April 22
Josh 24:1-33 | PS 89:38-52 | Prov 13:20-23 | Luke 21:1-28
On one of my past vacations in the Caribbean, I swam out to the ropes, relatively far out from the shore. This is usually where I pray in the morning while away. It is quiet and serene, just me and God. This one time, while deep in prayer I was startled when I heard a spout of air being blown out. I turned, and within a couple of feet from me was a dolphin who slowly let its air out, then slowly moved on. It was beautiful. Do I see this as a lucky break, or a mere coincidence? No! It was a beautiful gift from God. We state things, but do we actually believe it? Is there anything too small or too large for God to handle? Of course not. Though we have Scripture, are we who are limited by our natural senses able to predict our God who is without limits, as He works both in the natural and the supernatural? No! So, why do we spend so much time trying to figure things out, when history will proceed according to His timing and His sovereign direction. If we are truly in Him, then we have nothing to fear, for even death is simply a change in residence for the believer. So we can talk about EMP’s, nuclear warfare, China, etc. as though these are to be feared. If God chooses to employ any or all of the above items, it will come at His discretion. Trust in Him and you can’t lose. Trust in the world and you will lose.
Joshua reminded the people in 24:11-13, “Then you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you—also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand. I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’” It was never them who accomplished all of what they did. It was always by the hand of their God. He goes on with what should be the natural response to God’s outpouring of love towards them in 24:14-15, ““Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”” You tend to serve the God or god that you choose to love. Joshua served the One True God. But if we spend all of our time expanding our knowledge, then we serve the god of intellect. If we spend every waking minute thinking and worrying about our family, then we serve the god of family. If we focus on our free time to relax and enjoy our favorite pastimes then we serve the god of pleasure.
Jesus warned us that things would get tough, and to actually expect it. He warned us in Luke 21:16-19, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.” That is why Stephen in Acts 7 could respond with such peace as he was being brutally killed by stoning due to trumped up charges. Nothing ever changes until it does. The Bible gives us clear warnings, but teaches us to trust in our faithful God. Anything is possible, but nothing should be feared. If God chooses to humble our nation, it doesn’t need to come from Russia or China. If He so desired He could use a nation like Bermuda to conquer us. If He chooses to humble us with hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, etc., please don’t look to Climate Change, it would be by His direction. Nothing to fear, just trust Him, serve Him, and receive your marching orders from Him. That is peace.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: