Sometimes it seems we are living in a world of chaos. The place it strikes me sometimes is in the “time out” on every cable station at the quarter hour when we are subjected to five ads in a row so that I feel like I’m on Sesame Street with an attention span planed for 13 seconds. How can my mind be convinced to buy five different things at once when I’m trying to remember the latest short piece of information that teased what would follow the “brief” word(S) from our sponsors?
Or, I think about the chaos in the world with rumors of wars, “warning, this might be disturbing to watch) the latest brutal murder, standoff with police, or bank collapse. Each of these incidents merits contemplation. Our minds once again can’t absorb all these events and process them.
Anyone who’s experienced the chaos of a bawling child, the phone ringing, and some other riveting priority while trying to meet a deadline or get dinner on the table. Things in a family can get chaotic when any of a million details goes astray. It can be the mate to a sock, or a lost hairbrush, or “where are my car keys?” It can be the hectic traffic on a highway coming to a dramatic stop for seemingly hours because someone up ahead messed up and caused an accident. Of course, it doesn’t happen when we’re out for a leisurely drive. (what’s that?) It’s always when a deadline looms and we get that frantic thought that we’ll be late, late, for a very important date.
I’ve been taking a class on Revelation taught by Nancy Guthrie. Today we dealt with chapters 8-9 with the trumpet calls. Each one announced a different chaotic scene: famine, unpotable water, kingdoms out of control, and various decpetions. All are calls for repentance, but unbelievers’ hearts are turned to stone. Believers know they are immune to these forces, because God provides them with the assurance that He is sovereign and He limits the effects to the believers. But to those who are not believers, these are warnings not to be ignored. Nonetheless, chaos reigns.
Here’s how 1 Timothy chapter 3 puts our age of chaos:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
God is calling us as Christians to give it the name SIN. When man tries to live life on his own, without an understanding of the sovereignty of God, he will resort to sins of his flesh, his reason, his enjoyment, his “do your own thing” nature. Pure and simple. Let us be clear. This world is temoral. Eternity is forever. That’s where we will find times of peace, times of no death, no tears, no seeking after pleasure, because in God’s presence, there is no need for anything or anyone else.
Here is My Psalm 320, Chaos
MY PSALM 320 CHAOS
Blessed Father, Creator of every good and perfect gift,
I praise Your Name and bow to Your majesty,
Humbly acknowledging that without Your strength,
I can do nothing.
Without Your guidance, I wander aimlessly
Like water creating its own channel, meandering.
Like the original chaos,
I could live as one with no focus, no path, no purpose.
Like the original chaos,
I could face eternity having never lived an abundant life.
But in Your grace, mercy, and love
You fashioned Your world in magnificence,
And before the world began, You knew me
And chose me to be Yours.
Thank You for redeeming me from chaos.
Guide my life that I may always understand
My rich privilege to know You through Your creation,
And all Your means of grace.
Keep me mindful of Your blessings, Sovereign Lord. Amen
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