Articles
A Troubling Time
We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19)
Through the various means of communications available to us today, we are witnessing corruption, anger, hatred, all manner of unruliness, wickedness and immorality sweeping across America like a great whirlwind evidencing the power of the evil one. Friends, we are living in an age where vast multitudes of people are living with the arms of Satan, the god of this world, wrapped around them (2 Cor. 4:3-4, 1 Pet. 5:8).
We truly live in a perilous and troubling time (2 Tim. 3:1-5). It is a time in which these words of 2 Tim. 3 as well as those of Romans 1:18-32 read like today’s edition of the newspaper. It is a time when God is being mocked, scorned and ridiculed by great masses of people. His word is being ripped apart, torn asunder or simply tossed aside. I have no idea as to what the conditions were in that day long ago when God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth even to the point that every intent and thought of man’s heart was evil continually (Gen. 6:5-7) but in my heart I believe that conditions existing today must rival those of long ago.
All of this may cause our hearts to grow weary but so long as we trust in the Lord with all our heart, so long as we do not depend on our own understanding, so long as we acknowledge him in all we do, we can rest assured that he will strengthen, comfort and uphold us (Proverbs 3:5-8, Isaiah 41:10). I love the precious promise found in Isaiah 26:3, “The steadfast of mind you will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in you.” In this troubling age, this promise should fill our hearts with comfort as we strive each day to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).
I hear Paul as he tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Without the peace of God reigning in our hearts, life in this troubling age will be most miserable. In John 14;27, Jesus promises his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” My friend, I firmly believe that we have that same promise.
I find myself often singing, “I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong, I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk dear Lord close to thee.” If we desire this closer walk with the Lord, when we seek it and find it, then when our feeble life is over and death is swallowed up in victory, he will guide us to that peaceful shore where joy will never end.
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
