Have you ever mourned? Did you ever feel down in the spirit? Have you been humbled? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Have you ever shown mercy? Do you have a pure heart? Have you ever made peace among your friends and family? Do you feel persecuted because of your stand for what’s right? Has anyone ever falsely accused you or spoken bad about you because of your belief and faith in Christ? Then you should be able to look at this dark and dying world and grab onto the promises of Christ for there is much blessing, inheritance and comfort ahead as you will see God and be called a child of God! Be encouraged this day for you have seen another dawn, another opportunity for life.
It is not difficult to look around you and believe what you see. But it is in what you do not see are the blessings and strength and courage found in the Spirit of the Lord. As is written in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Remember this, for your calling is higher and one that is not of fear, but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.
These dark and evil times wish to hold you captive, but instead are proving you opportunities to be the salt and light that pierces the darkness. As Christ said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world,” and in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” When darkness is hurled at you, you have the power to touch it and it will disappear because it cannot withstand the light which is in you. Indeed, we are living in perilous times where the things around us appear lost in many respects. But do you believe as I do that God works together all things for good to them that love God? Then as is asked in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Romans 8 continues: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As the Lord said in Isaiah 42:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” The natural human instinct is to shrink back under the pressure we feel from government and society. Remember, though, the early Christians were under tremendous persecution from the Roman Empire. They found ways to stand and be courageous. They turned the world upside down. So can you.
