I received an e-mail yesterday morning:
The direction that our country is moving is frightening to me and my family, but it seems like while most people aren't happy about it, they don't think that we are heading toward Socialism. We do. Even more than that, are we heading toward Communism or...?
I am not happy with the Bush administration, don't care for McCain and am terrified of Obama and his dealings with Ayers, ACORN, Farakhan etc. I know that Sean Hannity is not an unbiased personality, but given that, his 'documentary' last night on Obama was very disturbing. For the first time ever, I really am scared about what is to come.
What is your thinking about where our country is headed? Are you at all scared?
I replied as follows:
My thinking about where our country is headed. That's a tough one. On the one hand, there's my emotions. On the other, my head and my faith.
I will say, with my emotions, "Of course I am afraid." There is much to be afraid of (or about). Who wants to go through difficult times?
On the other hand. . . .
It's funny: just this past Saturday, while I was working out in the yard, I listened to a presentation called The 200 Year Plan: A Practicum on Multi-Generational Faithfulness--a CD set put out by Vision Forum Ministries.
Before I say anything more, let me note that, by their general presentation alone, Vision Forum drives me a bit crazy. There is something really "weird" (in my opinion) about people who seem to glorify warfare, who feature photographs of boys running around in WWII and Revolutionary War outfits, etc. . . . and who seem to like their "women folk" to wear 100-year-old fashions. Their graphic presentation, alone, has been such a turn-off to me that I have never purchased anything from them until about two weeks ago when someone who approaches life far more from a world missions perspective--one that is close to my heart--suggested I look at the specific program I just mentioned to you.
Based on his recommendation, and considering my personal concern about multi-generational strategic planning for families (thus the new company I have been working on for the last many months), I decided to take the risk and purchase the CD series.
. . . Perhaps the most powerful "message" in the larger message to which I was listening:
- "Multi-generational visionaries are not dissuaded by evil tidings, but are in fact emboldened by such."
- "Multi-generational visionaries are led by faith, not by sight. They are motivated by duty, not statistical evidence, focus groups or opinion polls." And, finally (though this was said first!):
- Among the evidences that you may be about to enter a great moment in history: you are in the midst of national judgment or persecution. Specifically, "Great moments often arise on the heels of national judgment and persecution."
All of these comments caught my attention. And then, when you asked the question you did this morning, you reminded me of what I had just listened to.
Multi-Generational Visionaries put their faith in God
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings : his
heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
Fear not , thou worm Jacob, and ye men
of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD,
and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:14
Be strong and of a good courage, fear
not , nor be afraid of them: for the LORD
thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he
will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Reading those Scriptures, I am struck by my comment about being afraid. Here I read, "He shall not be afraid." "Fear not." "Fear not, nor be afraid."
My sense: these verses are not speaking of one's emotional state. But they are speaking of how we ought to respond to fearsome circumstances. We need to be of good courage; we must not allow fear to paralyze us; we must fear God more than we fear anything else. We must look with faith and the anticipation and hope to a brighter future--not only in heaven, but here on Earth as well. Jesus has taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
And so, even if and as persecution may rear its head here in the United States, we need to take encouragement from that "great cloud of witnesses" of people who have gone before us in other cultures and at other times throughout world history. We need to take the long view. Despite all the talk and all the anticipation of Jesus returning "any day," or "soon," we had better remember--and be grateful for the remembrance of!--all our faithful older brothers and sisters in the faith who granted us a legacy of faithfulness through hard times down through the centuries . . . people who were faithful because they anticipated, as we are taught to anticipate, a great and glorious future.
That great future may be tomorrow, or it may be centuries from now, even as Jesus' return may be tomorrow or centuries from now. Either way, and with both situations, we need to walk in faithfulness.
*******
I'm not sure if this, what I've just written, will be helpful or discouraging to you, but I think is the right thing for me to share. It is also what is on my mind and heart at this time.
John
PS: heading toward socialism? No doubt. We are already there. But toward communism? . . . I think I'm more concerned about Islam and dhimmitude.
Once more: thanks for writing.
