Life is easy here. Really. We have a home, we have plenty of food, we have 3 vehicles to use when we need them. We have plenty to wear. And more of everything we need or could possibly want just minutes down the road or at the click of a key on the keyboard! We are truly blessed, comfortable, at ease. Life is easy.
But. There is always a ‘but’ isn’t there? What about the threat of all that being taken away? It looms on the horizon, a dark cloud just waiting to swoop in and blot out the peaceful sunshine of carefree living we enjoy. This mighty, wondrous, free nation we love so well, really isn’t so ‘Free’ anymore. Our ‘freedoms’ are being challenged more every day. New laws are constantly changing the ‘freedoms’ that were so hard-won and proudly fought for.
So what happens when those ‘freedoms’ are completely eradicated? Will I have the strength to stand? Is my peace and security anchored in my ‘freedoms’ here in this world, in all the ‘easy living’ I enjoy? If that is the case then I can assure you I will not have the strength to stand when all that crumbles around me.
The things happening in our political scene today are truly frightening on a human level. I see persecution of Jesus follower’s escalating. I feel the possibility of facing extreme physical persecution in my lifetime or my children and grandchildren’s lifetimes is a very real possibility. How much will God allow before He sends Jesus back to claim us as His bride? Will I have to give up this comfy life and run to the hills to hide? Will I be imprisoned? Tortured? Killed? WILL I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STAND??
I sit at my kitchen table, sipping my coffee, Bible open beside me, gazing around my home at all the ‘treasures’ I’ve accumulated. Easy Living. Comfort. All the things that make this house a home. What if the opposition arrived on my doorstep and asked if I would renounce my Jesus? Would I cave? Would I love this home we’ve created, this life we live, more than my Jesus?
Hard questions. My heart trembles and quakes at the thought. My human nature whispers ‘you could never do it’. And my human nature is so dead-right. I could never do it. I would cave before I even gave it a thought.
But praise Yahweh I don’t have to stand strong on my own! Oh I will stand strong! I WILL! But not on my own. The Spirit of God dwells in me and by the Grace of God and the Power of His Might I will stand strong. I was filled with His Spirit, and sealed by Him, the day I acknowledged I was a sinner and accepted Jesus as my crucified and risen Savior, who took my sins away – and it is only through HIM that I can stand!
So today I stand, stretch my arms toward the Son-drenched sky and praise my God who gives the strength to stand. Praise His Name!
Have a Blessed Sunday.
Sew a Fine Seam
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Great post! Much to think about and be thankful for.
I think this may be my all time favorite post you’ve ever written. I often wonder the some of the same things and realize when I feel the fear that it is just me trying to imagine doing it on my own. So thankful that I won’t have to! Bless you, friend. 🙂
Yes, I ditto what Janice said. The fear comes from trying to imagine doing it alone, which of course is impossible. And this is so true with many things. Whenever I find myself struggling with something that I just can’t seem to overcome, I remember that it’s because I’m trying to do it by myself. It’s at that point that I turn it all over to God and say “Okay God, this is your problem now!” Don’t you know He loves it when we do that? 🙂 Beautiful pictures. Excellent post. Have a lovely day Jill!
Debbie
The persecution of Christians today was our lesson this AM. Bless God for His unending Grace. Thank you.
Wow what a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. What a blessing!
I have had such a rough day and was checking my email before I throw in the towel and found this post! You have the best posts on Sundays and they truly lift me up. It is easy to forget what we have in Christ and look to what we have on Earth. Thank you for the reminder that He is here for us and that earthly possessions are just that.
Hi Jill, I too am concerned about our loss of freedom and the persecutions of Christians and conservatives around the world and here at home. I don’t think so much that we will be asked to denounce Jesus openly. Christians are being PC’d into denouncing him daily by making them afraid to stand and speak up because of political correctness, etc. It’s ramping up. Unfortunately many churches are not paying attention and are not preparing people to be the salt and light and the place for the world to run to for help that they should be. I believe it’s up to us as individuals to push back and get vocal.
Liz
Good Point Liz. I see God’s word being watered down more and more all the time. Accepting more and more things that God hates. It’s hard to take a stand and make your voice heard. So much easier to just blend into the background and try to not be noticed!
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