ENCOURAGEMENT:

The Wisdom Of God In The Face Of Tribulation

By Ed Tarkowski - July 27, 2000

Is there going to be a global, world religion which will attempt to establish a pseudo kingdom of God? Is there going to be a global, world economic system? Is there going to be a global, world goverment? Is there going to be an increase in famines and pestilences and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? Is there going to be a lessening of privacy till it is all but a thing of the past? Is there going to be a real mark by which people will buy and sell? Is there going to be a false peace in Israel? Is there going to be an antichrist and a period of tribulation that comes upon the earth? Is there going to be a major, worldwide persecution of Jews and Christians? I think most would agree that humanity and the world are heading into a period when all of these things, and more, will begin to occur. Basically, we know what is to come about. All that is left is to watch and continue praying as the world puts its pieces (agendas) together to bring about the global unity it wants in all areas of life.

The Christian of today believes these things are now in process and that the world is continuing to push these agendas to fruition on a daily basis. Twenty or thirty years ago, we could not even consider that such things were on the horizon, but now they seem imminent. One could research all of the above events and write page upon page of the intricacies of these things and how they will affect us and the world of tomorrow. Many have done that and it was necessary. But, as a general overview of the times, the things listed above are what are on the mind of the Christian today because we see the reality of the presence of these things and their rising in the world we live in. Because we are now quite familiar with the basics of these events - that they are happening and will continue to evolve - is there much that can be added to this list of basic questions?

It would probably do us all good at this point to stop for a moment, rest our minds and look back at what we have learned and how the combination of our knowledge of worldy events and how what the word of God says about these evolving events has changed us in our thinking. By the knowledge of worldly events, we have some ability to realize the signs of the times, that we do, indeed, appear to be at the end of the age. Our heavenly Father has set the boundaries firmly in place and the world's agendas should be to us nothing but markers to get a strong sense of where we are in what He has determined will come about.

Because we basically know where things are heading, I find myself thinking less deeply about things that I already know as they evolve a bit at a time. It's like the verse that says of things of the past, There's nothing new under the sun. At this point, I think that is true in a sense of our current situation in the world. An example of what I mean is, for instance, the recent mideast peace talks at Camp David. Scripture certainly didn't specifically prophesy those talks, yet by Scripture we know something of the sort has to come about for a peace treaty to be signed. In other words, we expected something like this effort to come about and it was no surprise to anyone that it did, even though it did not fulfill prophesy. I don't mean to negate reading or watching these events evolve in any sense of the word because the world order must evolve to its total fruition and the Christian should have the ability to follow what is evolving before his very eyes so he can make others aware of where we are at any given point in time.

Though I deal mostly with overviews, I say these things because at this point, my mind is tired from reading it all and adding the evolving pieces to what I know as they occur. I have not forgotten the admonitions of Jesus to watch and pray, lest one be deceived. Its a very trying time for the mind of the Christian, but the word of God encourages us,

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

As I said, my mind is weary from reading it all, but I have also had times of what Isaiah speaks of, trusting in Him that He will lead us through all that lies before us. In examining myself regarding these verses, I found I am at peace in Him and I do trust Him, but I went a little further and asked myself, "For what am I trusting Him?" It surprised me somewhat that the emphasis of my trust was not that He would save me in the end, but that He would pleased to bring about that which He set out to do before the world began. It was suddenly overwhelming to me that in 6,000 years, nothing - absolutely nothing - could hinder our God from working out His plan for making Christ pre-eminent in all things, be it sin, death, the devil, principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, rulers, princes, rebellion, disobedience, whatever. Here we are, at the very culmination of all that God intended to allow and bring about, and He is still working out His intentions in spite of all these things. It leaves one speechless.

When I think of the adversary's attempts - and now his last attempt - to thwart God's plan, it is almost unbelievable the intricacies and scope of his plan and how he has so cleverly managed to implement that plan to the point of bringing about a united world that will worship him. Following its development and exposing it has tired my mind and the minds of many other Christians. It is vast, global, and being accepted by humanity with no inkling of the evil powers behind it:

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

Our adversary is a very wise being, but his is a corrupted wisdom. Yet, isn't it amazing that God deals with it all in us by this simple exhortation and promise:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

The reason He can exhort us in this way is because His wisdom infinitely exceeds the wisdom of the adversary. Knowledge of the times and understanding the times doesn't bring anybody peace of mind. If anything, Scripture says these things will cause fear in the hearts of men for what is coming on the world. Keeping our minds stayed on our Lord alone, though, does bring peace to the heart of the Christian in the midst of evil circumstances. Having a knowledge of Him brings peace. When our minds are on the Lord through reading His word, the adversary's wisdom pales in the brightness of the Lord's holiness, sovereignty and wisdom. But, the adversary is wise enough to bring about what John the Revelator stated:

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Can we even imagine the wisdom of a created being who is so wise he brings the whole world of fallen humanity to worship him and his human associate while they blaspheme the God of heaven? How can such a thing be, that people would be so deceived to follow such a one - yet it will come about.

Scripture says the evil one comes only to steal, kill and destroy, that he was a murderer from the beginning. He is setting things up to do that on a worldwide basis out of his rage and fury and hatred for all that is of God. In the midst of it, God reminds us,

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

God, in His wisdom, sent His only begotten Son to earth to die for all men that they might be justified, sanctified, and glorified at the return of Christ at the end of the age (though not all will). God broke the adversary's power by the death of His Son, thus bringing about a knowledge of His infinite wisdom in Christ, a wisdom that infinitely outdid the wisdom of the adversary. When He came, Christ didn't avoid death as the main power of the enemy - he went right through it and won the victory for us all:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The adversary is subtle and wise and God will allow him to glory in his wisdom for a short time yet, but the Scriptures exhort us to remember,

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Christ has become our wisdom from the Father and we stand in His victory:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. . . .
3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

We see tribulation ahead, and suffering and martyrdom, all planned out by the wisdom of the adversary, and God has said such wisdom is crafty, but also foolish and vain in the light of His wisdom in the person of His Son:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Knowing Christ as our wisdom, knowing what is coming, God says for us to keep our minds stayed on Him and trust Him. God alone is trustworthy. Look at what He has done through the last 6,000 years, never making a mistake that His plan should fail, never having anything thrown in His way that He didn't know would happen, nothing that ever surprised Him or caught Him off guard. God is worthy of our trust because He is holy, infinitely perfect and wise beyond measure. This is the God we will be with throughout eternity, one who will never err or make a mistake for eternity. He is worthy of our trust, and thus the command,

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Seeing we are going to live lives of trusting Him for all eternity, now would be a good time to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in us to to make us individuals who trust their God to the fullest. Thus, God can turn tribulation to do us good in the end in spite of what we will have to go through.

Ed

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