A Brave New World

 

    Wow. When I wrote "An Open Letter to 2021," and said that I had no idea what was going to happen on the 6th, I really had no idea. 

It's been exactly two weeks since that post, and it seems as though we're living in a completely different reality. A reality where, now more than ever, right is wrong and wrong is right. A reality where violence is "peace" and true peace is decried as "violence." A reality where the idea of liberty in all of its forms is more unpopular than a pariah. A reality where countryman turns against countryman with an unparalleled ferocity. Except this time, it is accompanied with the heavy words "traitor" and "terrorist;" flung high into the ether like so much chaff. And these comments were aimed at almost all of the wrong people. 

We've been sternly lectured by our "betters" and utterly betrayed by a large percentage of our elected "leaders." Our voice was unequivocally stolen from us in both the civic and public forums.  These people have shown that they will do whatever it takes to silence dissenters and punish all rebels. This bold heist of human right, committed by elites who have always despised common people like you and me, is something that I believe will absolutely live in infamy.

I've got to be honest with you: over the last two weeks I've been tempted to become very angry and very afraid in light of all of that. And even though it's going to sound really silly, since the near possibility of this is absolutely nowhere in sight... I'm terrified to one day bring children into this "brave new world" of ours. I don't want them to face this age that frankly seems like a hellscape.  

But, when I think about it, that's a really Godless reaction. Meaning, in taking stock of what's going on in the world around me, I've left God and His kind sovereignty completely out of my calculations. And this coming from the girl that just two weeks ago wrote publicly to affirm (and encourage others to affirm) their faith in Him, no matter what happens. That's how wayward my heart is, folks. That war in my members" that Paul writes about in Romans 7 is legit. In fact, lets take a look at that passage real quick. 

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 

but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind 

and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

Wretched man that I am! 

Who will deliver me from this body of death? 

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! 

So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

Romans 7:21-25 (emphasis added)

I think this puts into words exactly what a believer struggles with on the daily. In fact, I'd encourage you to read the whole 7th chapter of Romans. It seems to me that this life-or-death struggle, this war raging in our souls, is the theme of that whole chapter. In it, Paul paints the the picture of two opposing forces: our members (or our sinful flesh) and our minds (or our redeemed souls.) These two are in constant combat within us, struggling for mastery over us. 

I don't know about you, but I find myself constantly vacillating between repenting  like Paul for the "wretched man that I am," or simply being too tired and discouraged to even care. There are countless days, dear friends, that I lose the war. And when I'm in that place of defeat, feeling like a down-right captive within,  it seems that all I can do is ask helplessly just like Paul, "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" 

The emotion that's so evident in this passage is palpable, and if you've walked with the Lord for any amount of time it's highly relatable. But what I love most is how the Gospel is locked and loaded like a cannon in every word: the Law of sin in our members is powerless in light of the cross. All of a sudden, that desperate cry for help is turned into a rhetorical question. We now have both an answer and a battle cry. We can shout along with Paul, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Now, do we still go to battle every day? Yes. 

Do we fail often? Also, yes. 

But do we fight alone? NO. 

Will we ultimately win the war? By His mercy and grace, YES!  

I know that probably felt like a strange tangent. But I want to encourage you, dear reader in light of everything going on right now, to remember : 

• Remember that "... we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) 

• Remember to look to your Savior in the midst of any and every situation; be that political and cultural upheaval or the upheaval of your own soul.

 

• Remember to pray for our beloved country, for its leaders (regardless of whether they are good or bad,) for the Church both home and abroad, and for repentance. Repentance within our own hearts, and repentance in our nation. I know that it was a promise for the Israelites, but since God's character never changes, and we are a wild branch grafted into the vine of God's Chosen People (see Romans 11:13-22,) I think we should absolutely take this verse to heart: "...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

• Remember that nothing falls outside of the Lord's control, and that no matter what happens, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

• Remember to look to the Kingdom that's coming: the real  "brave new world," and to, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40 NIV)

• Remember that if you're reading this and Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, and none of this makes sense or sounds hopeful to you, you are more than welcome to reach out to me and talk! I'm not perfect, and I certainly don't have all the answers, but I'd be honored to point you to the One who is and does. Whoever you are, it's safe to want to know more. In fact, the only truly safe place is in Jesus' arms. Dear friend, I want to encourage you to "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)

So, precious brothers and sisters, let's face the coming days with boldness, knowing that "... 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." (Romans 8:37)

I'm so grateful for all of you that take the time to read these posts on a miniscule blog written by a tiny, 23 year-old puppy of a girl, who just hopes to cast what little light she can on her radiant Savior. I love you guys. 

I want to close this post with two Psalms that have been especially encouraging these past two weeks. Until next time!

