“Rend your
heart.” Joel 2:13
A year from now, our youngest leaves for college. In some ways,
because of her maturity, it seems she’s moving onward tomorrow, which makes the
whole process feel like a big bandage slowly being pulled off hair by hair. ~Even
though we parents recognize this progression as healthy and necessary, at times
we want to say, “Enough already, we know
what’s coming, just pull it off in one
tug!”
This is a similar sentiment so many of us are experiencing with
our beloved USA. We’ve cherished “our God-centered nation”, and unlike our
budding daughter, she’s disastrously being altered; an evolution that is
neither healthy nor necessary.
God has clearly articulated what is going to ensue on the
world’s stage in the final days. **Physically, morally and spiritually, all is
happening according to plan (e.g.: Is.17; Ps. 83; Matt. 24). **The birth pains
are getting closer together and more intense. **We’re fast approaching
similarities of Hosea’s day, where, “There
is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is
only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds.”
Hs. 4:1-2
Amidst the pain of “this” bandage being pulled off hair by hair,
many Believers are saying, “Enough
already, we know what’s coming, just
pull it off in one tug!”
But God says... “To
every thing there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under the
heaven.” Eccl. 3:1
So, let’s take comfort knowing that God is batting 1000,
meaning:
To date, God has a PERFECT prophetic record and He’s in
COMPLETE control.
What to do when overwhelmed? God gives us this advice:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom. 12:21
“Good” meaning that which is upright, honorable, excellent,
joyful, pleasant, of good constitution or nature (e.g.: Abide in Jesus, then,
in what could appear “internal and external righteous
rebellion”, obey Jesus. In love, stand against this world’s life-sucking
philosophies, powers, and propaganda).
For, similar to an age gone by, God says:
“Idols are
worthless; they are ridiculous lies!
On
the Day of Reckoning they will all be destroyed…God is no idol!
He
is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, His own special
possession.
The
LORD
of Heaven’s Armies is His name!
…Pack
your bags and prepare to leave; the siege is about to begin.” Jer. 10:15-17
He’s coming for us
soon. May we rend our hearts today!
Much love, ~Shaun
and Betsy
