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Our Certainty

Our Certainty

There certainly is plenty of uncertainty these days.  In fact, one of the certainties in this world is that there is constantly uncertainty.

Uncertainty has always been a given in our existence.  Yet COVID has been the harbinger of even more uncertainty than usual.  I don’t need to list off multiple examples; you are living daily in the midst of the unknown. 

As if we don’t have enough uncertainties already, we are just days away from a major election.  The nation will choose a president; states will select governors; districts will elect various representatives.  The entire political landscape could change dramatically. 

No one can be certain about whom will be elected.  No one knows what will happen in the streets of our nation afterwards.  No one can discern what drastic changes the election results will usher in, whether in government halls, in the stock market, jobs arena or our economy, in our society, or in the general morale.

Uncertainty abounds!  And uncertainty breeds fear and despair, anxiety and drastic measures.

Some seem determined to demonstrate publicly regardless the outcome; some are resolute on rioting.  Others undoubtedly will hunker down in their homes or businesses armed with prayers and loaded weapons.  Still others would consider migrating to Canada – one segment if one man is elected as president, another segment if the other prevails.  (Unfortunately for them, the Canadian borders are currently closed!)  Regardless of the outcome, we can be sure that there will be a significant portion of our country engaged in handwringing and cries of despair.

But that need not be us, no matter whom we want to see elected or how the ballots fall. 

I remember sitting at my desk in my first history class at the Christian high school I attended.   I was struck by the teacher writing “History is His story” on the board.  Of course, this has been true throughout the years, even if we humans don’t understand some chapters of the story.  This is still true, and it always will be true!  History … all of history (even this election!) … is God’s story.

Let me assure you that the Lord knows what he is doing.  He understands all things, he sees the entire picture, he controls everything, and he doesn’t make mistakes.  I know that some are convinced that it will definitely be disastrous if so-and-so is elected.  But they don’t realize, or are forgetting, that our God is the ultimate King, no matter who wins out on Tuesday.  And our Heavenly King doesn’t abdicate his authority to any ruler nor cede his control to anyone.

David, a king himself, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, “Dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28).  Later in the psalms we’re informed that, “The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths” (Psalm 135:6).

David’s son Solomon, also a king, wrote these inspired truths: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9).  Regarding chance or fate, Solomon assured us, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33).

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of mighty Babylon, stated these words about the Heavenly King after the Lord humbled him significantly, “Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.  His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”  (Daniel 4:34-35).

The Apostle Paul describes the Lord in this way: “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and might forever.  Amen.”  (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

 All of which is to say – be at peace.  Be at peace as you watch the voting results unfold Tuesday evening.  Be at peace – no matter whom you “just know” needs to be elected, and despite the final results.  Regardless of how others react – be at peace.  Even if the Lord is giving Americans the hardships they “demand” by their rejection of Him, like God did when Israel desired a monarchy instead of the theocracy God had established (1 Samuel 8:6-7) … Christian, be at peace.  

It was by design that Jesus repeated the concept of peace to his people over and over again, both before his crucifixion and after his resurrection.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. … Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  In this uncertain world, there are few promises more comforting or encouragements more beneficial. 

So no matter what happens in regard to the elections, (or in regard to anything, for that matter!), you and I can relax in the peace God gives.  The Lord over all will still be over all even after the election results are in.

This is our certainty amid the uncertainty: the King of kings and Lord of lords still reigns!  Furthermore, he loves us, has saved us, and is guiding all things around us.  Therefore, we have peace.  Yes, even in regard to the elections! 

Solitaire for Two!

Solitaire for Two!

I often have trouble falling asleep at night.  It’s not that I haven’t typically worked hard that day.  It’s because I have a mind that refuses to shut down.  No matter how exhausted my body may be, my mind keeps churning.  It happens to be one of the more frustrating things in my life.

I’ve often wished I had an on/off switch for my thoughts.  Click on the brain first thing in the morning, and click it off when I crawl into bed each night.  But I suppose if one’s mind isn’t already engaged, a person wouldn’t think to activate it when waking up.  (OK, so that could be an issue.)

Fortunately, one of the things I’ve learned that helps my mind begin to disengage after a long day is Solitaire.  I began playing the card game when I was in elementary school.  But back then, I had to shuffle the cards after each game and lay out the seven rows.  In fact, the entire game was done manually.  It took a fair amount of time to play a game, and then as much or more to reset the deck after each “hand.”

