This week let me briefly encourage you that our God, the Almighty, reigns!
[Isaiah 52:7 NASB95] 7 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, [And] says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
[Revelation 19:6 NASB95] 6 Then I heard [something] like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
I will admit, somewhat to my shame, that I am one that consumes far too much “news” online and through streaming television channels. As a result I am often too exercised and embroiled over the latest world, national, and, most certainly, political issues that flood my thoughts through these outlets and inputs. I find I must constantly remind myself that my life is His, I am hidden in Him, and I know He Who is in control. Our God, The Almighty, Reigns
I am convinced that in our time DISTRACTION through our phones and media is a primary tool of our adversary to move our focus from He that is LORD. As the old Bill Gaither song proclaimed… “kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there is something about that name.” I’m 73 years old, and have lived through several political iterations and movements in our nation from the riots over race and Vietnam war in the 60’s, Watergate and incredible high interest and recessions in the 70’s, the rise of Iran and Islamic states…. and the wars, economics, Reagan, and the “fall” of the wall and the USSR in 80’s, and more in the 90’s. And, of course, 9/11, and Iraq, and more, along with the extreme divisions of party politics in recent decades.
Yes, it all impacts us to some degree and is important. But it pales next to knowing Him. I don’t want to be so heavenly minded I’m no earthly good as the old mantra goes. But, I do want to be so Christocentric focused on Jesus and His Kingdom that following Him is primary and brings me peace and defines my life. We all are allotted the same 60 seconds in each minute, and 60 minutes in each hour, and 24 hours each day. And, we get to choose what we will set our minds upon. And, that is what has true impact and is of preeminent importance. Loving Him, and loving people as you are empowered by His Spirit, is what has eternal import and impact. But, don’t get me wrong, I (probably like most) am easily distracted with what will be fairly irrelevant in a few years, and certainly in the light of eternity, but seems so pressing today.
It is easy to look at the world, the, “news”, and particularly these days, Christian ministers and ministries that fall and fail, in one way or another, in sin, corruption, and through division. Or, Christian artists and ministers that get led astray into heresies or into “deconstruction” …or, on the other end of the spectrum, are in rigid “Pharisaic” judgement and legalism; and wonder, even out loud, “Lord! Where are You in all this?” Like David crying in Palm 42 [Psalm 42:2-3 NASB95] 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While [they] say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
He has not been dethroned and He is not far off.
No, we have simply traded His nearness and awareness of His presence for an awareness of the world, and the distraction of a palm held computer or device that acts as a conduit for pouring its stuff and distraction into our minds.
Again, don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating throwing your phone into the nearest lake, or heading to the woods to be a hermit or monk and cut off from the world and what is in it. I’m just reminding us that we are in the world with purpose in Him. We are in the world, but truly not of it, by His purpose. And, to beware of adversarial distraction from that purpose.
Look here, contemplate, meditate on what Jesus prayed:
[John 17:14-23 NASB95] 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil [one.] 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, [are] in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
It is obvious God’s purpose in Jesus, and Jesus’ desire for us, was that we not be taken out of or separated from the world, but that we be set apart/sanctified unto His word and purpose in the world, giving testimony of the Father and the Son in the world. Manifesting Him in the world. John goes farther in his epistle saying that God abides in (us) and that even as“He is…. so also are we in the world”
[1John 4:15-17 NASB95] 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
If this purpose is true, and it is; What else is there that should ever consume us? And, yet, we are often distracted by the world, rather than being given to manifesting the fullness of His love and reign in the world.
Let us be diligent to (let Him) guard our hearts by the Spirit from distraction. Ever being aware of what is in the world, and going on around us, but not consumed by it, or the anxiety that can accompany that awareness. Let us, as Christ Jesus did, and as His body, be focused on the Kingdom of God and His eternal purpose, as well as His purpose in the moment, as we love each other, others in the world, and display that “our God, the Almighty, reigns” to principalities and powers above us and kings and kingdoms around us.
Perhaps… Consider giving as much time to these words to Colossae and Philippi this week as to your phone….
[Colossians 3:1-14 NASB95] 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, [and] abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its [evil] practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 [a renewal] in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
[Philippians 4:4-9 NASB95] 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle [spirit] be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you
And, revisiting David….let us find peace and hope:
[Psalm 42:11 NASB95]11 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.