October 2, 2024

Every day there seems to be another large-scale event that demands our attention from the previous one. Hurricane Helene, a national election, the dockworkers strike, Israel invading Lebanon, Iran firing ballistic missiles at Israel, the war between Russia and Ukraine, not to mention the rising tension between China and Taiwan and North and South Korea. If you are prone to anxiousness, then the current situation is a target rich environment for serious anxiety. While these loom over us in a way, many of us have more immediate concerns related to our families, jobs, responsibilities, health and decisions we are being called on to make. Can we live with a sense of peace in the midst of multiple storms? Yes. How? It really is a matter of perspective. When you let God’s Word define the situation you can be at peace. Let me illustrate.

The Detroit Tigers are in the playoffs. According to the experts, they are not supposed to be in the playoffs and they are certainly not supposed to win. But here they are and they already won their first game. In that sense, they have already won. They have already gone further and proved most wrong. They are already successful. There is no expectation for them to keep going and therefore, no pressure to live up to a higher level. In that sense, they can play relaxed because they have already won.

Now, on a way more significant level, look at this text from Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’”

All of the kingdoms and governments of this world are going to collapse and disappear. Every single one of them. All of the armies, navies, and weapons systems will be destroyed and burned up. This world as we know it is fading away. It has a shelf life and will be replaced with a new heaven and a new earth. What will stand forever is the eternal King and His Kingdom. The end is guaranteed. The resurrection of Christ proves that He wins because He has won. If you are in Christ, his victory is your victory. His future is your future. His kingdom is your kingdom. That means that His peace is your peace.

Beloved, the next few miles may meet us with some fog and storms, but the end is guaranteed and the end is good, forever.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Romans 16:20

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

1 Peter 5:14b

Grace and PEACE,

Bob

Sunday’s text: Luke 9:18-22