A cursory glance of the headlines can be fairly discouraging. There seems to be no shortage of bad news: the threat of global terrorism, economic insecurity, and corruption and unrest in our cities to name a few. Most recently the Brexit decision has reverberated around global markets with a staggering loss of $2.08 trillion in global shares. A trillion (1,000,000,000,000) is a number that is difficult to comprehend so consider the following analogy:
A million seconds is 12 days.
A billion seconds is 31 years.
A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.
You may wonder “What’s going on?” The sad reality is that we live in a fallen world that has been tainted by sin. Although we experience the deleterious effects of sin every day we must realize that God knows and He cares. The Psalmist gives us a helpful perspective as he views the godless nations around him,
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!” (Psalm 2:1-3)
We live in a world in which many people do want to live under the authority of the Lord’s Anointed – the Messiah. The result is that people seek do what is right in their own eyes – they have lost their moral compass. This however, does not take God by surprise,
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:4-6)
You must realize that God has a solution before we even know we have a problem. The Psalmist is speaking proleptically alluding to the coming Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ. The Anointed has been appointed and now we hear from Him as He speaks in the next section of this Psalm,
“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” (Psalm 2:7-9)
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:10-12)
You can live confidently knowing that although we live an uncertain world, we have a trustworthy God who can provide a certain future for you.
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)
Associate Pastor – Discipleship. The Church at LifePark
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
Follow me on twitter: rickhiggins5
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