Pastor s Column: Facing 2005 years ago
By LYNDON DECKER
First Southern Baptist Church
We have just passed from 2004 to 2005. When entering a new year, there is that wonder of what the next year will bring our way. However, God spares us of knowing what all the new year will bring our way because we may not be prepared to handle the issues we'll face. God has a way of preparing us for tomorrow by the events of today.
I am sure that as many of us look back on 2004 we are grateful that we did not know on the first day what we would encounter. Some of us faced loss of loved ones or property. Some have had illnesses and/or loss of jobs. Others have had other crises which were a real trial to them.
The Psalmist in Psalm 11 expressed his experiences of difficulty. He states that he had put his trust in the Lord. However, that does not make us immune to trials. David in this Psalm deals with the issue of being assaulted by his enemies. His colleagues encourage him to flee to safety. He says, "No I can't run for I have put my trust in the Lord."
We need to realize that Satan will try his best to get us to distrust God. We give him a victory when we start running and don't resist him and trust God. God sees and is aware of all His child is encountering.
What can we do? We can pray and follow the instruction in Eph. 6:10-18 in putting on the armor God has provided to quench the darts that are hurled against us. We can be assured that the wicked are out to get us.
In verses 4-6 of Psalm 11 David gives us some encouragement for when we are assaulted. First he tells us God is fully aware of our state and He knows and sees everything from His temple in heaven. Since He delights in the sacrifice of His Son, Who intercedes for us, He will defeat every device and send us a sure deliverance. Trials are a refining process and because we are precious to Him, He wants to refine us.
We can trust God because of who He is. The Psalmist closes the Psalm by stating that God is righteous and loves righteousness. As His children He sees His own image in us. As we trust Him more and are being refined, we will reveal more of His image.
What is important as we face 2005 is that we have a strong faith in God and trust Him fully. The question is not can we trust Him but will we?
