Last Sunday, Pastor Herk of the Little Church in the Pines continued in his sermon series within the Minor Prophet book of Habakkuk that in season and out of season, we must trust in God and going to Him in Prayer, even in times when He seems to be silent in our lives. We enter prayer with expectations, but God doesn’t always answer our prayers as we envision or hope, but we have to trust in whatever answer the Lord gives and trust that it is good and right, because we know that God does not make mistakes. The prophets of the Bible had important faith messages and truth lessons from God for the people that transcend time. We need to have faith in God’s over-arching plan of Redemption, even when we do not understand what God is doing. We do not see the whole picture, but Omniscient and Omnipotent God sees and knows the future from the beginning. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Trust and know that God is in control all the time.
Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”
Think about the world around us right now. Does society and our culture seem out-of-control? We might wonder as Habakkuk did in his day. The message from God to His prophet was a heavy burden to the proud (those having inordinate self-esteem; possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one's own excellence, either of body or mind. Arrogant; haughty; supercilious). We have to realize that we are not in control as much as we think that we are. The world and both Habakkuk’s and our day is wicked (Evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to everything that is contrary to the moral law of God, and both to persons and actions. The wicked, in Scripture, persons who live in sin; transgressors of the divine law; all who are unreconciled to God, unsanctified or impenitent). This fallen world is evil, corrupt, perversion, with hate and violence, crime and immorality, selfishness and sin galore. We in the Christian church have all been praying for our world, it’s leaders and people created in God’s image, much like the prophet in his day; asking Lord, what is going on? Do something about this, please! Society is going deeper and deeper into depravity and it is getting to be too much for me. We know that the thoughts, words and deeds of this culture are not pleasing to you and we feel guilty for how bad things have gotten.
Sometimes, the way that God does things is not the way we think that He should. Who are we to think this way? The Creator of heaven and earth sees all that is going on in the world and is completely aware of it. The intent of the prophet then and the Christian church now is to have hearts turn back to God now with moral and upright ways of living. In Habakkuk, God says no, I’m not bringing revival and restoration this time; I’m bringing judgment. The rebellious and detestable inequity against God and had gone on long enough for Him to bear no longer. The 2020 totals in the United States: 1.3 million violent crimes, 21,600 homicides, 126,430 reported rape cases, 4,692 potential human traffickers, 1,849 types of businesses facilitating human trafficking and 15,000 victims, 354,871 abortions of babies (infanticide), and 48,344 Americans died by suicide (not to mention homosexuality, pornography, political corruption, infidelity, licentiousness, alcohol and drug abuse, thefts, robberies, swindling, filthy language, slander, lying, lawlessness and hatred).
Habakkuk 2:16 “You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory.”
Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on trusting God in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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