Living with Jesus’ perspective

Dear Friends,

As AUGUST arrives there is much in our trouble filled world that underlines the truth as someone once put it that “The only thing certain about life is its uncertainty.” In other words “Uncertainty is the only certainty there is.” There is nothing new about this, only that at present it seems we are vulnerable to many previously unexpected happenings like our almost total dependence on cyber technology without which we would be paralysed, and our interconnectedness with a ‘house of cards’ world economy, in which the hackers, identity thieves and terrorists are moving faster than the systems devised to stop them.

I take all this seriously but it reminds me a little of the resignation note the maid who worked for the late American poet and wit, Dorothy Parker wrote when she found an alligator in her bath. It said, “I cannot work in a house where there is an alligator in the bath. I would have mentioned this when I first took the job on but I didn’t think it would come up.” But things are coming up now that frighten some, cause others to become uneasy and make many more feel vulnerable. We shouldn’t make light of it, because these are genuine concerns, but let’s not forget that when we are looking out of a dirty window everything looks dirty. That is why as a follower of Jesus our prayer ought to be, “Lord, please help me to see what You see when You look at our world today.” To look at things through the window of His word, which makes the uncertain, certain. As the psalmist says “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne.” (Psalm 11:3-4) No Prime Minister, President or terrorist organisation will rule the future. The Lord of history “Who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8) He writes our destiny. And to place our lives in those all-powerful hands means we can watch the ever-turbulent changing world situation and live with faith not fear knowing Our Father is in charge.

God has long predicted in the Bible there would be a time when “evil men…will go from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:13). When, “there will be terrible times” (2 Timothy 3:1), and “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Jesus called it “the last days.” So for those of us who belong to King Jesus, it’s a time to charge, not to retreat. To live like heaven is home and earth is just our hotel. To pour our lives and resources into what will matter forever, not just for a fleeting moment. Like helping the people around us and knowing that whatever our situation, Jesus has put us there ON THE FRONTLINE to represent Him so we can bring His best to those who live uncertain in uncertain times. We don’t need to worry but we do need to care.

I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers of COMMUNICARE for the last 25 years of active service in Jesus name and remind us all that an uncertain world leaves in its wake a multitude of bleeding people and needy people and Jesus still says how we treat “the least of these” is how we’re treating Him. So even though we are in the holiday season, let’s be certain in all the uncertainty around us that whilst we can’t fix the world, we can let what breaks God’s heart break our heart enough to bear the burdens of a hurting world and help to bring them hope. Not sit back and do nothing. Have a good summer BREAK but never break from doing what Jesus would have you to do.

Your friend and Pastor

Shaun