Where is our country headed?

As we pause this Memorial Day to remember the courage of those who gave all for our country, many wonder if that kind of courage still exists.

Where is our country headed?

News alerts scroll across our screens — children are killed in another school shooting—senseless, tragic. All the while others are literally fighting for the right to kill the most innocent among us.

Questions race through my mind, “Where is our country going? What will this world look like when my kids have their own families? Should I stock up on canned goods and prepare for the worst? Should I carry a gun in my purse?

Do you have these moments of spiraling down? (I expect, in our crazy world, I am not the only one!).

What do you do?

Sometimes, I try to steady myself by controlling the things I can control…I tackle the laundry, reorganize the pantry, clean off my messy desk or get lost in comfort food (salted caramel ice cream…oh my! It is SO good!)

But frankly, my attempts to distract and settle myself never seem to last very long.

I admit I keep hoping for a political movement or figure to help usher our country back to ostensibly more moral, peaceful times.

I would love to be able to think this would right all the wrongs in our world, and that everyone would turn to Jesus.

However, Scripture tells us evil will continue to advance, to expect holy people to be destroyed, and for deceit to prosper (Dan 8:24-25).

(Aren’t you happy you read this uplifting post! Are you reaching for the salted caramel ice cream, yet?)

But hold on, put the spoon down… there is more….

Daniel 8 goes on to reassure us that this evil will be broken.

Evil will be BROKEN !

But it won’t be broken by HUMAN means.

(Not by human means -Republican or Democrat!)

A political party won’t fix everything–no matter what they say. (I bet most of you already knew that, but I was once the little girl who made homemade signs in middle school for Ronald Reagan – it took me longer to figure this particular truth out).

Victory belongs to God alone.

He IS at work, and His Kingdom is STILL powerfully advancing, and it will not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14). (Hallelujah!)

God’s Kingdom is at hand (Matt 3:2) and one day, those who follow Christ will be separated from those who do not and who practice evil (Matt 25:31-46).

This is reassuring to those who know Jesus as Lord, but also sobering, as many of us know and love people of whom Jesus is not their Lord.

So how are we to live in the midst of all this?

Are we to hide out in our holy huddles and wait on Heaven? Should we start a commune?

Matthew 6:33, tells us to seek FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (what we need to live) will be added to us.

We are to seek righteousness in how we live each day—what we do, how we vote, how we treat others, and on and on.

We are by no means given a pass to compromise in any of these areas just because the world we live in is increasingly evil.

In other words, just because we see evil seemingly winning, we do not have an excuse to allow evil to win in our own lives.

How will our lost loved ones ever see Jesus in us if we do?

We are to look at situations and choose to follow Christ, to trust Him more than we trust ourselves (that’s what you are doing when you obey Him), so His light can shine in us and through us!

We are called to be a light to a world walking in darkness.

Yes, we look different.

Yes, we feel like aliens and a strangers sometimes and may not side with the opinion poll winners… but that is okay. (Because remember, evil is still unleashed in our world and the popular vote is often on its side).

But don’t forget, victory belongs to our soon-coming King. His Kingdom is coming!

We are also to pray for God’s Kingdom to come (Matt 6:10). It is then, only then, and not by human means, that the time of evil will end. Satan will be thrown into the abyss (Rev 20:2-3). The dead in Christ will live again (Rev 20:4,6), every tear will be wiped away, there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain (Rev 21:4) and we will see the face of the LORD (Rev 22:4)! One day, one glorious day!

But until then, we can’t crawl into a corner. We can’t compromise with evil or pat ourselves on the back because we aren’t as bad as someone else we know.

No, God is our standard, and the author of our hope. He is THE rock we can stand on. He cannot lie and His Name is Faithful and True!….so no matter who wins the next political squabble … victory is coming; but ONLY by the Lord!

Focus on Him!

And until His return, He is mostly seen, not in large movements, but as those who know Him impact those who don’t—neighbors, coworkers, friends, —one life at a time impacting one life at a time!!

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:11-16

Glory to Him!
Hope in Him!

kimjaggers.com

(I wrote this a couple of years ago and slightly revised it for today)