“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
Do you ever sit down to read the Bible or your morning devotions and realize the world never changes?
We just revolve. We keep circling back around again.
I said for years that America reflects the Nation of Israel in the Old Testament. No matter how many times God forgives and renews us or gives us a Godly leader, we spit in His face and head back to our evil and foreign, non-God ways.
Last night, I sat down to watch the CMT Music Awards. I was waiting for Wynonna to perform. She was going to be on twice. But in the meantime, while waiting for her arrival, I had to make it through all the other acts that are popular today.
Acts I wasn't familiar with or acts that had transversed over the decades into something that seemed to be very off the mark and different than where they came from originally.
I sat through one artist who was actually hosting the event but came out in an almost cartoon-like attire with four or five drag queens behind her dressed the same way, dancing behind her and lip-syncing backup.
I know I'm a Christian. I know it. But I have both gay and lesbian friends. Friends I am close with and friends that I love and adore. I can't reconcile in my mind what the Bible says to how much I love these people. I know where they stand. They know where I stand, but we love each other. We agree to disagree.
But let's take that out of our conversation here. Let's put our focus back on the world today. Watching the CMT awards last night was torture. Grown country music adults (i.e., men) looking like FOOLS trying to act and be cool around music icons such as Slash and Billy Gibbons. Popular female artists hugging, performing with, and showcasing drag queens. Diversity, diversity, diversity - so much DIVERSITY, it makes country music and CMT look foolish - NOT like they are actually diverse. Like they are just playing the game so no fingers are pointed at them.
There was so much more that we don't even need to talk about. I think you get where I am going.
What happened to it being about cowboys and ranches, trucks, and broken hearts? What happened to the patriotic, "We love America" segments? Where are Willie and Waylon, Brooks & Dunn, or even Shay & Dan? Where are John Rich and Toby Keith? Last night was a farce and the furtherest thing from what country music has always stood for and been about. You can say that country music is evolving and changing with the times, but that's my whole point.
Some things just need to stand APART and be different. Represent who they are - not try and change to match what this world sees as correct and embracing and inclusive.
And that is what the Scripture above - Rev. 2:10 - tells us, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
The world we live in is changing. Both our political and musical environments are mirroring this fact. And Scripture is on the mark about it happening.
There are going to be few and far between that stand up to be tested. There are going to be people the world literally hates and seeks to destroy.
When I feel empty, I go back to the Cross and to God to refuel. Today, when I see the world spinning out of control during this Easter season, it reminds me of a man who faced bitter hatred and destruction of His life over 2,000 years ago.
I would never compare what is happening in our political world today with the events of long ago, but I would most definitely say they mirror each other.
Thank goodness there is always hope:
"The truth is, in this life we are guaranteed trouble.
John 16:33 (NIV) says,“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We cannot decide whether we will suffer or not, but we can decide how we will approach suffering.
In the Old Testament, the people of God faced trial, testing, and tribulation throughout their journey to the promised land. Israel often complained to God, turned their backs on Him, or forgot His goodness. Yet, God never wavered in His character or faithfulness to His people. He gave Manna from Heaven, provided water from a stone, and promised honey from a rock (Psalm 81:16).
Despite the things we face in this life, we never walk alone and we are never without promise. Jesus tells us to “take heart,” because He has overcome, and if we trust Him, we will overcome as well. This is why we can sing or pray with confidence: 'There's honey in the rock, water in the stone; manna on the ground, no matter where I go.'
Regardless of the circumstances we face in this life, we serve a good God who provides, who leads us through the wilderness—One who will never leave or forsake us. Though we don’t get to decide whether trouble will come our way, we always have the choice to remember God’s goodness and to place our trust in Him. Today, choose Him. Choose to trust in His promise, to look at His proven track record. When we do these things, we can truly say: “Oh how sweet, how sweet it is, to trust in You Jesus.”
Pray today for our world. For the politicians and entertainers that are standing up and making a difference. Those that refuse to bow down to ideologies, multi-genders, and baby killing. Stand UP for America and the values we were founded on. Scripture will always ring true - verse by verse, chapter by chapter.
Make today count. Put tomorrow on your calendar and then get on your knees today and tomorrow asking God to protect our Country, to show us His power, to reveal His path, and to allow his Will to be done.
Hang on my friends, Sunday is coming!
