“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we {1 Or let us} have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we {2 Or let us} rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we {3 Or let us} also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
One marvelous thing about being a Christian is the peace that passes all understanding. Doom-and-gloom prophecies make little impact because too many have cried wolf and failed to produce one.
Economic prophets have decreed a new “economic crash” in every decade since 1929. Yet, the world economy has grown more stable and healthy during these years. Social scientists have claimed the world would run out of food by the year 2000. Yet, the greatest health problem we have is obesity. (That results from having too much food.)
Darwin “prophesied” that humans came into existence, through a series of “evolutions,” from seawater slime, to tadpoles, to monkeys, and eventually to present humanity. What amazes me is that otherwise intelligent people still believe such falsehoods. Orwell wrote that the world would be under the totalitarian thumb of “big brother” by 1984. Yet, we still enjoy the “home of the brave and the land of the free.”
Now, environmentalists claim that global warming is coming; that Antarctica and the Artic are melting; that our forests are disappearing. Yet, from around the world, seismic and meteorological evidence clearly proves their predictions to be false. In addition, there are more forests now than ever in recorded history. Astrologists claim that the planets are not converging correctly or that if they align in a certain manner disaster will occur. What I want to know, however, is this: Since they neither designed nor hung the universe, how could they possibly know its correct or incorrect alignment?
Let us remember that Jesus lived in a totalitarian society of slavery, violence, and debauchery. Life expectancy in the 1st century world was under forty years. Yet, in the middle of these horrific circumstances, Jesus called, established, and sent forth His church. Then he went to Gethsemane, Calvary, the Tomb, and the Resurrection to seal the deal. Let us have peace for God is in control. Let us rejoice because God has poured out his love into our hearts.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for guiding us in clear thinking. Thank you for deliverance from doom-and-gloom predictions. Thank you for the peace that only you give. Empower us with positive attitudes and the strength to persevere through our suffering to a character full of hope. Enable us to remember that hope in you will never be disappointed. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his peace and live daily in hope,
Pastor Smith