begin to question God’s love for us? Can we not see or understand that his love was sufficiently manifested when he hung on the cross and took our place in death? Have we become so arrogant as to think that we should never have any troubles or trials in our lives? The truth is, in this life we may be plagued with adversity (Job 14:1).
Even Apostle Paul experienced a lifelong thorn in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7). He says it was given him that he might not be exalted above measure. But listen to what the Lord told him when Paul asked that it might be removed: “My grace is sufficient for thee”, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” As with Paul, could it not be possible, that in God’s plan, we are to bear certain crosses in our lives that we may remain humble or maybe, just maybe, that our lives might be examples to others on how professed Christians should react in the face of adversity? Should not God’s grace be sufficient for us to be able to bear any burden that comes our way?
The fact is; some problems or troubles may be life long, in which we will find no relief until the day we are released from life itself. We don’t hear this taught in Sunday school, or from many of the pulpits, but then again, there are many other biblical truths that seemed to have been conveniently overlooked by our churches.
Keep in mind the text and understand that even though God does not always deliver us from each of our problems, he can and, in many cases, will deliver us in (or during) our problems. Remember Daniel’s night with the lions? He was not delivered from the den of lions, but rather was delivered in the den of lions! As it was with Daniel so it was with the three Hebrew children, they were not delivered from the fire but they were most assuredly delivered while in the fire! Our Lord can provide us peace and contentment even in the worst of situations:
"And prisons would palaces prove"
"If Jesus would dwell with me there"
Let us consider the following scripture; “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”? If we truly believe this, nothing can remove from us the hope and the happiness found in Christ Jesus our Lord! If not, then this life can very well be a hard and arduous journey.
Sam Everett
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
“I Don’t See Any Harm in it!”
These could possibly be the seven most dangerous words that have entered the heart of the child of God. Once these words have been illuminated on the screen of the mind, the slippery slide down the slopes of licentiousness is almost inevitable. This one little phrase could possibly be one of the most proven weapons in Satan’s arsenal, and he uses it with great proficiency.
There can be no argument that we are living in an era of amorality. Many actions that are openly exposed by scripture as sinful are now being second guessed by too many who name the name of Christ. Sadly, many more of these “Christians” have wrapped themselves in the same cloak of indifference as those in the world, no longer finding any harm in most activities that the Bible clearly exposes as sin.
Today, those of us who are considered to be senior citizens can readily remember a time when many of those things, which are now embraced by our society and even our churches were considered not only to be in error, but also to be criminal acts.
We find that modesty no longer finds a home in the minds of Christian men and women. Sin no longer brings shame or even a blushing cheek to most church goers of today. We have secluded our churches by wrapping them in our own fickle belief systems, while keeping our eyes closed to biblical errors that are going on around us. Much like the ostrich with its head in the sand, if we do not see any problems then none actually exist.
Time will not allow us to mention the multitudes of sins, which were once considered as abominations that are now fully acceptable including adultery, fornication, homosexuality and even the taking of the life of a child awaiting its birth.
The problems we face today are manifold. Man’s depravity is not only becoming more manifest, but is being more widely accepted and is now even being encouraged by the masses.
We must ask the question. Where is the church today? Where is the old standard that once condemned sin as recorded in the Bible, along with those who blatantly committed it? Why does the church no longer, “Cry aloud and spare not?” .
We stand much too quiet in many cases; completely silent in others. It is evident that most do not wish to be known as a separated people. Regrettably, too many churches today have taken an apathetic position on biblical standards; too many churches today can find no harm in those things that were once called sin; too many churches today can no longer claim their separation from the world, especially since they have become such a fitting example of it.
Sam Everett
There can be no argument that we are living in an era of amorality. Many actions that are openly exposed by scripture as sinful are now being second guessed by too many who name the name of Christ. Sadly, many more of these “Christians” have wrapped themselves in the same cloak of indifference as those in the world, no longer finding any harm in most activities that the Bible clearly exposes as sin.
Today, those of us who are considered to be senior citizens can readily remember a time when many of those things, which are now embraced by our society and even our churches were considered not only to be in error, but also to be criminal acts.
We find that modesty no longer finds a home in the minds of Christian men and women. Sin no longer brings shame or even a blushing cheek to most church goers of today. We have secluded our churches by wrapping them in our own fickle belief systems, while keeping our eyes closed to biblical errors that are going on around us. Much like the ostrich with its head in the sand, if we do not see any problems then none actually exist.
Time will not allow us to mention the multitudes of sins, which were once considered as abominations that are now fully acceptable including adultery, fornication, homosexuality and even the taking of the life of a child awaiting its birth.
The problems we face today are manifold. Man’s depravity is not only becoming more manifest, but is being more widely accepted and is now even being encouraged by the masses.
We must ask the question. Where is the church today? Where is the old standard that once condemned sin as recorded in the Bible, along with those who blatantly committed it? Why does the church no longer, “Cry aloud and spare not?” .
We stand much too quiet in many cases; completely silent in others. It is evident that most do not wish to be known as a separated people. Regrettably, too many churches today have taken an apathetic position on biblical standards; too many churches today can find no harm in those things that were once called sin; too many churches today can no longer claim their separation from the world, especially since they have become such a fitting example of it.
Sam Everett
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