Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Looking at the time in which we are living is very difficult. It truly seems
that there is almost no good news to be heard. The economy, millions without
jobs, the wars going on world wide, and the riots we read about in places
that are supposed to be stable, food shortages, fuel shortages and then
there is death and destruction which we will never understand. The list
could grow quite long if we wanted it to, but these are the times in which
we live.

Paul Harvey wrote these words about our times: "In times like these, it is
helpful to remember that there have always been times like these."

Keeping things in perspective is sometimes hard to do, but I heard about a
wise grandmother that could help us all in this area.

It seems that a little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going
wrong: School, family problems, health problems, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma is
baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of
course he does. "Here, have some cooking oil." "Yuck" says the boy. "How
about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma!" "Would you like some flour then?
Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma, those are all yucky!" To which Grandma
replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they
are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"
She continued, "God works the same way in our lives."

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 tells us, "What has been will be again, what has been
done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there
anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here
already, long ago; it was here before our time."

What can we do, how do we react when our world is falling apart and we have
been warned that history is going to repeat it 'self or our world (even our
personal world) has no chance to avoid unwanted changes, no matter what we
do? I would suggest to you, that we must focus on that which is unchanging,
that which gives us hope for the future that will never change.

In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 King Solomon reminds us: "Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

Do you want security? Do you want Stability? Do you want the promise of a
life that is not subject to the changes of this world? Then put your faith,
your life, and your trust in the hands of our God! In our unstable world
there is stability if you know where to look! I love Romans 8:35-39 where
Paul writes: "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." (NIV)

In times like these where is your trust, your security, your stability?

Russ Lawson