From the hymn, This is My Father’s World by Maltbie Babcock, 1901: “This is My Father’s world: Oh, let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be one.” From Proverbs 14:22 and 12:20: “If you plot evil, you will be lost; but if you plan good, you will be granted unfailing love and faithfulness. Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”
In a world where stories of savagery and brutal attacks on individuals and groups and countries, it is easy to be intimidated, giving in to fear and dreadful thoughts of “What if?” or “What would I do if?” or “Can’t someone stop this?”
While it is evident that terrorism is by no means new, it is not always the stuff of daily news. We are inundated with reports of attacks and growing threats, which are repeated and replayed so that they fill our minds’ eyes. Read the Old Testament. It is not new or news.
What we need to focus our attention to, quote scripture to ourselves, and prayerfully consider is that God’s plan for this world is bigger than our meager minds can understand, and that persecution and danger and attacks from Satan are part of this world, and have been since the Fall. I was reminded twice this week of this progression of sin, which is the same we see in terrorism: our desire for physical wellbeing, our fascination with materialism and having what the world provides for our comfort and pleasure, and our striving for significance. These were the roots of Eve’s sin in the bountiful Garden of Eden, and were present in the early church addressed in 1 John chapter 2, and are splattered all over our news reports and cultural climate today. Thank you to Lysa Terkeurst for reminding me of this truth.
Here’s how it appears in 1 John: “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
Therefore, this day, choose to focus on the fact that God is in charge, our commitment must be to Him and His sovereignty, and those who keep us thinking about dangers and troubles and strife will ultimately fail, and not just in this world, but for all eternity.
Martin Luther reminds us in “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” that : “though this world, with devils filled should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure; One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth; Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body thy may kill: God’s truth abideth still; His Kingdom is forever.” Amen and Amen
And Happy Reformation Day.
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