How To Be on Guard in a World of Chaos

Some days I just don’t want to watch the news anymore. Frequently it seems like society is simply falling apart. Norms that kept us safe are being challenged. Values that helped keep families strong are no longer considered valid. We are encouraged to take care of ourselves and go after what we want, frequently with disregard for the needs of others.

I see it in how my students have changed over the years. More so than ever in the past, I have a number of students each year with considerable anxiety. They struggle to process their world. I have also seen a rise in students who insist on their own way and can very vocally protest when they don’t get what they want.

The world of the Church faces similar hurdles. Our society really doesn’t encourage church attendance or being involved in Christian activities. For many, Sundays are a day of further go go go rather than a day to rest and restore. A multitude of things pull us in a variety of directions all seven days of the week.

With our current access to information through a variety of media, we are exposed to varying philosophies – not all of them aligned with Christian beliefs. Living our lives in a Christ centered way is a struggle. Scripture reminds us of this:

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13 NIV)

Let’s pull apart what Paul is saying here:

Be on your guard – We no longer can assume that our society will look at things in a Christian way. We need to watch out for those who want to twist God’s Word and misuse it. Much is being done in the spirit of “openness” and “tolerance” but while God wants us to be accepting and loving towards others, some behaviours are not healthy for us as Scripture indicates.

Stand firm in the faith – Sometimes, in this day and age, it seems easier to just let things roll on by, saying that they don’t affect us personally. We need to be firmly grounded in the faith, studying and hearing God’s Word so we can stand against those that would say it no longer applies to today’s world.

Be men of courage – It is not easy to stand up for our faith. Such courage can only come through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and hearts. The early Christians needed courage to face the many persecutions that came their way. In our society today, we again need such courage to speak out against injustice and ungodly behaviours.

Be strong – We cannot be strong in ourselves; we need God’s help. Our strength is not measured as the world measures; it is God working within us. We need to remember God’s Word in Philippians where it says “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

We have a choice to make. Do we put our heads in the sand and put the world on ignore or do we stand up for Christ and the life He wants us to lead?

I know at times I just want to give up. Sometimes it just seems too hard to fight against all the world is putting forth. At times, keeping my own self afloat seems to be all I can do.

Yet I know that we Christians do the most damage when we are silent about things that go against Scripture. Does that mean we need to stand on a street corner and preach? No.

When the chaos of this world surrounds us, we can get nourishment and strength from God’s Word to sustain us. We can reflect on the saving work of Jesus and draw hope from His great care for us. We can trust that the Holy Spirit will give us the words we need when appropriate or give us the discernment to just show what is needful through our daily actions.

Take heart dear friends. Our Lord is close at hand, no matter what the world throws our way. Trust Him with your life and He will lead in the paths that are best. He will show you how to influence others in a positive, Christ-like manner.

We are not alone in this journey. Our Lord walks by our side.

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