At the time of this writing, our world seems to be spinning out of control. A majority of our country has placed their faith in the new Biden administration, having rejected President Trump at the polls.
By the end of this calendar year (2020), as a nation, we will have taken on another ~$5 trillion of debt due to the pandemic, which has now killed over 350,000 people. Trust in our governing institutions is at an all-time low. According to a recent Pew Research poll, only 20% of Americans trust our own government to do the right thing.[1]
Of course, there’s no agreement on what “the right thing” is. We are so polarized as a nation on any number of issues, including race, gender, politics, economics and religion. Politicians talk about our common values, but few could articulate what these values are.
Russia has just been found to be deeply embedded into our government and private sector industries, looking at all we know, apparently for years. The emperor has had no clothes and only Russia knew it.
But even more sinister is just how lukewarm the American church has become. We love our comforts and conveniences. We love our fine homes and happy careers. Over half of those who regularly attend church[2] never give one dollar, betraying that their affections – at best – are divided between God and the world. They rob from the very God they worship each Sunday. At best, only 25% of our regular attenders give a full tithe. Of those who do, 80% have no credit card debt. American Christians today give, on average, only 2.5% of their income to the church. During the great depression, it was 3.3%.[3]
We also know that if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him (1 John 2.15).
As a result of the pandemic, tens of thousands of small businesses are closing. Fully half of America’s payroll comes from businesses who employ less than 100 people. Unemployment has gone up because of the pandemic and the percentage of those who are considered part of the workforce has been steadily declining since 2000, from a high of 67% to 61.5% today.[4]
These are just a few of the many problems we have which are creating uncertainty and fear in our culture.
Christ said that in this world, we will have trouble, but to “take heart, I have overcome the world!” (John 16.33). In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, Christ describes seven churches and at the end of each description, He notes that those who “overcome” will be given things like authority over the nations, receiving a new name on a white rock or to have Christ Himself acknowledge our names before God.
Overcoming, in the Bible, is also described as “victory”. Victory belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31); his right hand and his holy arm have gained him the victory (Psalm 98:1) and the Lord will prevail over his enemies (Isaiah 42:13). It is the Lord who sends success (Psalm 118:25) and will make your way successful (Genesis 24:40); when we obey God’s commandments (Joshua. 1:7-8;1 Kings. 2:3; 1 Chronicles. 22:13).
We can overcome the temptations to sin and the coming persecution because Christ triumphed over authorities in the cross (Colossians. 2:15). His enemies will become his footstool (Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:36; Acts 2:34–5; Hebrews 1:13, 10:13). Christ will reign until his enemies are put under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:25) and the darkness will not overcome the light (John 1:5).
The gates of Hades will not overcome the church (Matthew 16:18) because we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:37). Christ gives us the victory through Himself (1 Corinthians 15:57) and we need to remember that death is swallowed up in this victory (1 Corinthians. 15:54–5). At some point in the future, God will crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20) because whatever is born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).[5]
While our current circumstances might be bleak, for those who are truly following Christ, our future is bright. Getting there might be difficult. But for all who are true disciples of Jesus Christ, our future is sealed in God’s hands. We will spend eternity with Him. This is the cold, brutish life. The life we will have in Heaven is the good life.
Be encouraged today with these words of truth from God’s holy word. If we stay faithful to Christ, we will overcome. And those who overcome will be given, literally, the keys to the kingdom.
Bill English, Publisher
Bible and Business
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/09/14/americans-views-of-government-low-trust-but-some-positive-performance-ratings/
[2] https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspx
[3] https://pushpay.com/blog/church-giving-statistics/
[4] https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm
[5] Day, A. C. (2009). Collins Thesaurus of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
