1306. News + Tough Love

When I was kid, spanking was a socially acceptable practice that wouldn’t land you in jail. Sometimes it was a hand. (This was what I got.) Sometimes it was a paddle or a belt. (This is what some of my friends got.) Sometimes, along with the whoopin’ came the obligatory claim, “This is gonna hurt me more than it’s gonna hurt you.” We knew that wasn’t even close to being true, but it was part of the ritual, so we bent over and braced for what was coming. In some cases, the inflictee knew the heart of the inflictor, and despite the impending pain, we knew our father loved us, but we had broken his heart with our disobedience. We knew we had it coming and we had given him no choice. We were about to experience a painful example of tough love.

This little trip down memory lane (for some of us) sets the stage as we struggle to understand what’s happening in our nation these days. To see the connection, we should look no further than to the state of the Church in America. It has become like the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). Despite its sins, this section in Revelation ends with an exhortation that is driven by Christ’s love for His Church. Note that this exhortation is directed to those who overcome (v. 21). Clearly, tough times were coming, but Christ would see them through it.

Look at what God had to do with Israel. Her idolatry and rebellion landed her in exile in Babylon for 70 years. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple had been devastating and horrifying, yet God allowed it. Time and time again He had warned the children of Israel of what would happen if they continued to disobey. Time and time again, Christ has done the same for His Church. Those who would become His bride must be purified. They would undergo persecution (2 Tim. 3:12) and would certainly be disciplined (Heb. 12:6). Christ would build His Church, but the process would be painful.

So, take a look around. We are in uncharted territory. The rules are changing right before our eyes. Our enemies have grown bolder. The globalists are confident and determined to carry out their “global reset” and Joe Biden is completely on board. Capitalism is in their crosshairs, a global digital currency is no longer a distant dream. Even if Donald Trump pulls out a victory, the wheels are in motion. Things will never be the way they were. Our world has changed, and it has happened quickly, like a thief in the night.

Yet, we are right in the center of God’s will. While our world has changed, God hasn’t. Neither have His plans, and everything is right on course. We must stop focusing on what we see happening and stop asking God to miraculously change things. How about simply walking by faith? After all, who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword (Rom. 8:35)? God has already poured out His wrath on our sins at the cross. We can be certain that we will never experience His wrath, but a loving Father must discipline His rebellious children.

While God loves the entire world, those who have spurned His love and rejected His Son will not benefit from what happened at the cross. They will indeed incur the wrath of God. Lost people will always act like lost people, but they will suffer the horrible consequences. The Church, on the other hand, will never be separated from Christ’s love, but sometimes that love takes the form of tough love.