I had only been married for three years when 9/11 occurred. I had one child, who had just turned two years old. The next day, I, along with the rest of the nation, was reeling from the shock and sadness of those events when the phone rang. My husband was at work, and I was home trying to stay busy, but mostly staying glued to the television set. The voice on the phone was a lady from our church. She was a kind lady in her fifties.
“Valerie, I just wanted to tell you that the word is out that gas prices are going through the roof. I wanted to let you all know so that you could go gas up now, before they raised the prices.” She told me this very sweetly and calmly. I liked this lady, and always thought her to be very level headed. But I was shocked at what she was telling me! She was scaring me with her “doomsday” outlook. I politely told her thank you and hung up the phone. I knew price gouging was against the law, but what could I do about it? What if I couldn’t afford to gas up now?
I then thought “This woman is trying to scare me, and I’m scared enough already. I am not going to worry about gas prices.” Sure enough, that evening our Governor, Mike Huckabee, gave a televised message, assuring Arkansans that price gouging was against the law and would not be happening in the gas stations and stores in our state without penalty. God spared us of a gasoline shortage, or of any looting and rioting during this awful time in our history.
Here we are, nearly eight years later, and we have a liberal man by the name of Barack Obama in the White House. We have a democratic Congress which equals President Obama’s “free pass” to invoke any law which he deems good. He plans to socialize medicine and increase our national debt more than any president in history. This is scaring many people. I will not say that I’m not concerned. I have prayed for, and communicated with, my representatives more than I ever did when Bush was in office. Is that a bad thing? No, in fact, I should have been praying and communicating before!
I am a member of several theological-based sites and forums. The prevailing emotion on many of these fundamental websites regarding our country is fear. Anger would be a close second. They are afraid of Obama. They are angry at Christians for allowing him to enter the White House in the first place. They spend their time reading newspapers – published by liberals – and venting their frustrations online. Do these “ventings” do any good? No. They have the same doomsday sound that my friend had eight years ago. Rush Limbaugh calls this “fear mongering”. I hate being bullied into fear, yet, I will succumb if I read the news too much or the posts written by my fellow fundamental doomsayers.
I don’t usually get in on these debates, because I really don’t have time. I did, however, want to share some thoughts about fear and doomsayers that might encourage you…and me.
1. Barack Obama did not de-throne the Lord. God is still seated securely on His throne in Heaven, ordering the universe with His divine hand. (Psalm 145:13)
2. God is sovereign. He allowed Barack Obama to become President of this great nation. We may have voted the way we felt was right, but God made the final decision. (Psalm 75:7)
3. We, the saved, are God’s children. God will not forsake His own. Whatever happens to us has been through God’s special “filter” for our lives. He has allowed it. (Romans 8:28)
4. To proclaim that “once America falls, it’s all over for the rest of the world” is a very prideful statement. Yes, America was founded upon Christian principles, but God loves Europe just as much as America. Who says we’re better than Asia? I am so thankful to be an American, but I believe God loves the world. (John 3:16) That’s why our church supports foreign missionaries.
5. We must keep our eyes upon our King, and not our President. Certainly, we must pray for President Obama, but picketing him or spitting on his photo in the New York Times will not help. Don’t worry about the White House, let the God of the universe take care of that. (Proverbs 21:1)
6. If, in fact, the time is short, (and I believe it is) then we should start telling the world around us about the wonderful Son of God who came to give them eternal life. That will keep us too busy to read the papers. (John 9:4)
7. God didn’t give us this spirit of fear, (2 Tim. 1:7) so who do you think has? Well, it could be the Devil. Or it could just be our own nasty flesh. Either way, we’re wrong for choosing to fear.
8. We are commanded to give thanks for everything, (1 Thess. 5:18) even a President who seems to be destroying all that our country was founded upon. Perhaps these hard times will bring about revival in our country? Or, maybe in my own heart? I can at least be thankful that I serve a risen Savior, and not a man!
Last time I checked, worry was still a sin. I am a worrier from way back – there, I admit it! It’s wrong and I’m sorry! Let’s not give in to the sin of worry when it comes to our nation. God will take care of His own. Remember the Israelites in Egypt? God did not make them endure the plagues, He protected them. He can still do that today.
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