Tag: newsweek

Inaccessibly High Over “Indestructible” Anxiety

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I begin with a quote of Robert J. Samuelson in a December 2010 issue of Newsweek: “From CEOs to ordinary families, we are a nation that is more cautious, more fearful, and more risk averse. This widespread and – so far – indestructible anxiety has hobbled the [economic] recovery. . .”

“Indestructible anxiety.” Wow. Perhaps those words do not really need time to sink in to your mind, because the force behind them is already there. Our world is tumultuous and burdensome. The economy has gotten the best of many otherwise stable people and companies. The relentless pressure to do more and have more has catapulted otherwise content people to the brink of insanity. From anxiety over an unhealthy body type to concern for retirement years, people are restless; citizens are panicked.

May I remind Christians of their status? We are genuine citizens of another realm. The administration of our affairs currently takes place in a domain that is transcendent. Do not take lightly the truth of Philippians 3:20 (NIV), “But our citizenship is in heaven.”

Indeed, God superintends my life from the heavenly realm. Anxiety is not indestructible, for my Lord directs the moments of my life from the throne of His indisputable authority. No stock market crash, illness, unforeseen circumstance, or injustice can thwart the plan of the God who made the universe (Genesis 1:1), owns the world (Psalm 24:1), and drives all circumstances to serve His ultimate purpose (Ephesians 1:11).

Let us make this uncannily personal. Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) proclaims, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” It is true that our culture gives us much about which to be concerned. Samuelson (2010) posits, “There is a wall of worry whose cause transcends the recession’s severity. We now fear not only what we know but also what we don’t.” However, the Lord’s own name – His glory – is a strong tower to which the Lord’s children can run.

When we run, we are safe. The Hebrew term here used for “safe” means “inaccessibly high.” In other words, we run to the Lord, and He lifts us up so that we stand insurmountably above that which might destroy us! The tower of His glory is unavailable to the enemy. I picture in my mind all the worries of life reaching their icy fingers to snatch me, but they are unsuccessful because my life looms far above their grasp in the tower of God’s glory.

The key is to run to that tower. When someone runs, they are making a bold statement to all observers. A runner makes clear the necessity of his destination. When seemingly indestructible anxiety moves in on me, I cannot hesitate. I need to sprint to God’s tower without wavering. I cannot ponder other possibilities; there is no other safe place. Only God makes me inaccessibly high as He simultaneously and sovereignly rules both the universe and the intricate details of my life from His heavenly, transcendent throne.

God above is the Administrator of my affairs – not the national debt, the unemployment rate, the political landscape, the doctor’s report, the rising incidence of depression, the unjust boss, or any other entity.

We stand inaccessibly high over “indestructible” anxiety.

Reference:

Samuelson, Robert, J. (2010, December 20). The flight from risk: recession’s legacy stymies recovery. Newsweek, 20.

Shark Bites Or Dog Bites?

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Shark bites or dog bites? Burglaries or identity theft? Americans killed by terrorists or Americans who die from seasonal flu?

As Newsweek reports in its “Back Story” of the May 24 & 31, 2010 issue, “. . . much of what we worry about today is based on hype rather than reality.”

The same Newsweek edition notes that while 28 Americans suffered shark attacks last year, 4.5 million suffered dog bites!

2.2 million burglaries occurred in 2007, while 8.3 million people had their identity stolen in 2005!

In 2008, 33 Americans were killed by terrorist attacks around the world, while 36,171 died from seasonal flu!

Perhaps our concerns in this world are often misplaced; so, too, in the realm of the spiritual.

The statistics above demonstrate that we often dread extraordinary things while the ordinary destroys and kills. We become accustomed to exalting hype. We forget to pay attention to the seemingly mundane . . . until the seemingly mundane proves its exceptional nature by actually giving us something with which we must reckon. We may fear a terrorist while the flu kills us.

Speaking of fear, I am quite concerned that we Christians have misplaced apprehension. We are so busy worrying we might not have or accomplish what culture expects of us; all the while, we are losing the battle with the powers of darkness. For the Christian, the real and daily battle is in the world of the spirit.

We all know Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” But do we realize that while we are busy worrying about how our houses and cars compare to the neighbors’ possessions, demons of hell are tearing our souls apart at the core because we don’t perceive the danger of refusing to pray incessantly?

Do we shun the social stigma of not keeping up with the latest prime time television shows more than we care about the dark authorities and powers who have made it their aim to destroy our wholehearted devotion to Jesus and our determination to study His Word?

While most fear cultural hype, we ought to have a healthy respect for the spiritual battle taking place each moment that we live!

Only a fool would fear shark bites more than dog bites as he walks through his neighborhood each day.

And only foolish Christians would fear the death of worldly aspirations more than the death of our faith.

God, please help us discern the real battle.