The Lord laughs at the wicked.
It is obvious in these days that (Psalms 12:8) vileness is elevated and baseness is rated high. Do you stay awake at night worrying about wars, disasters, gun violence and the dangers from all the fearful things you can’t control? To worry is to slander God by declaring that He can’t control them either, that things such as these are beyond His control. OR – Is this your experience? I will (Psalms 4:8) both lie down and sleep in safety because the Lord alone makes me dwell in confident trust and because (Psalms 127:2) God gives His beloved the blessing of sleep. If I fall asleep while trying to count Your wonderful thoughts, (Psalms 139:18) when I wake up I am still with You, always in Your loving Presence. If this is not your nightly experience it is because your viewpoint is wrong. Here is a focus-fixer from King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:12). We don’t know what to do but our eyes are on You. That is always and the only the right focus. (Pastor McBride) “Jesus is not concerned about the storm (Matthew 8:26) but He is concerned about their lack of faith and rebukes the storn.” How foolish to be afraid of life’s storms (which God allows) when Jesus is right there with us in the storm.
Join me again in my time machine and we will go back more than 2000 years to when (John 19:10-11) Jesus was being questioned by Pilate. Listen to the pompous words of the arrogant Roman governor - - don’t you know that I have the power to kill you or release you? Now listen to sanity and absolute truth in the reply Jesus gave to Pilate - - you could have no power at all against Me unless it was given to you from above. Pilate was nothing more than a pawn (Acts 2:23) in the fixed, settled established plan of God for our redemption.
Now jump back to the present time and consider the war Russia is waging. With his fleet of bullet-proof cars and his 60 jet planes, Putin has no more power than Pilate had. God alone has power and He is the only Source of any and all power. Sometimes (Luke 22:53) for a specified and limited time, God gives power to darkness for His purpose to use evil in His holy strategy to work in all things for good. Evil will never win in the end. Due to perverted free will, evil has flourished for a time. Because of that, the final end of evil and its wicked perpetrators will be even greater and more catastrophic. God never has and never will lose control. Every breath of Putin (Job 12:10) is in the hand of God, his days (Job 14:5) are already determined, his judgment is prepared and ready and (James 5:9) the Judge is standing at the door. The Lord laughs at the wicked (Psalms 37:13) because He sees that his day is coming.
Why did the centurion say (Luke 7:6-8) that he was unworthy and then speak of his authority? By the Holy Spirit’s illumination, he realized the great difference between Jesus and himself. He recognized the supreme worthiness of Jesus and the supreme authority of Jesus. If he told a servant to do something eventually it would be done depending on how long it took. But when Jesus spoke it was done immediately. Back then the centurion discerned what we read and know now. The Lord spoke (Psalms 33:9-11) and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. He brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts and plans of the people of no effect. But His counsel will stand forever and the thoughts of His heart through all generations.
If we keep our focus on Jesus (Psalms 34:4) He will deliver us from all our fears. Don’t be caught off-guard by what God allows in our lives. Remember (Acts 14:22) it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God. If we realize that these trials are to prepare and equip us for never-ending joyful service in eternity, we will be thankful for everything.
Jesus is not ashamed (Hebrews 2:11) to call us brethren because we have the same Father. The Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He is not ashamed (Hebrews 11:16) to be called your God and my God. Let yourself feel the thrilling magnificent wonder of our personal relationship with Almighty Sovereign Ruler and Controller of the entire universe! When I approach the Throne of Grace, Sovereign Majesty Himself extends to me the golden scepter of welcome. Then I reach out by faith to touch His scepter and I know that I am welcomed, loved and heard. In such a holy and loving relationship there is no room (1 John 4:18) or place for fear.
Let us determine (Oswald Chambers) “to continually abide in Jesus so that in all circumstances we will have the serenity and poise (Colossians 3:3) of the LIFE which is hid with Christ in God.” As we trust and obey, continually abide in Jesus, the unfailing Presence of our loving heavenly Father is constantly adorned with (Lamentations 3:22-23) His loving kindness and tender mercy and God’s peace will guard (Philippians 4:7) our hearts and minds. Early every morning the comforting feel of warm water on my skin becomes a hug from my heavenly Father. It is a hug of love and of promise that I will have everything I need for that day - - spiritually, emotionally and physically for the holy privilege to obey Him.