With real news, fake news, biased reporting, pundits and
guess-makers, I find it difficult to keep up with the news, particularly
politics. Another reason news tends to be hard to follow is that I am a detail
person. I get caught up in the small stuff and lose the big picture.
However, the big picture in Scripture helps me see that
God is in control, not only of the story there, but of today’s news. From His Word
I know two things are true: God puts up and takes down leaders according to His
will, and His timing is always right.
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings . . . (Daniel 2:21)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law (Galatians 4:4)
The Bible is clear that God sent Jesus at the right time.
As already considered, the Hebrew people were prepared. They had failed Him and
were looking for their Messiah. Many misinterpreted why He was coming, but most
of them longed for that event. They knew they needed help. As they waited, some
were even telling others He would come.
By the time Christ would be born, much of the reading
world had heard the message about a Messiah and even read it. The Hebrew Old
Testament was translated into Greek in the city of Alexandria in Egypt between
the years 250–150 B.C. Greek was the common language of the world so this
translation, the Septuagint, made Old Testament teachings available to everyone
who could read.
At the same time, the Pharisees maintained the sacred character
of the entire Old Testament. They taught belief in the resurrection, the
judgment of the last day, and the existence of angels and spirits.
Besides this, Alexander the Great had a vision of one
world with one language. He realized this ambition more than three hundred
years before the birth of Christ, establishing the Greek language as the common
tongue, and Greek culture as the pattern of thought and life. With this, the
world was ready to hear the good news.
This is a ‘big picture’ of the history at that time. When
I look at it and realize the plan of God fulfilled in the “fullness of time” I
begin to associate it with the plan of God for our time. His Word says Jesus
will come again — when the time is right. I’ve no doubt of it!
He also affirms His sovereignty in the affairs of man. The
leaders in our world may think they are secure in their power and plans, but
the Bible challenges their confidence . . .
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. (Psalm 2:1–4)
God says His King is established and the nations are His
heritage. He warns them to be wise, to serve Him with fear and rejoice with
trembling. They are in danger of His wrath and would be far wiser to take
refuge in Him (verses 8-12). Since this is true for those who resist God, how
much more for those who submit to Him!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lord Jesus, instead of trying to figure out what is going
on in the news, I am more dedicated to trusting You. You are the Lord, in
charge of history, all of it. And when the time is right, You will come back
and make sense of the mess, deal with all evil, right all wrongs and usher in
Your never-ending kingdom. I listen and watch, not for figuring out what I
think is happening but for hints of Your hand. While news reporters may not see
it or publish it if they do see it, You are still on the throne and one day the
world will know that You are Lord of all.
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