That Rattlesnake North Korea

You are probably more up to date on the issue than I am, but if you have not heard, there is some serious business going down in the near west (also known as the "far east").  From what I hear, the violent, communistic country of North Korea is threatening a nuclear attack on neighboring South Korea.  And with threats so serious coming from such a "rattlesnake" of a country, much of the world is rattled and worried.

The topic of North Korea came up in my mother's place of work a couple of days ago.  A man came into her office quite perturbed by the whole situation.  From my understanding of the conversation, their minds jumped to the worst case scenario as it usually does in life's scariest moments.  They imagined North Korea launching a nuclear warhead into their backyard, the United States being thrust into double-u double-u three, and then forced into issuing another draft.  Upon mention of the draft, my next to perfect mother (and I mean that) imagined her young, athletic, to smart for his own good son with smashingly good looks doing battle on the front lines across the Pacific.  My mother, just like many other mothers, became worried.

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Worrying is very dangerous.  It is dangerous because it is often "respected" and not considered a "big sin; and because it is viewed so innocently it is left to ravage Christians and the church unscathed by reform.  But why?  Why is worry so potent that Jesus would single it out in the Sermon on the Mount? The reason is because at the foundation of worry is in an ungodly fear of the unknown and the uncontrollable.  What I believe many Christians do not realize about worry is that in worrying they are greatly lacking trust in the power and providence of God and trying to take control of the life they devoted to God to do with as He pleased.  And if my hypothesis is true, there are many Christians who are living life defeated because they do not trust that God is able enough or wise enough to see them through their situation.

I admit it.  The most life threatening situation I have ever been in has been riding in a car; and though there have been times that my family has struggled financially, we have never gone hungry.  To my readers who have trusted their lives to Christ, I cannot say that I have been in your situation and can understand the pain and worries you may be having.  But know this, my lack of knowledge does not nullify the power and wisdom of almighty God and His ability to see you through.  Therefore, if you are a mother with a son, a daughter living many miles away from home, a cancer patient, a soldier, a teenage driver, a student who is trying your hardest to graduate, take courage for:

     If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?     
     As it is written:
   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 8:31-39

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When evaluating worry and its effects, the great effects worry has on the Kingdom of God often go unseen.   But, think about this.  It is because of worry that parents of youth will not send/allow their children to go to youth camp or mission trips.  It is because of worry that many Christians do not go into the harvest fields as dangerous as they may be.  It is because of worry that some Christians do not tithe.  It is because of worry that some churches will not reach out to the poor.  It is because of worry that many Christians are scared to tell friends and family members of the loving and just God.  Just imagine the testimony the church would have if it did not worry.

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I cannot put an end this blog without making something clear.  Some may read the previous words of this blog and say, "Oh, well that means if I don't worry about anything then God will never make my life suck."  That is neither the truth or what I was trying to say.  What I was trying to say is said best by Mr. Beaver from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (p. 75-76) as he speaks of Aslan:


"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe?'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King I tell you." (I first heard this as a sermon illustration from D. Payne and found the quote at http://www.revelife.com/697444356/aslan-and-jesus-not-tamed-but-good/)