Uncertainty, trepidation, and insecurity are becoming commonplace in our world today. With the proliferation of terrorist attacks, ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) threats, and civil unrest, global security and public safety have become popular “watchwords” in our postmodern society.
Although Jesus foretold in Matthew 24 that our present-day calamities, namely “wars and rumors of wars,” would characterize the imminence of His return, the veracity of such eschatological events has required Christians to acknowledge and accept the reality that we are living in the final days of earth’s history. Moreover, even non-Christians and those of no religious belief system at all have been compelled to concede that something of cosmic significance is fast approaching.
To combat people’s fears, Bible preachers, teachers, and evangelists remind us that God still has everything in control.2 We’re admonished to have faith in God, to believe what we don’t see. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped; the evidence of things not seen.”3 And “without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
Despite these pronouncements and declarations of faith, however, we are still a people of logic, reason, and rationale. For many it has to “make sense.” One plus one must equal two. A comes first, then B. Like a game of chess, one move determines the next. So while we have the most comprehensive intelligence technologies and powerful military machines in history, we are still called upon to have faith, to believe without seeing when fear and anxiety are rampant among the masses.
But some still ask, “Why all the strife? Why all the conflict? Why all the unrest? Why would a loving God permit the senseless killings we are witnessing and reading about? Why?” We can all come up with varying answers to these the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
This is where our faith and trust in God have to be exercised. We cannot explain why these things happen or why they’re permitted to happen, but we must trust God. Remember, “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”6 For me, this statement affirms the simple truism, “Let God be God.”
Yes, we have more information now than ever before. Yes, our communication tools allow us to connect with anybody anywhere at anytime. Yes, we’ve even sent a man to the moon. But at the end of the day, we must let God be God and put our faith and trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Let God Be God
