Through the Storm

 

This week Michael asks: Does God still love us when the world says there is no justice? In times of storms of confusion all around us, according to Scottish churchman and theologian Alexander Balmain Bruce (31 January 1831 – 7 August 1899) in the book, “The Training of the Twelve,” Jesus answered them and said, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and fishes. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that leads to eternal life. Jesus continued, Moses did not give you bread from heaven. For It is only God who gives the true bread. I myself am the bread of life that God sent down from heaven. For whosoever eats of this bread will inherit eternal life. Jesus said, He who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life so that one may eat and not die. If anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever. Whosoever eats of my flesh and drinks my blood, he shall have eternal life. he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall never die. After these sayings many who had followed Jesus left and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the twelve disciples, will you also leave? He knew that Judas would eventually betray him. Jesus’ sermon separated the true disciples from the hangers-on who wanted to see his miracles…. He culled the crowd and gave them an ultimatum. Choose you this day…. Are you living for bread to fill your bellies or are you living for the bread of spiritual life?

Rich Christiano’s upcoming movie “The Mind Reader” is about Jesus’ ultimate purpose. The Jews thought that Jesus would appear as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to run the Roman rulers out of Judea, but this was not Jesus’ mission. We often ponder, What does God have in store for our country? How could God have blessed America but now Christians in America are in danger of prosecution and persecution for so-called “hate crimes” for following biblical principles and “hate speech” for saying what the Bible says. “Harmful Language Alert” labels can now be found on pages displaying the scanned versions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as well as the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. This in a nation whose National Motto is “In God We Trust”. 

 

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

 

The devil continues to sow seeds of confusion, of division, strife, and contention. His purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. His ultimate purpose is to separate our hearts from God’s heart. Oswald Chamber’s essay about spiritual confusion asks the question: How can the affairs of this world work together for good to those who love God, who work according to his purpose? The ways of the Lord are contrary to the God-rejecting world’s definition of success. It is the age-old battle between the light of faith and darkness of unbelief. It is spiritual warfare.

Luke 18:8 says, when the Son of man returns will He find a faithful man, proven in the things that are unseen, the things of the character of Christ in you? In the meantime, you will not understand in the midst of trial what God is preparing you for. He is proving His character within you through the crucible of the melting pot and the refining and purifying of the fiery furnace.

Despite the confusion of the secular world around us and the attacks, chaos, panic, pandemonium, our prayer is not Lord deliver us from the storm. Instead our prayer is deliver us through the storm. Storms drive people to shelter. The storms of this life will prove His strength. This is the lesson that God will reveal through the storm: My strength is made perfect in thy weakness. My grace is sufficient for you that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael