“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Charles Dickens penned. That seems to sum up where things are in the world today. There is a lot going on all around and some is good and some is not so good. Some makes sense and some makes no sense. Some works for our good. Some, for evil. In view of this – how are we to live?
At this juncture in time we must know how, more than ever before, to carry out the words of Paul found in Ephesians 6:13 KJV: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God; that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all – to stand.” God wants us to set ourselves in a place with Him that no matter what goes on around us, we can stand firm in Him. In other words, even if it is the “worst of times,” there is a place in Him where you can stand and will be okay. I like His proposition!
About a month ago, I experienced a “worst of times” scenario. And believe me – they can just spring up seemingly out of nowhere! A friend of mine, who I’ve spent the last 7 years praying with on Friday nights, died. I had seen her 2 weeks prior to her death. And I did not even know that she was sick until after the fact. The point is – neither did she know that she was sick. It just happened and she just went. I am grateful it was quick and without prolonged suffering. Yet at the same time, I felt stunned in the midst of her sudden absence. She is in the presence of the Lord; and according to Paul again, “to depart and be with the Lord is far better!” Philippians 1:23 KJV. But moving on and remaining fixed on the promises of God requires a focus. The word, “stand” in Ephesians 6:13 means to make firm, establish, to be kept intact (I like this one), to escape in safety, to establish a thing, to uphold or sustain the force of anything (I like this, too), to set in balance. We must learn to live in a place before the Lord where we are not shaken in these turbulent times that are unfolding before us.
I am climbing more and more into this place of safety and am learning how to stand in the evil day. I want to be useful for Him in these last days. I don’t wanna crumble with the world when sudden destruction comes upon the earth. 1 Thess. 5:3. I pray you will purpose to do the same as we see the day approaching!
