It’s no secret many of us are in a state of unrest about the future of our country. I tend to stay out of politics but it’s getting more and more difficult when they seem to touch every part of our lives.
It seems the government has just slowly crept in to more and more facets and some people demand more and more aid and oversight. The way I see it, though, the more control we give the government, the more they can control the people. The more the people rely on the government, the more vulnerable we become.
Jesus Had a Greater Purpose Than Politics
Many people think they know what Jesus would have done or who He would have voted for based on His values. I tend to believe Jesus had a greater purpose than politics based on how He walked while He was on earth.
He began His ministry under the Roman occupation yet He never instructed anyone how to fight back. He was more concerned about the state of people’s souls and I believe we have lost sight of that. From an earthly or worldly standpoint, Jesus was crucified because of politics. But really, He had an eternal purpose that only those who truly loved, believed, and followed Him could see.
What Did Jesus Do When Trouble Came?
What did Jesus do when trouble came? What did He do when He knew His life was threatened?
He stayed connected to the Father. He prayed. He poured out his troubles and dread. He trusted His Father. But it didn’t save Him from death.
This may seem a little bleak but I think it’s time we start talking about death rather than hiding from it. I think it’s safe to say 99% of people fear death — even when we know heaven is real — because we aren’t sure what to expect and understandably fear pain. We don’t want to leave behind the people who love us.
We have lived in a culture of self-preservation to such a degree that even when our feelings are hurt, we’re cutting people out of our lives. We are not going to be able to face what’s coming later if we don’t face what’s uncomfortable now.
I know there is a lot of talk about it being the end, and maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. That’s the whole point — we need to be ready no matter what. We need to stay connected to the Father. But being ready isn’t just about preparing our own hearts. It’s also making certain the people in our circle have their hearts prepared. It’s about continuing to share the love of Jesus with those who don’t know Him.
There is so much distraction right now that it’s way too easy to get caught up in things that won’t matter in the end. Jesus never focused on self-preservation. He focused on the purpose He was called to. That doesn’t mean not to protect the gift of life we’ve been given. However, it also doesn’t mean to make survival our top priority.
As we walk these tumultuous times, we need to remember two things at once: protect your life in order to serve God but not at the expense of obeying Him (according to His Word).
We need to wake up, Church. Our slumber is over. It’s time to put our armor on and prepare for [spiritual] war.
We should have always been training (building and strengthening our relationship with God through prayer and reading His Word; living in community and sharpening with other believers, serving, sharing/giving, etc), but it’s not too late and the time is now.
Love always,
Christin
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