SOCIETY IS AFRAID. Our culture has become a culture of fear. Fear seems to be everywhere – Behind every news story.
FEAR OF the unknown, terrorism, climate change, war, job security – failing economy.
WE WANT a hero to rescue us, to know someone is still fighting the bad guys, to know that, no matter how dangerous or big the threat is, someone can still restore order.
It's difficult to be unaffected by the culture of fear. It surrounds us. WE are uncomfortable. We worry too much. We speculate too much. Our imaginations repeatedly focus on long list of what ifs.
What do we do with all this fear? When the world seems so chaotic, dark, and dangerous, what do we do?
Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah writes about his commissioning as a prophet: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1).
King Uzziah reigned in Israel 50 years. By all accounts, brought stability and a time of tremendous prosperity and growth. Life had been good, but now the king was dead. For the first time in 50 years, massive change was on everyone’s mind. What was going to happen? Could they weather through? Was life, as they knew it, over?
Read on in Isaiah 6: vision of God only seems to bring more anxiety to Isaiah (v. 5): He says, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah’s vision of God seated on His throne in the temple may have shaken him, but it also put everything else into perspective. King Uzziah has died, but God is alive and well. Life is completely different, yet nothing has changed because God is still on His throne.
Paul, of Jesus (Col. 1:16f), reminds us that “[f]or by him all things were created: things in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him & for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Are you ruled by fear? Do worries worry you? Is “panic” your middle name? Do bullies kick sand in face & steal your girl? Forget superheroes! Focus on the One who has already defeated biggest villain of all. If Jesus holds all things together, He can hold you together too.
Things can get scary – that’s expected – but God remains on His throne. Why not make the only secure investment there is? Invest yourself in the unshakeable, unchanging, eternal plans of God.
FEAR OF the unknown, terrorism, climate change, war, job security – failing economy.
WE WANT a hero to rescue us, to know someone is still fighting the bad guys, to know that, no matter how dangerous or big the threat is, someone can still restore order.
It's difficult to be unaffected by the culture of fear. It surrounds us. WE are uncomfortable. We worry too much. We speculate too much. Our imaginations repeatedly focus on long list of what ifs.
What do we do with all this fear? When the world seems so chaotic, dark, and dangerous, what do we do?
Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah writes about his commissioning as a prophet: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1).
King Uzziah reigned in Israel 50 years. By all accounts, brought stability and a time of tremendous prosperity and growth. Life had been good, but now the king was dead. For the first time in 50 years, massive change was on everyone’s mind. What was going to happen? Could they weather through? Was life, as they knew it, over?
Read on in Isaiah 6: vision of God only seems to bring more anxiety to Isaiah (v. 5): He says, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah’s vision of God seated on His throne in the temple may have shaken him, but it also put everything else into perspective. King Uzziah has died, but God is alive and well. Life is completely different, yet nothing has changed because God is still on His throne.
Paul, of Jesus (Col. 1:16f), reminds us that “[f]or by him all things were created: things in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him & for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Are you ruled by fear? Do worries worry you? Is “panic” your middle name? Do bullies kick sand in face & steal your girl? Forget superheroes! Focus on the One who has already defeated biggest villain of all. If Jesus holds all things together, He can hold you together too.
Things can get scary – that’s expected – but God remains on His throne. Why not make the only secure investment there is? Invest yourself in the unshakeable, unchanging, eternal plans of God.
