Pastor's Corner - Fear Not!

Dear Church Family,

"If you were not safe there, where were you safe? A common office party. That was everywhere. That was everybody."

That is a chilling quote that I read this week in the wake of the latest terror attack in our country. Often times when I read and watch these these horrific events in the news, my first thought is usually, "I'm glad that stuff doesn't go on in my town." But this person quoted above brought to mind a fear that we might have right now and certainly should have if we don't: "If we are not safe in our own homes, schools and places of employment, where are we safe?"
One thing is for sure, we live in a fallen world where evil actually exists and is now manifesting itself very close to home. We can no longer look at acts of violence and terror and say, "I'm glad that only happens 'over there.'"  Columbine, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Roseburg, Colorado Springs, Charleston are not places "over there" - they are the common towns of America. One thing is for sure, none of us are safe - no one is exempt from the evil of the world. So what do we do? Where do we find protection, comfort, safety?
As the Church, we must no longer see these issues as merely psychological or sociological - evil in the world is a spiritual problem. Evil can not and will not be controlled by more laws, gun control and better access to healthcare. Yes, all of these things are good and God does use the governmental institutions to restrain evil, but they cannot stop evil or conquer it. A spiritual problem needs a spiritual solution.
Another disturbing headline that I read this week stated,"God is not fixing this." That statement sums up the massive delusion in which our world lives. We actually think and believe that man can and has within his grasp the omnipotence to solve evil in our world that I have already stated is a spiritual problem that has no earthly solution. It is clear that man certainly is not capable of fixing the problem of evil. If nothing else, history has proven this fact. And this is when Christmas comes to us at just the right time!
Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, was born into a world of evil and sin. The incarnation teaches us that the spiritual problem of evil is only going to be solved by a power not of this earth. The incarnation teaches us that God not only is going to fix evil in the world, He hasfixed it! God has done what man cannot do for himself. "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them" by Jesus Christ's birth, life and death. (Colossians 2:15 ESV)
Therefore, the cry of the church and the cry of every believer for protection, for safety, for comfort must be the cry of the soul calling out for help as the psalmists do:

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3 ESV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:35-39 ESV)

So in times of fear, in times of sorrow, in times of evil, let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we can take one more breath without the protection and providence of a sovereign God in our lives. To remind us, let us praise the LORD! Let us call out to Him! Let us say and remember that He is our refuge, our protection, our Savior!
Merry Christmas!
By His grace and to His praise, your pastor,
Wilson
Worship Notes: December 6, 2015
  • This Sunday we will continue in our Advent Sermon Series, The Songs of Christmas: Zechariah's Song, Luke 1:67-80.
  • In preparation for the sermon: "Let us learn to rest on the promises and embrace them as Zachariah did." -J.C. Ryle
  • A hymn for the week:  O Come, O Come Emmanuel
  • Click here for this week's bulletin.
  • We are podcasting! Catch up on sermons on iTunes.

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