August 2024

Dear Friends –

When Christ knew His ministry was shortly coming to a horrible end, He commanded His followers to go out into the whole world, baptizing and teaching all people what He had taught them.  To fortify their perseverance, He made the above statement to assure them, that while He would be returning to Heaven, He would still be available to them… He would be leaving them physically, but never spiritually.  He was not lying or exaggerating for they knew of His tremendous powers, and if He said surely, then it was absolutely assured!  He also made no conditions to His availability, as in nine to five and closed Sundays, but ALWAYS, precisely every single moment of life until the end of time! The point I want to make with this extended delineation is that Almighty God is very much alive, cognizant, and in control of every moment and aspect of our lives.  He is not just the God of the history books, aka The Bible,  as some nonbelievers might accept, but He is most definitely a current active participant in everyday life. With the attempted assignation of Donald J. Trump, I was so shocked by the vicious ridicule of Trump claiming his rescue was due to Divine Intervention...  that is God’s grace... a blessing... a miracle…  and it happens every day!  The secular domination of our times not only has no idea of the reality of Almighty God, but that His capacity to intervene is a very real power, and it is known, recognized, and prayed for by Christians who surely know, God is with us always!  

Trump is not the first person to escape death giving thanks to God, many, many people know God’s hand most definitely held back the Grim Reaper for them. “Coincidence” is the pseudonym of Almighty God someone once said, and it’s true!  What would you nonbelievers prefer?  That God leave a signed gift card with everything He does?  He doesn’t work like that… He is invisible… but oh so visible to the Christian eyes that look through the lens of faith.  Take for instance my friend who was leaving her house to visit her hospital-bound husband when she was confronted by her neighbor inquiring into his health status.  They talked awhile and my friend was upset by the delay knowing her husband watched the clock for her visit; however, when she got there he had just died an agonizing death.  She realized God didn’t want her to have that last impression of her husband in such torment, so, as an act of His love for her, He had her detained… that’s how a Christian sees God!  Consider the family man who got an unexpected job offer with a considerable pay raise when he wasn’t even looking to change, but, when a financial emergency arose months later, he considered it was the hand of God that had provided in advance a solution he had no idea he would need… that’s how a Christian knows God cares and provides for His loved ones.  A middle-aged man was walking into a building lobby when horrible chest pains began, and he fell to the ground right outside the office of a nursing service. The women in the office saw what had happened and ran out to save the man from a heart attack… that’s how a Christian realizes we can’t avoid the inevitable, but God is always with us for the best possible outcome. 

The accountings of Divine Providence are truly limitless… but one more to be noted is from the Acts of the Apostles 18:10, where Christ, after His resurrection to heaven, proves He kept His promise to be “with you always.”  Paul was having a terrible time with his preaching ministry until “One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I AM WITH YOU. No one will attack and harm you, for  I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.”  When Christ says He “has many people” He is referring to Christians at His disposal who He can influence and direct them to act for His purposes.  So when someone’s heart is turned in your direction for needed assistance, that’s God using one of His people for your benefit.  When a group of people stops to help an accident victim escape his mangled car, it’s God who makes them stop and gives them the strength and determination to break into that car and pull the man out before it bursts into flame.  When someone donates one of his kidneys to a total stranger, that’s one of God’s people so full of His love they can give unconditionally.  Nonbelievers can’t “see” the hand of God working in this world, it’s easier for them to call it a coincidence or luck, reasoning that a characterless entity has such precise powerful control instead of a God… now that is most illogical, mythical you might even say, founded on nothing.  Christians believe in God, read, study, and know His Word… so when The Word says: “I am with you always,” you can bet the farm on that!  Perhaps someday it will take surviving a near-death experience for a nonbeliever to say: “There is a God!”