December 29th, 2023
by Kyle Mills
by Kyle Mills
Church Family:
Our world is constantly changing. Some of the change is predictable. Most of it isn’t. But the truth is, the only thing that won’t change is that life will always change. Let me say it a different way: the only thing that is certain is that life is uncertain. However, as redeemed followers of Christ we can take comfort in the truth that God will never change. He is the CONSTANT in a world of chaos and turbulence (Hebrews 13:8).
But how does this truth give us hope? In order to learn this, we need to study the nature of God to see what it is about God’s nature and character that is unchanging, and what that means for us as His followers entering into 2024, and also what that means for a world that does not know Him.
God is “slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty” (Nahum 1:3). God’s anger toward the wickedness on earth literally “suffers long”. We may read a news headline from a biased news source, and get angry for a moment at the injustice in the world. But God knows far more about the situation than we do. God knows infinitely more about ALL of the evil in the world than we could ever comprehend, and yet He is “slow to anger”. But in His calculated slow-ness to anger, does evil triumph? Does Satan get the upper hand? Do the forces of darkness prevail? Do we sometimes wish that God would hurry up with His justice? “…the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.” The second half of this verse in Nahum gives us the promise of hope that is certain. God will have the last word. God will vindicate His holy name. The guilty will not get away with their wickedness. Those who scoff at God will not get a free pass. The culture warriors who oppress God’s people through activist groups, through unjust legislation, and through unfair treatment will answer to our holy God. The terrorist groups who murder, rape, and destroy will answer to our holy God.
But what of those who turn from their evil deeds to the LORD in repentance and faith? “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in Him” (Nahum 1:7). This promise is for all those who take refuge in God. He rescues every person who trusts in Him. He is our stronghold. And He intimately knows us as a father knows his children, shielding us in the day of trouble. We have no need to fear what 2024 will bring. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…” (Psalm 46:1, 2a). What will 2024 have in store for us? Ebola or COVID 2.0? A new president and vice-president? A category 5 hurricane? Worse gas prices? We don’t know… but we shouldn’t fear. We are to grab hold of these promises and entrust ourselves to our “stronghold in the day of trouble”.
I’ll see you all Sunday, as we gather to worship our REFUGE.
Kyle
Our world is constantly changing. Some of the change is predictable. Most of it isn’t. But the truth is, the only thing that won’t change is that life will always change. Let me say it a different way: the only thing that is certain is that life is uncertain. However, as redeemed followers of Christ we can take comfort in the truth that God will never change. He is the CONSTANT in a world of chaos and turbulence (Hebrews 13:8).
But how does this truth give us hope? In order to learn this, we need to study the nature of God to see what it is about God’s nature and character that is unchanging, and what that means for us as His followers entering into 2024, and also what that means for a world that does not know Him.
God is “slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty” (Nahum 1:3). God’s anger toward the wickedness on earth literally “suffers long”. We may read a news headline from a biased news source, and get angry for a moment at the injustice in the world. But God knows far more about the situation than we do. God knows infinitely more about ALL of the evil in the world than we could ever comprehend, and yet He is “slow to anger”. But in His calculated slow-ness to anger, does evil triumph? Does Satan get the upper hand? Do the forces of darkness prevail? Do we sometimes wish that God would hurry up with His justice? “…the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.” The second half of this verse in Nahum gives us the promise of hope that is certain. God will have the last word. God will vindicate His holy name. The guilty will not get away with their wickedness. Those who scoff at God will not get a free pass. The culture warriors who oppress God’s people through activist groups, through unjust legislation, and through unfair treatment will answer to our holy God. The terrorist groups who murder, rape, and destroy will answer to our holy God.
But what of those who turn from their evil deeds to the LORD in repentance and faith? “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in Him” (Nahum 1:7). This promise is for all those who take refuge in God. He rescues every person who trusts in Him. He is our stronghold. And He intimately knows us as a father knows his children, shielding us in the day of trouble. We have no need to fear what 2024 will bring. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…” (Psalm 46:1, 2a). What will 2024 have in store for us? Ebola or COVID 2.0? A new president and vice-president? A category 5 hurricane? Worse gas prices? We don’t know… but we shouldn’t fear. We are to grab hold of these promises and entrust ourselves to our “stronghold in the day of trouble”.
I’ll see you all Sunday, as we gather to worship our REFUGE.
Kyle
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