There are people who are saying that we're living in unprecedented times, except that we're not. Ecclesiastes reminds us that what has been before will happen again, there is nothing new under the sun. How, then, should the church respond to adversity? This is not about politics, it's not about borders, it's about the church universal: We have enemies. The World, and the Prince of the World, who keep trying to make us look like them. Yet, some of us comply. James 4:4 calls us to task: "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
1 John 2:15 verifies this: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
So what does this say to believers? As the world responds, we need to rely on the WORD. Many of us are trying to protect THIS life, but eternity is a lot longer. We cannot prevent death. We can't stop hurt, or sickness, or disease. The world will try and blow us in this direction or that. its winds change daily, if not by the hour, but the Lord is steadfast, firm, unchanging, and unmoving. We as His chosen, those called by His name, who've confessed He is Lord, need to trust His word! Show the world your faith, not by trying to protect your life, but by losing it for the sake of Christ. Jesus says this is a daily affair (to come after Him we must deny ourselves, and pick up our crosses DAILY, Luke 9:23). We need to trust. Have faith. If there is famine, or pestilence, or trials, tribulations or persecutions (All promised by Christ), trust in Him. God will take care of the rest.
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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