Christ for the Crises

By George Feldman

As another new year makes its arrival we naturally wonder what it will bring in the way of events and circumstances that will touch our individual lives.

No doubt our picture above does depict the extreme in the way of crises, and yet it is nothing remote or improbable for the world we live in today. For the world has been in turmoil and crisis since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. So the world can be a bewildering and frightening place to live in, especially without the knowledge of God. Without His help there is no realistic or wise way to cope with the unending problems that befall mankind. And even the wisest and most intelligent people, without Christ stumble about like little blind kittens trying to understand and cope with a world that is too much for them. We see an example of this in our world leaders, who in their pathetic and frustrating efforts, seek for peace agreements. But as it has often been wisely said, "There will never be peace without the Prince of Peace." The U.N. vetoed and rejected Christ at it's inception, revealing the unreasoned hat and rebellion of mankind. Christ is the Owner and Ruler of the universe, yet man is impudent enough to think he should enjoy the gifts of peace and prosperity and at the same time reject the Giver! The crises will continue until the second coming of Christ!

But what about crises on a more personal level? One would suspect that there ought to be fewer crises for the believer. But just the opposite seems to be the rule. God has a definite purpose in this. He uses circumstances to mold the lives of His children and fulfill His will in them. And no circumstance can touch the life of the most humble believer until it passes through His permissive will. So even tragedy is not tragedy in the complete sense of the word for the child of God. The purpose will be revealed. The believer finds peace and comfort in these words: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand" (Ps. 37:23, 24).

[Reprinted from Truth For Today, Vol. 31, No. 5.]