This world is not my home

With the chaos in the world around us, do you ever feel you no longer belong?’ All around us we see so many points of view being expressed that do not reflect what we believe and do not reflect what we see in God’s word. It seems the world has gone crazy!

Is it any worse today than in the past? We often think what we are living through has to be the worst that has ever been, but we don’t realise how bad it has been in the past. When we read the Psalms we discover that the writers went through most of what we go through today – and they lived three thousand years ago! What does this tell us? People haven’t really changed – how we do things might have changed but people, deep down, are the same.

What is the solution? Notice what this psalmist did.

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.” (Psalms 120:1-2 NIV)

When life seems to be tumbling in there is one place we should go: to the Lord. Doesn’t this make good sense? We may feel the pressure around us and when there is nothing we can do about it we get stressed. Yet there is someone we can give our frustrations and stress to. God is always there and always ready to listen. Rather than worrying over the various situations in the world, talk to God and then leave it with him. Although we can do nothing about it, he can.

When we “call on the Lord in my distress” then “he answers me”. God can and does answer, although it may not be in the way we expect. But we know that he wants what is best for us. When no-one seems to care for truth anymore, talk to God about it and ask for his help.

“What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.” (Psalms 120:3-4)

God has no time for people who speak words that deceive. We may get frustrated when we hear people say things that are blatantly false – but God does, too! He has no time for someone with a “deceitful tongue”. Although we could easily apply this to our politicians we need to ultimately apply it to ourselves. It is so easy when all we hear is people twisting the truth to bolster an argument to start doing it ourselves.

We need to remember that God knows what is being said and he will deal with it – if not in this life then in the next. Remember what Jesus said – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). We need to be aware of what we are saying.

“Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalms 120:5-7)

Although the places referenced by the psalmist are not familiar to us, he may simply be referring to his life wandering among various peoples. We can probably relate to this. All around us we see war, both in the conflicts throughout the world as well as how people treat others. Although people may talk about peace their lives show that they have no time for peace.

As God’s children we need to remember that he blesses those who are peacemakers, who live for peace (Matthew 5:9). May we always remember that our home is not here, but we are looking for a better place. May we, like Abraham, look “forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

Image by gdj from pixabay.com. Free for use.

Readings for next week: Psalms 120-140