Weekend Wisdom
February 18– February 19, 2023
Reality Check
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
How many individual words do you think are being spoken all around the face of the globe in this precise moment?
Based on a current world population of 7.5 billion people, multiplied by an average of 16,000 words spoken per day, divided by waking hours and other basic standards of time measurement . . . the estimated total is somewhere around 2.1 billion words per second.
That’s what being spoken, right this second.
Billions of words.
But this number is about much more than math. It’s actually of substantial importance. Because if you could drain away the small talk from each of those conversations, boiling them down to their basic messages, here’s what nearly all those words are communicating: “There is peace and security.” The cacophony of ceaseless human chatter is collectively saying what the Bible summarized years ago as the hypnotic drumbeat of earthly life. As far as the future goes, as far as any need for God is concerned, people whose understanding is darkened are saying, I’m just fine. I’m good. I’ll be safe. Nothing to worry about--I’ve got this.
In other words, “peace and security.”
Yet a day is coming--“the day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:2) --when those who are not in Christ will realize the falsity of the comfort they’ve been banking on. This first judgment the lost will experience consists of the shock of instantly awaking to the stark totality of their error. All opinions to the contrary will suddenly be rendered inaccurate in the fearful realization that (1) there is a God, (2) it’s not me, (3) a record of my rebellion exists, (4) I pay the penalty for it, and (5) God’s wrath is falling--now.
In that moment, “peace and security” will prove to have been a traitorous mantra.
But this does not have to be your future. “You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.” We know full well--from Scripture as well as personal experience--that Christians are certainly not exempt from suffering in this life. But there is zero chance--absolutely zero--that God will leave His children on earth to experience what the day of the Lord will be like. Those who turn from their sin and embrace Jesus Christ by faith will not be standing under the deluge when God’s wrath toward human evil starts raining down.
So don’t fall for the easygoing nonchalance of a “peace and security” posture toward life. Don’t be tempted to find your peace and security in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ. If the apostle Paul could say things like, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b), and, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5), and, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27), then each of us should assume a need for reflecting often and honestly on the condition of our souls.
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). Wake up from whatever spiritual slumber may be tugging you down toward laxity, and face reality while there’s still time to embrace Jesus Christ--the only source of peace and security that won’t ever disappoint, from now into eternity.
Points to ponder…
- Under what conditions do you most often recognize a tendency toward spiritual apathy and casualness?
- How would you share this message with someone who seems unruffled about their spiritual danger without Christ?
Saturday’s Reading
Sunday’s Reading
I love you!!!
© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich