Families4Him

  The news in the last few days has been  a reminder of the state of our world. First there was the bombing in Libya and the alleged killing of Gadhafi's son and grandchildren. There are the continual revolts in Syria and other Arab nations. Then came the news of Osama Bin Laden's death.  As I sit on the couch and take in the seemingly limitless opinions of the experts and media, I am reminded over and over  the words of Jesus before he left this world: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do  not be afraid. . . . Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, . . . My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." The old man John reminds me that "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." Yes John, I'm reminded of that daily!

So how do I respond to all this news? How do I react to the deaths of  evil people like Gadhafi's family or Osama Bin Laden? There may be a moment of a sigh, but the moment is extremely short. If I get caught off guard to think the battle between good and evil, between God and Satan (not equals by the way)  can be advanced by ridding our world of a life or two, I greatly under-estimate our enemy. For every Bin Laden there are many waiting to take his place. For every dictator, there are worse waiting in the wings. I would be admitting how small my vision of the Kingdom of God really is. As I stated just last week, the war between the spiritual worlds already happened and God won!  Satan is a sore looser and will fight to the end, but the truth is . . . he still loses.  My sanctification is demonstrated in the power of the resurrection and that is still the Power that will overcome. He is Alive!

So what can I celebrate? John gives me a clue: ". . . for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has over come the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."  That means not ideologies, powers, nations, or  weapons have the upper hand in ridding the world of evil. Only God will do that in His time. My celebration comes through faith that God's plan is the only plan to save this world. My work is to bring as many from darkness into light as I possibly can for my time here on this wicked planet. My heart's work is sanctification; holiness that comes by the Word.