There Is Only One Safe Place!
I am once again in prayer for a country that has suffered a mighty earthquake. The reports coming out of Chile are stunning and sad. This massive earthquake has taken lives, disrupted every aspect of life for those that live there, and has caused an unknown financial impact. It has been amazing to me that this earthquake was much stronger than the one in Haiti, but yet the pictures are different. The infrastructure was and is better in Chile. I saw a report last night that they are already beginning to pave and repair roads. I am thankful for this.
As I reflect upon these earthquakes that the world has witnessed and these countries have endured, it causes me to be disciplined by the Lord! I don't know if it is because of where we live, or our financial affluence, or the relative calm of these days, but my fear for my life is that I think I am safe! There are days that pass in my life and Satan has twisted my thoughts so that I actually think I am safe! These earthquakes are a very sad tragedy and they can remind us that we live in a very unsafe world because of the curse of sin.
It is a reminder and a pointer to Christ, that there is but one safe place on this planet, and that is in Christ. Psalm 112:6 says: For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. When we feel that we are "safe" in some other way apart from Christ, then we will rest in this safety and we are reminded as people in Chile and Haiti sleep in tents that this is no safety at all. We live in a very dangerous world, but we rest in a very safe God.
This is the wonderful picture that we see all throughout Scripture. He is our "strong tower" and our "refuge." Run into Him and be safe.
So, pray for the people of Haiti and Chile...but pray with the reality that this earth beneath may shake and tear apart, but the "solid rock" of Jesus Christ can never be moved! "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24-25)
Blessings,
Bro. Matt
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Tiger Woods is back in the news....and I am still confused. I don't understand why the media and our culture is acting like they are shocked or even disgusted by Tiger's wild affairs and adultery on his wife. I know why I am shocked and saddened by it, but I don't know why our culture is.
Our culture celebrates and glorifies sexual infidelity. Watch most TV shows, read mainstream magazines, listen to the "talking heads" of our culture and it is clear that marriage is an old arhaic institution that just drives men and women to the type of behavior we have seen from Tiger. So, why are they sad shocked by Tiger?
The hypocrisy of our culture is tragic. It's tragic because it tells us that our actions have no consequences, that we should live however we would like to live, and we have no reason to live by the old standards of our grandparents. Tiger's life is a reminder to all of us that even though we are told this, we know it is a lie. It's a reminder that we don't get to make up the rules of life as we go.
The Apostle Paul said it this way: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be know about God is plain to them.
Our culture recoils at Tiger's behavior because we can't deceive ourselves when we see the lie so clearly. Our culture recoils because one of the god's of the culture has failed them. I am sad for Tiger and I pray that he will give his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust him for salvation and for the rebuilding of his life. Tiger said that he knows one day he will have to explain all this to his children and that day will be tragic. One day, Tiger will have to explain all of this to God. If he does not repent and trust in Christ, that day will be the most tragic of his life.
Tiger's life is a reminder to all of us that we desperately need Christ. I have plenty of sin that I will make account for as well and I am thankful that Christ will be there to speak on my behalf to the Father. I am thankful that in Christ there is "now no condemnation." It is tragic for anyone that fails to trust in Christ.
The hypocrisy of our culture is apparent because ultimately we know that we are not autonomous individuals, but rather we will stand before a holy God and we see the reality of this conflict in the news about Tiger's life.