So here we are, mid-way through 2021, still enduring the hardships of coronavirus, crime, corruption, climbing prices and civil incivility. To say the least, things have certainly been and continue to be challenging. But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has told us that during uncertain times as these, “Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.”
And so, picking up on that theme, and what better theme to use as our guiding principles than the Word of God, I say to everyone, be of good cheer. Why? For the wonderful things God has done, and continues to do for us. The Lord God Almighty, who is the Rock of our Salvation, whose loving-kindness comforts our hearts and gives us peace, is more than worthy to be praised in a spirit of joyful, expectant hope. And this is especially true in these last days as we watch, and also experience, the evil of mankind which is on full display. It’s been recorded and we have actually witnessed the progression of man's depravity ever since Adam and Eve’s debacle in the Garden of Eden. And sadly to say, since that time our God has been brazenly ignored, shoved to the side and disrespected. We see that mankind’s response to His gracious and glorious gift of love has been to leave that love and allow ourselves to deteriorate to a point where it is no longer love, but a disease. A disease called sin which has infected our civilization and now constantly contaminates this cold, cruel world. Yes, the extreme animosity of humanity has turned on itself and these heartless predators are continually on the prowl looking for victims, particularly we who are Christians.
But be of good cheer because we are not helpless and ignorant victims as our enemy would like us to think. The scriptures have educated and informed us of the “out of control” hatred that would be directed at us as a result of our belief in God and the saving power of the blood of Christ, who said, “If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…” (John 15: 18-21)
But be of good cheer because since the beginning, God’s ministers, His teachers, prophets and preachers have been reminding us and cautioning us that: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3: 12) And be advised that these persecutions could come from any direction and at any time. They may be demonic attacks inspired by Satan and launched directly against you in the midnight hour or they may come from different people in your path who are being used as pawns and sent in broad daylight to disturb, distract, discourage and harass you. Either way, the Lord knows more than us. He is well aware that we, His children, are human beings and our humanity is affected by these hateful attacks and can be painful, not only to our bodies but also our emotional well-being here on this earth. Just don’t forget this, “…He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.” (Psalm 103: 14) He knows that, “…we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened..” (2 Corinthians 5: 4)
But don’t be fooled. Satan is not interested in your body or your emotions. Of course he enjoys bringing you grief but these attacks are a diversionary tactic to distract you from his ultimate goal which is the destruction of your soul. You see, “Satan desires to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Not only to pulverize you, but to separate you. Separate you from God. But as the scripture says, he only “desires” this. He wants to do it but he can’t, unless we let him. No one and nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No trick, no lie, no discomfort, no sickness, no pain. No tactic employed against our physical existence will ever be successful in the war against our soul because we’ve got power. We have a treasure in these earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. As children of God, when the enemy attacks us, He attacks God. And you know that ain’t gonna fly!
So be of good cheer and thank the Lord that our God has sent His Son to deposit into our eternal treasure the knowledge that we are precious in His sight. He will never leave us and will always help us, and this is evidenced by a wonderful, unalterable truth which is this: God is still on the throne and will never, ever be removed. He always has been, always is and always will be, if I may say, LARGE AND IN CHARGE. He speaks precious words of encouragement to heal us in our periods of pain and strengthen us during the times of our weakness. He has protected us in the past, is providing for us in the present and has prepared for us a place in paradise that He Himself has perfectly planned and put together. Our Heavenly Father wants us to rejoice despite our troubles and so He tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29: 11-13)
Yes, be of good cheer because the Lord our God is telling us point blank that He will lead us to rest even though the enemies of the cross are lurking in the shadows seeking our demise. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5: 8) Yes, thank you Jesus, for so lovingly lighting up the dangers that exist on this earth as well as the spiritual wickedness that rages in high places, and at the same time so tenderly supporting us and giving us courage. Thank you for the wonderful words of hope you gave us when you said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)
Did y’all get that? Jesus Himself said, "Be of good cheer." And if God’s Son said it, then we need to do it. We don’t need permission to praise the Lord. We can shout hallelujah with the voice of triumph right now because God is here and the King is coming! Go ahead and lift your voice, lift your hands, lift your spirit in praise to the Most High who has delivered you from all manner of calamity and given you so very, very much! Yeah, that’s right, clap your hands! Stomp your feet! Join in with the chorus of Moses and Miriam and the children of Israel at the Red Sea as they worshipped God saying, “I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.”
