Our Responsibility
Laila and I left Sunday after worship services and drove to North Carolina to spend the night with MOM. The next morning before prayer I asked Mom a question: "Mom, you and Dad had four children during World World II. How did you handle the pressure?"
"Well," Mom replied. "We just did the best we could do. Sure times were hard. But we did not know a lot about the war. It was not until later that we learned how terrible the war was. There were not many radios. No TV's. Not much news. My brother was at Pearl Harbor and in a building bombed by the Japanese. He hid under a pile of mattresses. We didn't know that until much later. Here we just got up every day and did what we knew to do. That's all we could do."
Dear Reader, hopefully, you have gleaned pearls of wisdom from Mom's observations about a moment in history that was pivotal for our world. Hopefully, you will remember that we were warned that at midnight of the year 2000 computer failures could bring mega disasters. You will remember that 9-11 became a fateful time in history changing our world in frightful ways.
Such a time is with us again. Added to the present moment is real time news coverage. Uploading to satellites it is possible for news to be transferred around the world in seconds. Radios, TVs, cell phones, etc., bombard our doors like a B-52 flying over with all the bays open. Our minds are racked with shocking pictures, talk shows that cast fear, and the immobilization that comes from world leaders not having an answer.
We trade news like a commodity. One week we are blitzed with Libya's yell for freedom. The next week Libya is a back page with less space than comic strips. Media moguls decide what we read based on hopeful ratings and margins of profits from readers and commercials. Charlie Sheen [madman or great actor?] gets more attention than God or prayer.
Yes, it is true. In all this who has called us to prayer? Who among world leaders has heralded a clarion call for us to turn to God? We wait for nuclear melt-downs in Japan, not knowing what devastation could be wrought. We see and feel the pain of an epic disaster that is comparable or greater than the disruption of Mt. Vesuvius that obliterated the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Yet, who is talking about God---His holiness, His sovereignty, His justice, His mercy, or His love?
We have to ask ourselves: "What is our personal role in a time of great distress? Are these apocalyptic times prophetic? Is there a word from the Lord in such times? What are followers of Christ to do when world leaders do not know what to do?"
My suggestion is that we listen to the wisdom of Mom's observations about a time when a madman wanted to rule the earth. Millions of people were murdered and burned. This writing does not allow for the tortures that preceded death. Yet, here in the U.S. folks sent their sons and daughters off to war with resolve and determination. We worked together. We united. We prayed.
Check the history. During World War II our churches were busy with prayer. No time for nonsense of preachers declaring their foolish rights. No time for churches to advocate for gay priests and bringing in irrational notions absurdly calling for the rights of individuals to do what comes naturally. No advocating of Christians for abortions. Check it out. Fact. Churches were praying. Praying for mercy. Praying for God to give victory and bring our sons and daughters home alive.
What do we need? We need a call to prayer. We need a call to repentance. We need a call to humble ourselves before the Lord. We need our nation and peoples to see the holy God of the Bible as the God, the Only God, the True God, the Living God.
When we turn our hearts to God, read His Word, and see HIM as the prophet saw God in Isaiah 6 our fears will be calmed. Our hearts with not need a defibrillation. Our panic will find rest. Our hopes will be restored. We will know that God, who is God, is the maker of heaven and earth. We will know that the earth groans and travails [Romans 8:22] wanting release from the curse of sin. We will read of the Coming of Christ to restore order in the earth. To calm its restless nature. To bring peace so badly needed.
Dear Friend, my heart cries out that we, the people of God, will do what we are supposed to do. At Covenant we are seeking to keep focus, to preach the gospel, to serve. We are striving not to fall into selfishness and internal loving of ourselves.
Our world mission conference this past weekend was a dynamic investment of sowing into the hearts of congregants and visitors the missional task of reaching outside the church doors. The gymnasium was filled with banquet tables, international cuisine, and decorated wonderfully. Twenty-nine missionaries, several pastors and other guests joined with us. Our keynote speaker challenged us with real and current stories of the suffering church around the world.
We are resolved as a people to invest ourselves in sharing the gospel outside the church doors. We are resolved that we will, in keeping with the wisdom of my Mother's words, get up each day and do what we know to do. We will serve the Lord ]Joshua 3]. We will humble ourselves. We will pray. We will serve others. We will pray for Jesus to come. We will work until He comes. We will not fear, but rest in perfect peace that God's plan is the Plan that will unfold to eternity.
Much love
Pastor Bare