In God We Trust

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015, this nation was rocked by the terroristic murder of 14 and the serious wounding of nearly 20 civilians in San Bernardino, California. As our nation reels, staggers and seeks to recover from this vicious crime committed by the deadly duo of a Muslim man and his wife, we are even more shocked and troubled by the very proud and arrogant December 3 headline of the “The New York Daily News”: “God Isn’t Fixing This.” As our country trembles from the effects of this most recent mass murder, it is even more troubled by this irresponsible and depraved headline.

Without resorting to religious platitudes, Christians need to understand such atrocities as hard and irrefutable evidence of living in a fallen world. As long as we are on this side of glory, such events should not shock us but should be accepted as the norm. While this may sound as an unsympathetic and dispassionate remark, it is true that this world stands in fixed opposition to the holy God, his Son, his church and everything for which he stands. Therefore, as one theologian has insightfully stated, our problem in this world is not pain but pleasure. In other words, our problem lies in our understanding how a holy and offended God could allow his creatures to experience pleasure in this world. Nevertheless, we always grieve to see the wanton slaughter of our fellow-man who is made in the image of God.

“God Isn’t Fixing This” is the God-denying boast and the obnoxious outcry of a heart that is unwarrantedly hardened against God. It feigns to be objective and realistic in its analysis but the reality is that it confirms the pervasive moral obtuseness of the unbeliever of whom the Scripture says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”” Ps 14:1. Far from promoting healing to the nation or recommending a solution to the vast array of evils afflicting its citizens, this troubling declaration, more vicious than the violent attack of Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, senselessly assails the only One who can truly help us – who can “fix this” – the Lord God himself, our sovereign Creator and sole Redeemer. Far more penetrating and injurious than the bloody violence perpetrated, is this blasphemous assault on the Lord of all. Far greater than the brutal blast from the weapons of the terrorists was this vile blast from the pen of the reporters. It fiercely thrusts the spirit of atheism into the side of our God. It cruelly thrusts the javelin of apathy into his character, for example, his omnipotence, goodness, wisdom, goodness, sovereign superintendence of his creation, etc. It ruthlessly thrusts the dagger of unbelief and skepticism into his heart. It brutally thrusts the crown of neo-paganism on his loving, sacred head. It mercilessly thrusts the flaming sword of lies into the trustworthiness of God, the God of faithfulness who is just and upright, indeed, the God of truth, Dt 32:4; Isa 65:16; Jn14:6.

Such irreverent naysaying should not surprise, confuse or discourage us. In this regard, we are to remember that even the nations have raged against God by coming together in an unholy alliance against him and the Lord Jesus Christ, and by ridiculing and rejecting their rule: “”Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”” Ps 2:1-3. In particular, we are to remember our God’s response. He was not worried, shaken or disturbed by these loud but empty boasts. He “…sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” v. 4. He then quickly directs their attention to Mount Zion, his holy Hill, the center of his cosmic rule, on which he has established his Son in whom true hope, peace and redemption lie, v. 6. His final admonition to these idle braggarts is “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” v. 12. Yes, those who turn to the Son and embrace him in faith will surely receive God’s blessing, but those who impenitently him will, with equal certainty, be thrust through with the fullness of his just judgment.

Yes, our nation is being threatened by the systematic infiltration of terrorism. Yes, the United States is undergoing severe tests at the hands of a very bold and brazen enemy. However, these conditions are to give rise to a very faithful witness by the people of God. In times like these, the prayers of the saints need to be more focused on the character of God and in his revealed purposes for his own glory. Certainly, our supplications should be for the peace of our nation. We are to pray for wise and righteous rulers who would faithfully fulfill their God-delegated responsibility to protect this country by ensuring its peace and by preserving the lives of its citizens, “…That we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,” 1 Tim 2:1-3. Under such leadership and under (relatively) favorable conditions of peace and order, the church will be more easily able to stand firm in its called to be witnesses for God in its steadfast proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to boldly proclaim the Person and substitutionary, sacrificial atoning work of Christ and to pray for his return, not in order to escape our mundane dangers but to witness the glorious consummation of history which the sovereign Lord God has already inaugurated with the First Coming of Christ.

The current unrest should also impress upon us more deeply and dearly the mystery of God in his Person and in his sovereign execution of his plans for his creation. While the ignorant and arrogant shamelessly denounce God’s character, deny his existence, ridicule the purpose of prayer and promote a sinister hopelessness, believers are armed with the intellectual and experiential knowledge that the divine mystery is not cause for despair but for hope. We have the assurance that, in ways that are finite and fallen minds cannot fathom; the Lord God is indeed working all things together for the good of those who love him, for those who are called according to his purpose, and for his own glory, Rom 8:28. To this end, the peace and prosperity of our land should not be the limit of our supplications. In addition to do these concerns, we should also remember that God has indeed “fixed this.” Yes, he has “fixed” it in the sending of his Son, the Prince of Peace, to destroy the works of the devil and to inaugurate the kingdom of God. While the kingdom of God’s holy rule has already been instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not yet complete for it awaits his consummation when he comes again to fulfill God’s “…plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” Eph 1:10. Herein lies the full scope of the believer’s hope which does not consist of the things of this world, however important and necessary they may be, but in the cosmic plan of God for his creation. With all this in mind, the church cries out in confidence, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev 22:20. This is another way of affirming our steadfast confession, “In God we trust.”