Dear Brethren,

A few days ago I saw a photo on the web of two old men in turbans watching a rocket launch.  They were Iranian holy men who were impressed that their country was adapting and developing technology that would give them a greater voice and position of influence on the world stage.  They are proud of the nuclear program that is maturing in their country.  They are committed to global dominance which is mandated to them according to their holy book, the Koran – a book which encourages them to use any and all means to advance the cause of Islam in the world.  All means includes preemptive terrorism and war.  Terrorism is on the rise and the wars are sure to come.  

Just this week there was a report of a Muslim man who had one pound of high explosives inserted into his body along with a detonator.  Thirty hours later, after he had passed through three layers of very tough security he stood beside his Saudi Muslim target.  At that moment, a text message was sent by cell phone to the detonator inside his body.  Fourteen seconds later, he blew up.  His target was wounded and the man with the explosives died.  The technique was proven – a whole new tactic in this spiritual and uncivil war.  It’s too late for the assassin but who will pray for the wounded and weary Saudi Prince?

Those who are ruling Iran today have made a commitment to themselves and the world to once and for all purge their region, and ultimately the world of the Jewish people.  They seem to believe that when the Jews are gone, the world, their world will be at peace.  As recently as this past week at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly the President of Iran renewed his public condemnation of Israel and the Jewish people.  According to the Word of God, the Jewish people are the descendents of Abraham.  And according to the promise that God the Father Himself made to Abraham, anyone who blesses Abraham will themselves be blessed and anyone, any nation, people or culture, that “curses you, I will curse.”  (Genesis 12:3)  A day is coming soon when God will turn His wrath on those who curse Israel and the Jewish people, either by their actions or their neglect.  The Word encourages us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).  Who will pray for the heavy-laden old men of Persia?  Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary…and I will give you rest.”  Rest…spiritual rest is what the Lord is speaking about in this text.  All includes the Saudis and Persians.  They need Jesus too.

Yes, these continue to be times of great trouble all around the world.  We, like many other people, are growing tired and weary from being bombarded day after day with the “crisis du jour”, the “crisis” of the day.  Everything is in crisis.  Healthcare, the economy, the environment – global warming vs. global cooling – “swine” flu and the global political scene are generating fear and uneasiness.  But are we as Christians to give into the pressures of this world?  Are we to let our thoughts, opinions and behaviors be shaped by lost and ungodly men and women?  Not according to the Word of God.  No matter what is happening around us, no matter how difficult things seem to be at the time, we must will to turn to the Lord and trust Him in every way.  We need to take God at His Word.   

If we are in Christ, we do not need to be afraid.  This is the day to resist fear and doubt.  This is the day to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart” and follow His encouraging Word to “lean not on [our] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).  As believers, we must remember our place in this sin sick world.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High...will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.  No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent” (Psalm 91:1, 5-6, 10).  We must abide in the Word…in it we have comfort and peace.