By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
This issue of the paper is dated Nov. 4, 2020. It went to press on Monday, Nov. 2. We all know that on Nov. 3, Americans went to the poll and elected a president.
Of course, I have no idea as I write this who won, who lost or even if a winner has been declared yet. This may be one of the most contested presidential elections of all time. Regardless of who won, there will be millions of unhappy people. There have been talks of rioting regardless of who wins.
Our nation is in a mess, regardless of who the president of the United States is.
Why?
Our nation has drifted so far from God, most people need a roadmap to find Him. The good news is that we have a roadmap and it’s called the Bible. The second bit of good news is though our nation has lost God, God has not lost us. He knows where we are.
Lonnie Wilkey
Those people in our nation who scoff that the United States was founded on various principles such as freedom of religion and Christian principles are those who want to rewrite God and religion out of the history books.
We not only face political turmoil in our country, we are living in unprecedented times of racial tension.
I grew up during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s when racial tension was boiling over in the country. There was violence, people were killed. Was it worse than today? I don’t know. In the 1960s and 1970s, we did not have the social media outlets we have today. We did not know every single incident of violence that happened then like we do today. Some instances are posted on Facebook and Twitter accounts before news outlets even have a chance to report on them.
All I know is that many people in our nation are living in fear. They are living with the uncertainty of the times. Add to it the fear caused by COVID-19 and it is a wonder that Americans are able to function at all.
Those of us who are Christians should not really be surprised by all the uncertainty in the world today. The Bible tells us over and over that we will face uncertainty and turmoil in this world. We are not even assured we would wake up this morning or that we will wake up tomorrow.
James 4:14 (HCSB) reminds us: “You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.”
With all the uncertainty we face, I take comfort in the old gospel song, “The God of the Mountain is Still God in the Valley.” One stanza goes like this: “For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.”
And, if that’s not enough to keep you going during these uncertain days in which we live, just read through your Bible.
Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB) reminds us, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”
And, never forget the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 31: 6 (HCSB): “Be strong and courageous; don’t be afraid or terrified of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Take heart. The days may seem dark, but always remember who provides the Light — Jesus Christ. B&R