⁛ ⁛ ⁛

                    - Psalm 18 - 

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

 

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

 

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

    and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me;

    the torrents of destruction assailed me;

 

the cords of Sheol entangled me;

    the snares of death confronted me.

 

In my distress I called upon the Lord;

    to my God I cried for help.

From his temple he heard my voice,

    and my cry to him reached his ears.

 

Then the earth reeled and rocked;

    the foundations also of the mountains trembled

    and quaked, because he was angry.

 

Smoke went up from his nostrils,

    and devouring fire from his mouth;

    glowing coals flamed forth from him.

 

He bowed the heavens and came down;

    thick darkness was under his feet.

 

He rode on a cherub and flew;

    he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

 

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,

    thick clouds dark with water.

 

Out of the brightness before him

    hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

 

The Lord also thundered in the heavens,

    and the Most High uttered his voice,

    hailstones and coals of fire.

 

And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;

    he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.

 

Then the channels of the sea were seen,

    and the foundations of the world were laid bare

at your rebuke, O Lord,

    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

 

He sent from on high, he took me;

    he drew me out of many waters.

 

He rescued me from my strong enemy

    and from those who hated me,

    for they were too mighty for me.

 

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

    but the Lord was my support.

 

He brought me out into a broad place;

    he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

 

The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;

    according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

 

For I have kept the ways of the Lord,

    and have not wickedly departed from my God.

 

For all his rules were before me,

    and his statutes I did not put away from me.

 

I was blameless before him,

    and I kept myself from my guilt.

 

So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

 

With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

 

with the purified you show yourself pure;

    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

 

For you save a humble people,

    but the haughty eyes you bring down.

 

For it is you who light my lamp;

    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

 

For by you I can run against a troop,

    and by my God I can leap over a wall.

 

This God—his way is perfect;

    the word of the Lord proves true;

    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

 

For who is God, but the Lord?

    And who is a rock, except our God?—

 

the God who equipped me with strength

    and made my way blameless.

 

He made my feet like the feet of a deer

    and set me secure on the heights.

 

He trains my hands for war,

    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

 

You have given me the shield of your salvation,

    and your right hand supported me,

    and your gentleness made me great.

 

You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

    and my feet did not slip.

 

I pursued my enemies and overtook them,

    and did not turn back till they were consumed.

 

I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;

    they fell under my feet.

 

For you equipped me with strength for the battle;

    you made those who rise against me sink under me.

 

You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

    and those who hated me I destroyed.

 

They cried for help, but there was none to save;

    they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

I beat them fine as dust before the wind;

    I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

 

You delivered me from strife with the people;

    you made me the head of the nations;

    people whom I had not known served me.

 

As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;

    foreigners came cringing to me.

 

Foreigners lost heart

    and came trembling out of their fortresses.

 

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,

    and exalted be the God of my salvation—

 

the God who gave me vengeance

    and subdued peoples under me,

 

who rescued me from my enemies;

    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;

    you delivered me from the man of violence.

 

For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,

    and sing to your name.

 

Great salvation he brings to his king,

    and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

    to David and his offspring forever.

            - Psalm 94 - 

O Lord, God of vengeance, 

    O God of vengeance, shine forth! 

Rise up, O judge of the earth; 

    repay to the proud what they deserve! 

O Lord, how long shall the wicked, 

    how long shall the wicked exult?  

They pour out their arrogant words; 

    all the evildoers boast. 

They crush your people, O Lord, 

    and afflict your heritage. 

They kill the widow and the sojourner, 

    and murder the fatherless; 

and they say, “The Lord does not see; 

    the God of Jacob does not perceive.”  

 

Understand, O dullest of the people! 

    Fools, when will you be wise? 

He who planted the ear, does he not hear? 

He who formed the eye, does he not see? 

He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? 

He who teaches man knowledge—  

    the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, 

    that they are but a breath. 

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, 

    and whom you teach out of your law, 

to give him rest from days of trouble, 

    until a pit is dug for the wicked.  

For the Lord will not forsake his people; 

    he will not abandon his heritage; 

for justice will return to the righteous, 

    and all the upright in heart will follow it.  

Who rises up for me against the wicked? 

    Who stands up for me against evildoers? 

If the Lord had not been my help, 

    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.  

When I thought, “My foot slips,” 

    your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.  

When the cares of my heart are many, 

    your consolations cheer my soul.  

Can wicked rulers be allied with you, 

    those who frame injustice by statute? 

They band together against the life of the righteous 

    and condemn the innocent to death. 

But the Lord has become my stronghold, 

    and my God the rock of my refuge.  

He will bring back on them their iniquity 

    and wipe them out for their wickedness; 

the Lord our God will wipe them out.