Keep Shining
The Bible amazes me.
I suppose that would not surprise you that a preacher would say that.
There are a plethora of profundities within the pages of the Bible. Chief among them is how writings that are 2,000+ years old could be pulled straight from today’s news. There is truly “nothing new under the sun.”
My recent epiphany came from Psalm 37. The whole chapter is strikingly relevant for today’s times: “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”
How do we respond when evil abounds? Fret not. Trust in the Lord. Keep doing good. Commit your way to Him. Be still, wait patiently, and keep your hope in Him. In the end, good will triumph over evil. May take time, but the battle belongs to the Lord.
Someone once said (probably Abraham Lincoln), “In the end, it all works out. And if it hasn’t all worked out yet, then it isn’t the end.”
The story of the entire Bible is God working His will (Good) amid human activity (evil). And the overriding theme is, from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, Good always triumphs over evil.
John 1.5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Romans 12.21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
May we, as the called out, remember our calling from Jesus. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We are called to be the light. And light is most needed when the world is at its darkest.
The ancient words are ever true: In a world of evil, fret not. In a world of darkness, let your light shine.
No matter what, continue to trust in the Lord and do good.