Truth Matters From Pastor Dean Brdlik, June 27th 2023

We seem to be headed for difficult times as we see America disintegrating...perhaps even more so for Christ followers.  We hear a lot these days about a “two-tiered justice system” that we believers will be and are subjected to...that is, a system that will result in injustice for those Bible believers resisting and speaking out about liberal and atheistic communist trends.  However, this injustice is also a barometer of our commitment, belief and trust in Jesus Christ in this respect ---what is more important to you, your material things like your home, your bank account, your job, your retirement; or demonstrating internally and externally your undying trust in sovereign God?  Today’s My Utmost for His Highest gives us some guidance regarding the challenges we are facing in this coming “New World Order” disaster:

“Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God’s personal deliverance.

The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, “Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.” Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, “Why should I be treated like this?” If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, “Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance.” Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6).”

Tough words to those of us who want to cling to what we own or what we believe we are entitled to.  We need to be reminded of 4 truths that matter:  1)  God is sovereign and is in control not only of this world, but of our lives.  2)  He is our rock, our fortress, our strong Deliverer.  3)  “This world is not our home we’re just a passin through” as the song says.  4)  As Jesus reminds us:  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6).

My prayer for you and me this day is this:  Lord, we confess we often “have panic, heartache, and distress” when we contemplate that we will become the targets of injustice.  We need a paradigm shift in our “common sense” hold on things rather than having our confidence in sovereign God and our eyes fixed on eternity.  We want to be steadfast to our calling.  Help us Lord to see the truths that matter.  Amen.

Around 1890 Fanny Crosby wrote this song which should be our song of our assurance in times of injustice:

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day. 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.