You know the old story of Chicken Little, don’t you?  She was walking  the barnyard when an acorn fell on her head.  Immediately she formed an unsubstantiated conclusion: the sky is falling!  Then she ran around spreading fear and chaos with her warning, born of misinformation.  Are we letting ourselves listen too long to hysterical voices warning of impending doom that is imagined, the result of wrong conclusions, based on misinterpreted facts?  After last night’s primary elections I expect to hear the ‘wise guys’ on both sides predict the imminent demise of America if the other party is put in power.  Then, too, while I know much is grim on the spiritual front in America, I know that God is in control.  He has always had a people and He will keep those who love Him.

If you’re pining for ‘the good old days’  I’d suggest you take off the rose-colored glasses.  Fifty years ago, our country was living under the threat of nuclear annihilation, pollution poured into our rivers and streams, and black Americans lived in segregated communities as second class citizens. Many churches were full, but as many were in the grip of the culture, almost completely silent in the face of societal sins, using the Gospel of Christ to provide a nice gloss over the excesses of American culture.  We have our problems, but so did they.  If we meet our challenges with wisdom and the grace of God, we can anticipate the future without fear.

Every generation has to deal with its own sins and each one has important decisions to make. Wars, natural disasters, political leadership, and spiritual influence converge to shape the flow of history for a time. Some choices are made well and even help to set the stage for the success of the next generation. But there is also the law of unintended consequences! Decisions are made, using the best information available at the time, based on the knowledge available, that prove to be disastrous 50 years later.

Before we run off screaming about the ‘end of the world as we know it,’  we need to take a deep breath, to spend time before God, and to acknowledge- with profound humility- our limits of knowledge. King Solomon was right when he offered this conclusion at the end of a life that included some real success and some spectacular failure:  “The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, The Message)   “The fear of the Lord (respect) is the beginning of wisdom.”   IF we will live in step with the Spirit, we will find courage to face today’s challenges, the wisdom of God that leads to the best life, and – best of all – His eternal approval in Christ, the Savior.

Here’s a word to take with you today.
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and
wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
(Psalm 37:3-7, 23-24 NLT)

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Father, there is an arrogance in our time.

It teaches us that we ‘know better’ than previous generations.

It can lead us to ignore your ancient wisdom.

Keep us humble before You.

With the majesty of Your works and by the quiet influence of Your Spirit,

Bring us into a place of intimate communion, holy surrender.

We pray from Your holy Word:

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people.” (Isaiah 64:8-9, NIV)

Amen