This World Never Ceases to Amaze Me
As a general observation, there are things about this world that would blow your mind because it is so magnificent and there are other things that would blow your mind because they are so horrific. Between the good and the bad, we should never be overly amazed. The Bible would caution us not to be too high or too low because both could be dangerous to your wellbeing. Even when it comes to the self, we should adopt a meager attitude. As Paul said in a letter written to the Romans in the New Testament, “Do not think of yourself more highly than one ought to think, but think soberly, as God has dealt with each one a measure of faith.” Though I try to remain somewhat in the middle mentally, it is certainly hard to accept some things that seem to smack you squarely in the face when you thought things were going well.
In this year of 2020, we have certainly been made aware of how unusual or strange things are capable of turning. We are currently witnessing untold miseries, deaths, sufferings, distress, disasters, depression, and a host of negativity. Though you would like to think this will all blow away soon, right now we see no end in clear sight. It’s like being in the middle of a severe storm witnessing all sorts of debris blowing around you and wondering, ‘will we even come out of the storm alive.’ It’s hard to keep a positive mental attitude when all you see is hell around you. Though we are apprehensively hopeful, trusting in our faith that has brought us this far can be quite challenging.
Before you sink into the abyss of doom and misery it is not my intent to share with you the bad news that you already see. It is my intent to give you hope that you do not see. People of faith know what is happening and in spite of how bad things appear. There is always hope because our faith is not based upon the seen things, but instead things unseen. Behind all this dark dreariness we see the hand of God covering all those that belong to Him. Our faith lets us know that if God allows anything to happen, we are secured in His care through both life and death.
Though we are amazed, we are not surprised because we know that evil exists and that it has power over a fallen world. We also know that God is superior to anything in this world, so our faith is in the One that created all things in the heavens and upon the earth; no matter what!
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?” -1 Corinthians 15:55-
We know that corruptible things will be corrupted. We also know that when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then death is swallowed up in victory. Apostle Paul ends that particular chapter with this phrase:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” -Verse 58-
So as I might sound very pessimistic, I am optimistically overjoyed at what happens next. Can you even imagine going through the tunnel of death in order to come through into the open arms of a loving God? If you belong to the Father that is what happens next. So yes, I agree with Paul, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor on this earth is not in vain, trusting in the Lord.
For those that are ignorant of the Lord, these times appear to be among the darkest we have faced in our lifetimes. Most cannot see God in a picture that appears to be only darkened. How do you get anything good out of what is seen? Even though what we are experiencing is but a bat of an eye in the realm of God, on earth our eyes focus upon what we see from moment-to-moment, not knowing what might happen next. That becomes our challenge. Faith is not based upon what is seen but what is unseen. Are you trusting in what the eyes are revealing or are you trusting in the substance of things unseen? Death, O Death, where is your sting. Hades, where is your victory! My eyes only see the glory of the coming of the Lord beyond the darkened and doomed land. I am amazed but not at all surprised! Thanks be to God!
I see all these characters playing their roles in a fallen world. They do what they are supposed to do. They are acting like fallen creatures supposed to act. Why would we be surprised that the leader of the free world would be so wicked? Why are we so surprised that the prince of darkness would be so prevalent? Do you not realize where you are?
Yes, there’s a glimpse of light shining through from heaven reminding us of where we came from. There are incredibly talented and gifted people revealing the very character of God in man. We are in this world but not of it! Do not be alarmed but realize where you are then this will all make sense. This does not mean that we are supposed to like what we are experiencing.
All the characters in a horror movie are supposed to be horrible. That is the nature of a horror movie. When fallen creatures do things that reveal they are fallen, that is what they are supposed to do! You are not one of them. Nor are you to follow their leader. You are sanctified, separated by the One that called you and chose you as His child, even before the world was formed. You simply need to be reminded of who you are and who you belong to!
Yes! This world can be one big scary place when you only see things with your mortal eyes. Ask the Lord to open the eyes of understanding so you see with your heart. No amount of darkness can overshadow the light that is in Christ Jesus. Take comfort in the words of King David, a mere mortal after God’s own heart:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the [a]fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and [b]buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
What we are witnessing is not new to our world. In fact, it seems to happen all the time, over and over as stated in the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
“One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose.” — Eccles 1: 4–5
And then in verse 9:
“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
It helps to know the word of God because it too will remain with us forever to be our guide to God’s own Spirit. Be amazed because this world never ceases to amaze but do not be surprised because your Father has already cautioned you about such things. The challenge before you is; where to put your trust? Your faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. For me, I put my trust in God and not in these temporal mortal eyes. Even though this world never ceases to amaze me, I keep my eyes focused upon Christ. To God be the glory, Selah!