Oh yes, dear ones, be of good cheer because, concerning our troubles, God's Word says, "...we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1: 4-12) Yes,glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God!
Now, even though we totally and completely believe God’s Word with all of our heart, the truth is that we sometimes do “groan” under the strain of our burdens. But be of good cheer. Our God understands this and He is so compassionate, so tender, so patient and so merciful that He continually calls us to humbly bring those burdens to Him because He loves us so much. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5: 6-7) Jesus died for the tears you have shed and the suffering you have endured as you have remained faithful and committed to your assigned labor of love in His name.
But believe this, dear ones, it is out of your weakness that you receive the strength from on high that you need to avoid being weary in well-doing. It is out of your brokenness that God the Master Potter has molded you to be a vessel unto honor. It is out of your despair that God has lifted you not only to be a champion, but to be more than a conqueror. We have dumped our wretchedness for His righteousness, our pitifulness for His power, our desperation for His divinity, our vulnerability for His virtue, our pride for His perfection and our inadequacy for His immortality.
So be of good cheer, hold on and keep fighting the good fight. Remember the Apostle Paul when he needed help with a serious issue that affected his mortal life. This is what God told him : “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And this was Paul’s response: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake : for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9)
We depend on God for everything and scripture records case after case where God’s overwhelmed and distressed people bring their problems to Him through prayer and supplication. For instance, at the first million man march, when a million Ethiopians came against King Asa and the residents of the southern kingdom of Judah, he called on God. As scripture records, “And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots… Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley... And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee. So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.” (2 Chronicles 14: 9-12)
At the peak of their distress, these dear ones could joyfully say, "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us." (Psalm 124: 2) And we are no different than all of the servants of God who have trusted in and been delivered by Him over the centuries. From Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael; from Mary, Martha and Matthias to Thomas, Titus and Timothy, we look past our persecutions, and realize that it truly is a privilege and an honor indeed to be able to carry all things to God in prayer. Just know and believe that the Ancient of Days has sent His Son to die for our sins, but He rose with all power and now sits on the right hand of God making intercession for us and directing God’s goodness into our lives, inviting us to bring all of our troubles to Him. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.” (Psalm 34: 15, 17-19 & 22)
God, through His Word and through His Spirit, has provided us with everything we need to run with patience the race that is set before us. With that being said, the next time trouble rises up in your presence, lift your head, look towards heaven and give God a glorious praise. Yes, right in the middle of your storm, at the pinnacle of your pain you can be of good cheer. And I certainly know that sometimes it can be difficult, but I tell you, it can be done. Just purpose in your heart, pray and get into God’s Word.
One place you may find comfort and solace during times of distress is in the 3rd Psalm. This Psalm was written by King David who was on the run from his own son Absalom who wanted to kill him. During the pursuit David turns to God, makes his supplications and confesses his faith. Psalm 3 is a beautiful song of hope in times of uncertainty, of help from heaven on the horizon and the power of love which delivers those who are imprisoned or oppressed.
[1] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.
[2] Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
[3] But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
[4] I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.
[5] I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
[6] I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
[7] Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
[8] Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Selah.
How wonderful it is to have God as our Father, Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Ghost as our Comforter and each other as companions. May grace and peace be to all who have endured hardness and have been called to be God’s holy people. Our battle cry is this, “…be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus... Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2: 1-4)
Don’t allow that serpent to be a problem for you, but by the power of God you be a problem for him. Make him cringe anytime he comes up against you. Make him be the one who says, “Aw naw. I gotta deal with them again?”
Amen? Amen! Be joyful dear ones, and always remember that you have a great reason to be of good cheer. And that reason is we have a great God who sent a great Savior, who was none other than that great One, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
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