Who is in control?

Democrats? Republicans? We the people?

How about, none of the above? The Brewster’s Millions political campaign slogan in this case holds an existential truth. The Democrats are not in control. The Republicans are not in control. We the people are not in control. There is only One who is truly in control, and the One is God.

In the currently contentious climate of electoral politics, a floundering economy, immense inflation, child mutilation, broken borders, copious crime, rising homelessness, and a deluge of other distractions, it is easy to lose focus and to forget that there is a plan. To be trite, no one promised us a rose garden. Jesus talked of things to come, and He painted a none-too-pleasant picture:

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. - Mt. 24:6-8

Wars, rumors of wars, nation battling nation, earthquakes, famines - and that’s just the beginning. To some degree, it even sounds like what is happening in our world today. I’m not making any direct connection, just an observation. Jesus continues:

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. - Mt. 24:9-12

More bleak news. “Christians” falling away. Others being killed for their faith. Betrayed by brothers. Again, we might draw a parallel to what is happening today, but my point is that things can, and will, get worse. As Jesus then says:

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. - Mt. 24:21-22

Finally, the worst. A great tribulation unlike any difficulties previously encountered.

No, I’m not seeking to further dishearten you. There is a silver lining to all of this. Though these times may be difficult, we still have a job to do. In the midst of all the troubles, we still have a mission to complete:

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. - Lk. 21:12-19

Something Christians often neglect, even during good times, is evangelism. Tribulation, Jesus tells us, provides opportunity for witnessing. Jesus promised to give us joy, a joy the world could not take. Let us stand in that joy. Unbelievers cannot possess this joy, and Christians exhibiting such joy in the hardest of times confound them. Thus we are exhorted to be always “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15).

We must participate in this world, but we need not behave as the world. We cannot escape the troubles this world holds, but we can enjoy peace in Jesus. We know how this all ends. So though the times may seem dark, take heart; remember Jesus words that “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).