Chaos vs. Christ
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Hebrews 13:8 NASB
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
I have a reputation as being a wordy person, so it may be a surprise that I selected just one verse upon which to reflect this morning. This one verse, though, sums up what I have been thinking and reading in other parts of scripture.
This world is spinning out of control around us! My family hesitates to allow me to even watch the evening news, because I become so distraught at the corruption, greed, dishonesty, deceit, suffering and sin in the world – seemingly everywhere – and out of control!
I will attempt to divert my attention from the political situation in the United States, and everywhere else, and focus my attention on my Lord and Savior! There is one thing that never changes. Never has changed. Never will change. Actually, it is one person: Jesus. Without that trust and belief, the news does become a source of anxiety and fear, concern and dismay. This verse reminds us that what we really should be focusing on is the one thing that really matters, and the impact that unchanging truth has on our lives.
How we respond to all the evil in the world is how the world knows we are Christians. My question is what kind of Christian am I portraying to the world? I don’t mean what kind of façade or front am I erecting – because eventually what is in my heart will be revealed. I mean how I respond to those in need in my daily life. How do I react when someone I work with completely runs over me and hurts my feelings? Do I reciprocate when someone cuts me off in traffic? Do I complain to the customer service manager when the cashier is rude? Do I cheat on my taxes because heads of major corporations cheat on such a grander scale, and my little bit of money is insignificant in the big scheme of things? Do I walk past the homeless man on the corner and never make eye contact with him. How about snap at my husband or yell at my kids?
I know each of these, in and of themselves, seems so small and unimportant in the big picture. But a picture begins with the first stroke of brush applying paint to canvas. And every individual stroke thereafter impacts the final result. Just as my sin may seem insignificant compared to the atrocities being committed in the world, so my actions as a devoted and believing Christian may seem not to matter. But exactly the opposite is the case! We are called to persevere in the face of adversity. We are to “trust and obey,” we are to remain faithful. And we are able to do so, because God is faithful to us. After all He sent His Son to be our Savior. What else could we possibly hope in?!
My prayer today is that you walk into the world as a Christian. And that you spread the Good News to every single person in your little part of the world.
Mary
