A Pastors Perspective

There are things happening in our world that are hard if not impossible to explain. I have studied hard and prayed for a long time and have concluded there are answers to perplexing problems and there are no unmovable mountains.

Let me put it this way, there are heavenly answers to earthly problems. The reason answers seem elusive is because we look in the wrong direction for answers.

There was a time when men navigated the oceans of the world by the stars. Men and women still navigate the vast oceans of life by looking up for direction.

The Psalmist puts it best, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Ps. 121: 1-2

As we look up, as we look in the right direction and to the right person, we find answers, we find reasons for earths conflicts, and we find solutions for what ails man.

The Psalmist in another place said” God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:1

In this world we are not exempt from problems and trouble is as normal as the sun that shines on our faces. We are realists, not deniers. This would be a very foolish thing and make us more vulnerable.

Those who deny the existence of evil and refuse to acknowledge that calamity and chaos exist are what I identify as fatalist, victims to the very thing they deny.

Jesus came into this world as a realist. He was born into a fallen world. He acknowledged the presence of evil and confronted it and did something about it.

“In the world you have tribulation” Jesus said in John 16: 33. It cannot be said any plainer – in the world you will have tribulation, not maybe but you will.

If evil exists and are we faced with trials and tribulations is not the question. But where can we find answers to help us live in this world and win?

Feeling helpless is a disease that has inflicted man since Adam sinned. The attitude of whatever will be, will be, has plagued man since the beginning of time.

The feeling like we are overwhelmed, like we are not in charge of our lives like there is nothing we can do is something each of us face. But men and women of faith, even in the worst of times find ways to overcome and win against all odds.

History is filled with men and women who survived the worst of times by setting their minds on higher things than their circumstances. Faith does this for the believer.

A person of bible believing faith has a distinct advantage over those who magnify their circumstances and dwell on internal feelings of loss and deprivation.

Real bible faith does not deny hard times and knows that life has ups and downs, but bible faith takes command and gives commands instead of giving up when things appear impossible.

Let me say a word about active faith because faith that does not act is not real bible faith. A man may say they have faith even in the most trying circumstances yet show no evidence of it by taking definite concrete action.

The apostle James clearly states it this way, faith without works is dead. In other words, faith without a corresponding action is barren; it bears no fruit.

The starting point of victories of overcoming the world and all its pressure and problems is the kind of faith that does not lie down and take it but the kind of faith that seizes the moment and says, I will act, in the face of all adversity; I will take control by using my faith.