THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS
With thoughts towards Russia and Ukraine and the hatred that surrounds the world.
Matthew 24:6-13
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
*****
I am a Pollyanna, I am an optimist. All will work out!!
But, I can also be a realist - and there are always problems on this planet. Greed, lies, fighting, labels, hatred do exist and will continue to exist. It seems that this planet is under an authority other than God (although God is involved).
The scripture (Matthew 24 - above) is about an ‘end-times’ view. While speculation occurs among Biblical experts, I prefer to ignore the comments. I am to live my life as I see fit. I am to love all - love my friends, and love my enemies. I do believe that LOVE WINS.
Over 100 years ago, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated on 28 June 1914 by a Bosnian Serb. Yet, that one action put the world into the “War to End all Wars” (now known as World War I).
Can this conflict between Russia and Ukraine be another pivot point in time? To me, it has some global implications just like Archduke Ferdinand’s death did.
How I live day-to-day is very internal to me. At age 74, I know I will die. Sometimes that puts me into a position where like the apostle Paul, I can say: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1)
For me, I need to maintain my inner peace. I need to turn the other cheek, I need to be a lover, not a hater.
These past few days I have looked at some of the global issues from the Russia-Ukraine war. The implications are there. Can I allow myself to get caught up in the news? (Sometimes I miss having a television and sometimes I miss the news, but most times ‘ignorance is bliss).
I’m not of this world. I believe I have a place to go to after death. I’m not sure how that will all happen. I’m not sure who will be there (and conversely, who will NOT be there). Some people tell me I need to be more evangelical and talk more people into believing (“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” - the Great Commission of Christianity). But, I somehow have it that others (non-Christians) can (will?) be in that place where I’m going after death. I don’t know who will be “saved” and who will not be “saved”. For me, Christianity makes sense (and is my heritage). But for others, I am not able to say. Gandhi said, “I like your Christianity, but I don’t like your Christians” [meaning that those that profess Christianity may be “talking the talk, but not walking the walk”]. (But, I am not going to judge)
*****
I resort to a few basic statements:
What does God expect of me, but to love justice, show mercy and walk humbly with your God
I can only love God as much as the person I love the least
Do unto others as you would have them do to you
Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul, heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Love one another.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
*****
LOVE WINS
Karen White
March 31, 2022
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