Me Against the World

Fear or Compassion?

Can’t find who to credit for this popular picture on the internet

First, this week’s Nature Narration on Witness vs Expert

I Want to Help and I Want to Hide

There seems to be two main reactions I have to the world; compassion and fear. As I age, compassion has risen but sometimes I just feel so outnumbered. The news doesn’t help. In fact, for more than 20 years, I have admitted when I talk about politics I get in a bad mood. When I see dishonesty, or people being rude or hateful to others, I feel a rush of negative emotions.

Bad and Good People

However, when I see people voluntarily do nice things for others without pay or credit, I often both inspired and thankful. I remember a commercial from years ago of a group of kids playing ball (baseball in USA) and a father is walking with his handicapped child who wants to join them. Too naïve to realize they don’t want to play with him, or worse, they may mock him, how can the father protect his son?  Instead, the kids invite the handicapped boy, let him bat, intentionally let him get on base and in cheerful unity. My eyes tear up as I write this.

I love – love. I love kindness. Not only me, but God wants this world filled with that kind of love.

Crazy World Now

Sadly, the world today seems more harsh and divided than I have ever seen since the 1950’s, especially in America. Those who lived before me saw harsher times when the world was at war, but for me, the name-calling, the erasing of history, the education system nurturing anti-American sentiment and the demonizing of merit-based progress is like I’ve never seen. March 2020 is when virtually the whole world went under lockdown. More than 100 countries willingly gave up so much without any record of resistance, because we terrified of COVID. Me too until the censorship of doctors and scientists not on board. Oops. I’m already getting in a bad mood. The point is I felt outnumbered.

None of us like stories or scenes when the bad guys are winning. I certainly feel like that watching the world.

Is Insight for Complaint?

Almost daily, I would explain to my wife, my justification for my distrust and of course, it got old. Complaining every day is no fun for the listener or the speaker, even if insightful. She started to ask me “Well, what are you going to do about it?” The answer was basically “nothing”. I was fretting.

Evil Will be Destroyed

Psalm 37 has been my favorite Psalm for years. Verse 8 says

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Wonderful advice, but for some reason, I only began to worry less about the world being taken over by hostile forces who hate God from a different scripture. 2 Chronicles 15:5-7; It is a 1-2-3 zinger for me.

1. Verse 5 says the world’s a dangerous mess.

2. Verse 6 says that God is the One troubling everyone!

3. Verse 7 says “But you, take courage, for your good work shall be rewarded.

Big Trouble from God, But . . .

Verse 5 is obvious, talking about how these days are unsafe going in and going out for everyone. Verse 6 says nation against nation, and city against city, because God was troubling them. That challenged me, but not for long. After all, how many times in the Old Testament does God say “If you obey, you’ll be blessed but if you disobey, you’ll be cursed”? Forget the fake Mummy’s curse, instead read Deuteronomy 28 for a refresher on God’s blessings and real curses. This also applies to cities and nations.

God’s judgement on earth is bad news for believers and unbelievers but then there is verse 7. Verse 7 says BUT YOU. So, things are different for me even though everything else is such a mess. Some translations say “Be strong, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded”.  

Great Life During Troubled Times

Troubled times are not the time for obsession with complaint and accusation, while also admitting there is nothing I can do to stop it. HOWEVER, there is nothing stopping me from being a blessing to others, encouraging others, helping folks, and also being an encouraging husband who is more pleasant company than the complainer.

There is So Much I Can Do

God promises our work shall be rewarded. Wow. My growing cynicism pushed aside by growing gratitude that there really is something I can do. God also promises to keep score for doing good works. His commandments are for our good always. I now enjoy all these other heart-changing commandments like:

… in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18 Amplified

… always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; Eph 5:20 NASB

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].  Philippians 4:8 Amplified

Not until 2021 did I discover Chronicles 15:5-7 and that helped calm my heart enough to reactivate gratitude and faith I was accidentally replacing with anger and accusation.

Even if the World Hates God, We Can Be a Blessing

Even if the world plots against God and truth, there are millions who need our encouragement. More compassion, less fear.  I hope some of you can be re-energized from this like I have.

Have a great week.

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Thank you Jean, for noticing I meant Romans 8:38-39 when I put Hebrews 8:38-39. Very observant. Good job.

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