When the world has become too dangerous…

The world around me is turning into a monstrous place. Scary.  Dark. Perilous.

When I watch the news at night, my heart breaks with all that’s happening nowadays.  Violence is everywhere. Death lies on every corner of streets. Hold-ups, rapes, gunshots and other forms of atrocities are becoming too familiar that I am not as shocked anymore as I used to be. Talk about immunity. But when the day has ended and I’m about to drift off to sleep, I am bothered. Thoughts come flashing my mind, questions arise and when I am in sleep I am taunted in my dreams.

I myself have been deeply saddened and disturbed upon hearing the tragic news about the death of my co-student during my freshman year in UPLB, Given Grace Cebanico. I don’t know her personally but I’m sure to have seen her or passed by her a few times last year. The situation she had to face made me weep. Images began forming my imagination and I couldn’t sleep the night I heard the news. I thought of the people close to her, especially her family. All I can do is pray. I asked God the whys and I realized I have no right to question. I may not understand all that’s happening in the world but He does. And none of us can fathom His purposes for all that’s happened and will happen in the future.

I remember when I was in UPLB, I would always pray for safety whenever I’d go out.  And when I transferred to Diliman, I thanked God that nothing happened to me during my 1-year stay in a dorm inside the campus of UPLB the previous year. Now I appreciate God’s guidance more but, to be honest, sometimes I still thought it unfair that while I’m safe, others aren’t. But then again, only God has the answers.

I’ve been paranoid this week that when I’d go out of the house and ride on a jeepney, I’d sense fear. I’d think that people around me are dangerous. I’ve become so bothered that something might happen to me any minute. I’d think of my friends who are at different places.  I’d worry about my family and friends.

I asked God why the world is turning into a darker hue. Then I realized that this sinful world is not yet our home and so evil spirits wander around. Even though God has power over the enemies, unpleasant things still happen because the earth is not the place where pain and suffering do not exist. This is not our home. The place we can can call home is this:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).

The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.- Revelation 21

I admit that many times I fear death. I would say to God, “Lord please don’t fetch me yet, I still want to see my kids and grandchildren live.” But to elude the fear of death that forms in me, I’d imagine this place God has been preparing and I’m in awe. I know it’s meant for His children and we’ll all be with Him forever there.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Last night when I had my devotion and prayed hard, God provided me with Psalm 55:2 (NLT), “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” I wept and laid down all my anxieties at His feet. I found His comfort and again I was reminded of who He is.

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:17-18

God is a God of love and justice. His promises are true. When He said in Deut. 31:6 that He will not abandon us, it is true. When He said in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has great plans for us, no doubt about that.  Sometimes the situations right before our eyes seem to not align the promises He made but we just have to focus on who our God is and seek Him. We don’t need to always get answers and make sense of things, standing firm on our faith is what matters.

I encourage you all (and I’m saying this to myself as well) to seek comfort in God and be strong in faith no matter what situation you’re in. All of us have different worries, fears and problems but what we have in common is a Great Father and Comforter. When the world has become too dangerous for us, know that God is in control. When the world has turned into a monster, know that our God doesn’t and He remains after the day has gone and things on earth have passed!

I wanna share the song that just made me cry....

One thing I know that I have found
Through all the troubles that surround
You are the Rock that never fails, You never fail
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/n/new_life_worship/everlasting_god.html ]
One thing I know that I believe
Through every blessing I receive
You are the only One that stays, You always stay

Chorus
You never change, You're still the same
You are the Everlasting God
You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed
Everlasting God

Hope this inspires you!

♥, C