An unshakeable foundation
Valentina and I have recently taken our Summer holiday in Lanzarote (Spain) to get away from things and get a much needed break. Yet, while there, our eyes hardly moved away from England as our attention was inevitably hijacked by the Referendum and its aftermath.
Whether the political and financial situation will settle or not, either proving or disproving whether leaving the EU was the best way forward for the UK or not, as things stand today, the nation is facing years of uncertainty and instability across the spectrum, a scenario with so many variables whose outcomes no expert can foresee with any degree of confidence. To make things worse, there is nobody, as of yet, that the people can look to with confidence for leadership and, quite frankly, a solid and sensible plan. It is of no surprise that the nation is left in a state of chaos, fear and division.
God’s Word talks very clearly about the dangers behind some of the challenges our nation is facing right now. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18); “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter” (Matt 26:31). These matters must therefore be taken seriously and become the centre of much of our communal prayer.
Yet at the same time, we Christians, a people who know who is ultimately sitting on the throne, must not allow these times of uncertainty, instability, division and lack of leadership undermine our peace, joy and hope. I was tremendously encouraged to see so many fellow believers expressing so much confidence with a majority that was clearly in dismay. Yet it didn’t surprise me, because the foundations of our life run far deeper than financial and political stability. They are rather based on something (in fact someone) that is eternal and unchanging, our God himself: “I, the Lord, do not change” said God to Malachi. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” wrote the author of Hebrews. Jesus, talking about a life built around obedience to God’s word, said to his disciples “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” No matter how radically our world can be shaken, those whose relationship with God is real will not be moved.
Consequently, our take on the current instability and uncertainty should be remarkably different:
We should see the current instability and uncertainty as an opportunity for God to break the flawed clay and remold it into something beautiful. Let us therefore pray that God will sovereignly produce something far better out of all this mess, not just a political or financial renewal, but a spiritual one.
As this nation seems to be panicking about the future, let us be that voice and example of hope and confidence, taking the opportunity to show Jesus, our solid, unchanging and unshakeable foundation.
Let us pray that this scenario of uncertainty and instability will draw people to look for it not in Churches or relgion but in a very real and intimate relationship with our God.
