God has Spoken

Almighty God is not on the sidelines of world events, He’s right at the centre of them. Neither is Christianity irrelevant when political leaders are anxiously seeking to control world events, and turmoil is raging in country after country.

The present situation, which seems to defy political solutions, doesn’t mean that God is taken by surprise, or that He’s seeking to devise a new plan to come to grips with the situation. No, already thousands of years ago, He spoke through His prophets about what’s to come, and what the outcome of it all will be. In many countries around the world men are trying to grasp what’s going on, and trying to solve the enormous problems that are popping up in place after place. Yet God already has a solution to mankind’s woes.

But who can catch up with God? It’s always been a temptation to try to understand the prophetic writings from the vantage point of present realities instead of understanding the present in the light of God’s Word. No wonder we have a plethora of views on what God’s plan is, and little understanding of what God’s been saying from the beginning. When new events take place we eagerly try to re-interpret the Scriptures to fit in with what we see, instead of having God’s perspective, high above it all, like the eagle. Is He really in charge? Is He directing world events - not overcome by them? Or is evil taking over and unrighteousness triumphing?

Isaiah, as one of the prophets, is given the most unlikely revelations. Not only does he say that God’s still on the throne, but he also pictures a future free from the evils of sin and strife. His words again confirm God’s faithfulness to us and His ability to transform chaos into the most wonderful, godly order. God has a plan, and when man has emptied all his efforts to create peace God will do it His way. To be a Christian is to live with this knowledge and expectation.

We who live by the old words of the prophets may well be regarded by our neighbours and friends as outmoded and unconcerned by world events, but in fact we’re standing on the firmest of foundations. To know the past takes little effort, but to us it’s given to know the future. When God speaks of the most unlikely outcome of present events, we know that this is what will be. When others are driven by fear, we’re anchored in peace. When newspapers and TV newscasts are filled with speculation the eternal Word gives us quiet understanding. Who can receive this? Only those who know the eternal God!

Today may be filled with bad news and dreadful possibilities, but God still speaks a strong and relevant Word to His people: ‘Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you, hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by’ (Isaiah 26:20). God sees further than the present circumstances!

Some of you may well be affected this very day by events on the world scene. Others will just mark another day. Whatever our lot is, let’s take courage from the knowledge that God’s the ruler of history, and of the present time, and He’s faithful to His words and promises.