Seeing how the world around us is developing, we can easily get discouraged. We are stepping into an era of injustice and hatred of truth. We become disappointed with our culture, where wickedness is becoming law now. We fear for our safety. We are praying for this country, but God doesn’t seem to listen. We are wondering how our children will have to live in this world. We hear about people getting depressed, and when we listen to the media, we get depressed too.

As it is extremely important that we as Christians maintain our faith, hope, and love in obedience to God, and our unity in Christ, I would like to share some biblical advice. Much of it was gleaned from sermons by Pastor John MacArthur from Grace Community Church in California, and I highly recommend you listen to his sermons on YouTube.

Exchanged Truth for a Lie

In Romans 1:28 Paul says that because the people didn’t see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Society then was very similar to ours today, and this first chapter of the letter to the Romans describes what God does with people who fall for the lie that they know better than God. You will recognize our time in every verse.

You may consider that all negative developments come faster than in Jesus’ time and are also more global. This should motivate you to study the signs of the times as mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24. A great help is the Bible study book The Unknown Hour by Gaylord Haan and Jerome Julien. You will find studying the end times to be a joyful process, because you will realize how intensely God is involved with every detail of world history in general and your personal well-being in particular. His promise in Revelation 22:7 (English Standard Version) is, “Behold, I am coming soon.”

The important thing is your focus. How much time do you spend on following the media, as compared with reading your Bible and praying? It’s much better for your own peace of mind to follow God than to follow the news or politics. Make sure you maintain a healthy balance, because Satan is only too happy to keep you distracted away from God.

2020 Clarity

The good part about the year 2020 was the clarity it gave to most of us of where we are standing concerning the things of the world. This applies to what governments and their agencies have in mind for people, as well as how people in our families and churches reacted to the circumstances. We may also have surprised ourselves on occasion. This means that we can and should be honest with ourselves and realize where our focus should be. We need to consider what our position is in this world and how we should live. When we read the Bible, we see there is nothing new under the sun, but the past year brought much wickedness to the surface, which makes it easier for us to see for ourselves where God wants us to be.

The question where God wants us to be is an easy one to answer: God wants you exactly where you are now. God made you the way you are and placed you where he wanted you to be. God is omnipotent, and nothing happens outside of his knowledge. You were created “for such a time as this” and for such a place as this. The same counts for every child you have or will have, for every family member, and every other Christian for that matter. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

     

Jesus in his high priestly prayer prayed for you (John 17:15): “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” That’s one reason to pray the Lord’s Prayer with intensity: to be delivered from the evil one.

Prince of This World

Satan is the prince of this world. The kingdom that we belong to is not of this world. There is no connection to the kingdoms of the world. Right now, nothing of Jesus’ kingdom is related to any part of fallen creation on this earth. It will change only when Jesus comes back to claim his kingdom (Rev. 11:15). Until then, Jesus’ kingdom is in the hearts of those who believe. Good advice for what our attitude should be is in 1 Peter 2:21, where it says that “for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” He set the example in utter humility and was obedient to the cross.

Another good summary of how our attitude should be can be found in Psalm 37:3–7.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices.

Reading this carefully will help you realize that God is in control of everything that is happening in this world. And he doesn’t want us to worry about it or be caught up in the fear that is being spread. Fear is being used by the evil one to have a hold over us, so being fearless makes us the devil’s enemy. This should not bother us, because in Jesus there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38–39). The devil’s power is only an illusion, and we should never acquiesce to it.

Signed Up for Death

We didn’t come to win in this world. Like Jesus, we signed up for death. In John 15:20 Jesus is candid about it when he says, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” In Luke 9:23 Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” If you think that is too heavy a burden, Jesus is encouraging you, saying that his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matt. 11:29–30). He can say that because he has overcome the world, and everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

Not only did we die in Christ to share in his resurrection, but also we need to die to self. This is the sanctification process in which we die to the passions and desires of the flesh. On this road the Holy Spirit is our constant strength and comfort. Our freedom is absolute and complete in the Spirit, and it will help us to not be affected by the world. Instead we live to the glory of God, displaying the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:23–24).

Luminaries

We are luminaries in Satan’s dark kingdom. Jesus is the light, and the light has residence in us. Jesus says to us in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Realize, as Jesus did, that we are the only hope that this perverse generation has. More than ever before we need to proclaim the gospel to all the people who are walking around in darkness. Hold forth the word of life. Be ready at all times to share the gospel, and pray that you will be given the words when you talk to others.

As we can hear from our missionaries and church planters, interest in the gospel has skyrocketed during these times of fear and lockdown darkness. God is using this for his good purpose, and we should not lack in zeal or urgency to proclaim the hope that is in us.

We must be open to encouraging others too. When others are caught in fear, the believer should be ready to share the light that’s within us. We must be sincerely concerned about others. There is power in encouragement when coupled with the message of hope and salvation. It has the capacity to change lives, and we don’t know how little time there is left.

Obedience

We need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), for it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. This is ongoing: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. We are forgiven every time we fail and repent. God is patient with us, and he is delighted with our obedience when it is the fruit of our delight in him.

How do we do that? By faith and by not complaining.

Remember how the Israelites in Egypt were spared from the plagues? God is protective of us and capable of sparing his children the consequences of his wrath on this world. Psalm 91 promises that you can find protection in the shelter of the Most High and in the shadow of the Almighty (v. 1). Even though a thousand may fall at your side, terror shall not come near you (v. 7). God’s favor can keep you safe. Do not lean on your own understanding, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh (Prov. 3:5, 7–8).

Paul tells Timothy (1 Tim. 2:1–4) that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This brings our focus again to our here and now, to do the works that God has prepared for us to do. He will protect us and make sure we can do the good works by placing them right in front of us. This is obedience that glorifies the Lord.

Also remember how the Israelites in the desert started to grumble and how unhappy that made God. If it looks like our prayers are not answered, we should realize that God’s will is different. We should not, like the Israelites, start complaining to God. Don’t argue with God about the situation, and don’t argue with God about his purpose for you. If you are complaining to God, you are saying that you don’t trust him enough for him to know what’s best for you. You assume you know better than God, and that puts you on the same level as the world, because the world is also about being better and wiser than God himself. Don’t break faith, don’t stop trusting God, but instead see him for the Rock he is. He is your protector, your shepherd, and he is full of grace toward you (Ps. 37). “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14–15).

Joy

So how should we then live? We hang on to the fact that for those who love God, all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28). We belong to Jesus’ everlasting and glorious kingdom, and we want to abide in his love. Only with his love abiding in us can we counter the hate of the world. This is the love Jesus talked about when he said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9).

When we are confused by the many rapid changes in the world, we remain obedient to him.

As Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love” (John 15:10). You are chosen in Jesus for such a time and place like this “that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16). Note the word “abide,” which shows that what you are dealing with is permanent, even eternal, as opposed to the world in which everything is temporary.

Instead of getting depressed, we will become joyful. As Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Annemarieke Ryskamp was born and raised in the Netherlands. She graduated with a master’s degree in Dutch Language and Literature from Utrecht University and worked for the Dutch l’Abri and as a secondary school teacher at United World College in Singapore. She attends Dutton United Reformed Church (MI) where she leads various Bible study groups and mentor groups. She has two sons who are currently in graduate studies.