But now my computer does it all!  And much faster than even the best card handlers in the casinos could.  There are even sound effects!  (I’ve often wondered about the psychological feel-good benefits of the “ding” of moving an ace up above, the “clack” of making a connection between cards, and certainly the electronic celebration following a win.)

Yes, I know that sleep experts advise avoiding staring at screens before going to bed.  However, Solitaire somehow soothes me.  I don’t pull up the cards every evening, but several nights a week isn’t uncommon.  In fact, Microsoft informs me that I’ve played over 6,600 games through the years, and I’ve won over 1,100 times.  (That’s a 17% winning percentage, by the way.)

The card game Solitaire can be a great approach to numbing the mind late at night.  (At least for me.)  The foundational concept of Solitaire is solving the card puzzle alone.  This works well in the card version.  However, it happens to be a lousy approach to life.

To some degree I think we all have the tendency to try to conquer life’s puzzles alone.  We want to be smart enough, strong enough, adaptable enough, determined enough, or whatever other characteristics one might toss into the mix to “win” the game of life.  We want to finagle the details so all our “cards” line up in four neat descending rows, and we want to accomplish the challenge ourselves.

Realize that I’m not referring to earthly relationships when I write those words.  Some prefer to associate with many people while others prefer fewer connections.  Some folks are happiest alone.  Some are quick to request assistance from other people; others rarely will.  As humans, we are all over the spectrum in regard to our affinity for earthly relationships.  How we tackle life, with how many and with whom, are separate matters.

However, we ALL need God!  We don’t just need him a little or now and then; we need the Lord completely and constantly … every day in all things.  He is our help and our hope, our strength and salvation, our rock, fortress, protector and provider.  Without the Lord, we are doomed, both now and forever.  With the Lord, we are conquerors and overcomers; people blessed beyond measure with significance and salvation.

Jesus summed up this concept beautifully in John 15:4-5:  “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Branches must remain attached to the vine to live and produce fruit.  It’s crucial that we stay connected to Jesus through God’s Word!

Solitaire is best known as a game for one.  Life however is best approached as Solitaire for Two.  Each of us individually … along with God.  That is a sure-fire formula to win at life!

Fear Not?

Fear Not?

It doesn’t take a pandemic to create fear, but it most certainly fuels it. 

There seems to be an abundance of fear these days.  One might conclude that it is even more contagious than Covid-19.

Nosophobia is rampant, and thanatophobia is common as well (fear of getting sick and fear of death).  Both of those phobias contribute mightily to agoraphobia and anthropophobia (fear of leaving the house and fear of people), and definitely to enochlophobia (fear of crowds).

Ergophobia is also raising its ugly head (fear of losing a job), and even peniaphobia is making an appearance (fear of poverty) … both of which feed chronophobia (fear of the future.)  This abundance of fear leads to the ultimate fear of all – fear of uncertainty.  (Simply called “anxiety.”)

Fearmongering seems to be the trend … the media feeding out phobias and the people eating them up.  Even some Christians are nibbling on that entrée.

The astute reader will recognize that there is a technical difference between fear and phobia.  Fear is a reaction to an actual danger, while a phobia is an excessive and irrational reaction when no real danger is present.

I am not suggesting that people are reacting irrationally in this pandemic.  (Well, maybe just a little?)  There are certainly very real concerns out there.  Being prudent and careful is the correct approach.  Still, there is no reason for phobias or fear … rational or irrational … in God’s people.

A person could be radically exposed to the virus; someone could be surrounded by the sick and breathe in the bug repeatedly … and they will only become ill if God allows it!  That’s a fact. 

The doctors will tell you that the disease is highly contagious … and I don’t doubt it.  But the Lord isn’t locked into doctors’ dictates.  God our Father will do what he knows is best for his children.  He always does.

Now I am not advocating a fatalistic or cavalier approach to the current situation.  Nor am I promoting carelessness or recklessness.  The Bible makes is clear that we are not to test the Lord.  Rather, I am simply stating that the Lord is bigger than any virus, or layoff, or shortage, or financial challenge.  Or any other difficulty, for that matter! 

We are God’s people, and our God is our Protector and Provider.  He is our Fortress and Shield.  His power encircles us; nothing reaches us unless he allows it.  And if he does allow it, then it’s to bless us in some wonderful way.  That’s his promise!  (Romans 8:28).  Consequently, we have no reason to fear.

