God’s Will for Uncertain Times
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Ephesians 5:14–17
We live in an age of massive technological change and progress. Week after week new discoveries and inventions change the way people live. Often with such massive transformation, people assume that they can change things that have long been believed. While error should always be replaced with truth, even if it is ancient and traditional error, there are times when the changes to the ways of the past are not improvements. Instead they represent throwing out uncomfortable truth and replacing it with pleasing error.
There is a great need in this day of change for people who are grounded in the truth and will not be moved. That confidence and stability only comes when we are rooted in the Bible. The church and society both are in desperate need of people who understand God’s plan for our world and how to carry it out. Such a level of understanding does not come from our thoughts or philosophies, but from the Divine revelation that has been given to us as a guide for every part of life.
Vance Havner said, “The children of Issachar had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). With all the news media of today, there is plenty of knowledge of the times, but little understanding. Such understanding will not be gained from news analysts and political experts. It must be based on God’s Word, and it produces a practical knowledge of what God’s people ought to do. We must know the times, we must understand them, and we must know what to do.”
Ephesians 5:14–17
We live in an age of massive technological change and progress. Week after week new discoveries and inventions change the way people live. Often with such massive transformation, people assume that they can change things that have long been believed. While error should always be replaced with truth, even if it is ancient and traditional error, there are times when the changes to the ways of the past are not improvements. Instead they represent throwing out uncomfortable truth and replacing it with pleasing error.
There is a great need in this day of change for people who are grounded in the truth and will not be moved. That confidence and stability only comes when we are rooted in the Bible. The church and society both are in desperate need of people who understand God’s plan for our world and how to carry it out. Such a level of understanding does not come from our thoughts or philosophies, but from the Divine revelation that has been given to us as a guide for every part of life.
Vance Havner said, “The children of Issachar had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). With all the news media of today, there is plenty of knowledge of the times, but little understanding. Such understanding will not be gained from news analysts and political experts. It must be based on God’s Word, and it produces a practical knowledge of what God’s people ought to do. We must know the times, we must understand them, and we must know what to do.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
Only through the Word of God and the Spirit of God can we gain understanding of God’s will for our time.
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