i will not be shaken

a week ago, a friend was mugged and shot walking to his car after a cardinals game.

 

a few days ago, a grandma picked up her grandkid from school early, checked em into a hotel for a ‘girls night’, and shot and killed the 6 year old and herself.

 

yesterday, dude came into a college classroom, told this christians to stand, shot em in the head, and everyone else in the legs. 

 

two of the three of these were within about 20 minutes of me. 

 

and these three don’t even begin to scratch the surface of everything goin on everywhere.

 

this is not going where you think it is.

 

this is not a post about gun control, sending ‘good vibes’ to these families , or how messed up the world is.

 

i read a thing yesterday, where a solid believer mentioned this culture of death really shaking her faith.

 

my heart broke.

 

yes, i am grieving for these people being killed, their families, their persecutors, yes.

 

but, man, did i feel strongly for that lady. 

 

and i have a feeling a lot of us are feeling a lot like her right now.

 

we believe, but this makes it hard. 

 

god says he’s good, but what when he doesn’t look like it?

 

he says he’s in control, but what when it looks like death is?

 

our faith starts to waver, and the enemy starts to rejoice.

 

i’m convinced that if satan can’t just grab our faith out of our hands, he’s going to try to shake us up til we drop it.

 

but jesus says, do not be shaken.

 

he doesn’t say, ‘let yourself be shaken, just don’t drop it,’ he says, ‘hold tight to me so you won’t be shaken at all.’

 

he’s pretty clear, really. 

 

he tells us there will be trials; he tells us it won’t always make sense; he tells us there will be shaking.

 

but he also tells us he’s the only way to life; that he never changes; and that he knows what he’s doing.

 

he tells us he’s just; he tells us he’s wise; he tells us he’s love; that he’s compassion; that he’s mercy.

 

friends, let us not be shaken. he is still who he says he is. he is still on the throne. he is not surprised. he is not shocked. he is not caught off guard. he is not confused. he is not offended. 

 

he is god.

 

rather, let us cling to him. let him solidify and purify our faith through testing. he counts it all.

 

so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of jesus christ. (1 peter 1:7)

the testing of your faith produces perseverance. let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (james 1:3-4)

dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. but rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 peter 4:12-13)

once more i will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. the words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship god acceptably with reverence and awe, for our god is a consuming fire. (hebrews 12:26-29)

i am the same yesterday, today, and forever. (hebrews 13:8)

i am the way, the truth, and the life. (john14:6)

 the end of all things is near. therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. (1 peter 4:7) 

in this world, you will have trouble. but take heart. i have overcome the world. (john 16:33)

i have set the lord continually before me; because he is at my right hand, i will not be shaken. (psalm 16:8) 

he alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; i shall not be shaken. (psalm 62:6)