The words the Lord spoke to Joshua as he took over for Moses and prepared to lead the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan apply to each of us as well in the midst of the challenges we currently face.   “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). 

Really, when the Lord our God is with us wherever we go, what in the world (literally!) do we have to fear?  To state it more strongly, when the Lord is always with us, we have absolutely no cause to be afflicted by phobias or beset by fear.  Rather, courage is the way we face our days.

So it seems that Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous words are very apropos to Spring, 2020.  “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  (That’s phobophobia, by the way: fear of fear.) 

Fine words from F.D.R.  But I prefer the words of Jesus.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”  (John 14:27).

Fear not?  Yes, that’s right.  Fear not!  The Lord is carrying us.

God’s Got This!

God’s Got This!

“We got this” seems to be a rallying cry during this pandemic.  It’s a good-enough slogan, I guess.  It’s pithy, personal, and persuasive.

I certainly don’t want to downplay any of the wonderful things that the motto might be bringing about; the teamwork, sacrifice and service to others that it may be encouraging.  People need something to rally around in a pandemic. 

However, it must be said: “We got this” is patently false.  The truth of the matter is that we humans got no control over nothin’!  At least nothing significant.  If ever there was a time that our utter helplessness over circumstances was abundantly clear, it is now.

Yet that is always the fallback plan for most people.  The hope against all hopes. The blind confidence.  (The desperate conviction?)  Science … or medicine … or government … or companies … or SOMEBODY! … will inevitably figure out the solutions and we’ll be fine.

And as for God … well, for many he is a non-factor.  Either God’s existence isn’t acknowledged, or if it is, he is marginalized.  People conclude, especially when difficulties arise, that if there even is a god, he’s either lost control or lost interest.

This concept that God’s impact is negligible and we humans control our own fate leaves one rather empty.  Frankly, it’s depressing and terrifying.  Or at least it should be for anyone with even a lick of sense!  However, if someone insists that God won’t or can’t help us, then there is only one other alternative for hope; we humans must trust in ourselves to figure things out.  And we better get it right!

But can we?  Will we?  What if we mess up and make things worse?  There’s a trainload of pressure packed into a godless worldview – especially when the world is in the middle of a pandemic!

In 1952, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story titled “A Sound of Thunder,” set in the year 2055.  In the story a company took folks back in time.  However, they had stringent rules on how the trips were conducted.  Clients must not deviate from those rules to ensure that the future would remain unaffected.  But on one trip a client forgot the rules, and he crushed a butterfly while in the distant past.  When they returned to 2055, things were different.  And all because one butterfly in the past perished, thereby altering the future.

This concept reappears repeatedly in literature and movies.  Humans messed with the past, (or the present), which messed up the future!  Of course, there’s no consideration of God in these scenarios; everything is dependent upon people.

It’s a common premise, but a faulty one.  We humans do not control our destiny.  And rescuing the world is way more than any person or number of people (or even nation!) could presume to do.  As is providing for the world and guiding the events in the world.  People can’t even control the events in their own lives for one day!  Taking it to a larger spectrum is inconceivable.

Providence (providing and protecting) is God’s job!  And thankfully he’s really good at it!  As David wrote, “You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!”  (Psalm 36:6-7)

Our Lord is always watching … not only the entire world, but even us!  Every day – all day!  And all night too!  (Psalm 121).  God always has a loving plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  He controls all things, bringing both good times and hard (Isaiah 45:6-7), but always for the blessing of his people (Romans 8:28).  We humans can never hope to fully understand God’s decisions (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we know he is always acting in love (Zephaniah 3:17).  After all, he gave us Jesus, our Savior; he will also provide for all our other needs (Romans 8:32).  Yes, even in a pandemic!

The Lord summarizes our situation beautifully in Isaiah: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you (46:4).  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (41:10).

Wow!  That’s some awesome stuff!  Comforting, encouraging and uplifting!  Our God who gave us life will guide us lovingly through life.

So back to the slogan.  “We got this?”  Not so much. 

God’s got this?  Much better!  Yes, he does.  Totally, completely and undoubtedly.  Hear it.  Hold it.  Know it.  Treasure it.  God most definitely has got this, so we’re in very good hands.