 We are living in a most unprecedented time in earth's history. Everything around us is in turmoil--relentless war on terror, the fear of atomic warfare, the market jitters and instability of the economy, the rise of crime in the cities, etc. Will they ever come to an end? How bad will things get before they get better? Or, will things ever get better? Let's find the answers to these profound questions from the Word of God. Matthew 24:6-8 state: 'And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. How bad will things get? Let the Prophet Daniel tell us in Daniel 12:1: ...'and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time...' From this text, does it look like things will get any better? Luke 21:26 says: 'Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth...' Do you fear these uncertain times? Do you fear tomorrow? Are you afraid of the Osama Bin Ladens out there and what they would do next in their attempt to destroy us? Are you afraid of nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists in Iran and North Korea? Child of God, there is no need to be afraid and live in fear. God is bigger than these men. Just as He opened the eyes of Elisha's servant to see the host of the Lord's army with horses and chariots of fire encompassing them, God will open our eyes and hearts so we, too, can see and know in faith that He's there to protect us. There are precious promises in the Bible just for us in these troublous times. These promises would bring peace and comfort and allay all our fears of the unknown. Jesus would take care of His people. He would pilot them through uncharted waters. He would provide a shelter in the time of storm. Here are some precious promises to claim and hang on to in the days ahead: Exodus 23:22 - But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. Psalm 112:7-8 - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. Psalm 91:5-7 - Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Psalm. 56:3-4 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 121:7-8 - The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 2 Timothy 1:6 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. A year or so ago, the acronym SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) was not in our vocabulary. Now they're telling us that SARS is deadlier than initially thought, and our chance of dying from it may be much, much higher. Thank God SARS didn't turn out as the medical experts predicted. But there's always something else that would come up to terrify us, i.e., mad cow disease, avian influenza pandemic, etc. In times like these we need to claim God's promises pertaining to our health. Here are some of them: Exodus 15:26 - And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Psalm 103:3 - Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Psalm 41:3 - The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Psalm 91:3-4 - Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Proverbs 17:22 - A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. 3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Proverbs 12:18 - The tongue of the wise is health. Are you afraid of an imminent stock market crash? Do you fear that we might have a depression similiar to the one in 1929? Have you been laid off from a job and have difficulty getting back into the workforce? Are you fearful that you would not be able to provide for your family? Here are precious promises just waiting to be claimed and cherished: Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. What about natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, tsunamis? Are you fearful that your home and your earthly belongings would be swept from under you by these disasters? Let us come boldly before the throne of grace and claim these promises in Jesus' name: Mark 4:38-40 - And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Psalm 46:1-3 - GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Fear Not Tomorrow is a hymn I heard sung on a Christian radio station not too long ago. The words are so apropos for our times. I decided that the next time I heard the hymn, I would jot it down in shorthand and include it in Apples of Gold. I hope I got everything. God is already there. In this age of uncertainty Questions come to my mind: What the future has for me And the rest of mankind? Fear not tomorrow God is already there. He's charting the course you take. He sees each hidden snare. He's waiting to guide you Through each burden and care. Fear not tomorrow God is already there. Are you troubled o'er things to come? Is your future unsure? Are you dreading the coming dawn-- A long day to endure? Fear not tomorrow God is already there. He's charting the course you take. He sees each hidden snare. He's waiting to guide you Through each burden and care. Fear not tomorrow God is already there. --Carolyn Atkins Sweet inner peace sometimes eludes even God's people. Here are some promises to claim: Psalm. 23:2-4 - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 26:3-4 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Psalm 119:165 - Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. The Lord will never fail. Jesus is my refuge. In Him I will prevail. Turned and tossed about, I will not lose my way. I'll put my trust in Him; With certainty I'll say: chorus I will not fear for tomorrow. I know it's in His hands. I will not fear all life's sorrow For I know He has a plan. And even though these earthly eyes Cannot always see, I will trust in the Lord Who promised victory. Oh, Lord, Sometimes I don't know How this will all work out I have lost my faith in You; My mind is filled with doubt. But somehow you come And give me strength to carry on; Your peace is in my heart, And this will be my song: I will not fear for tomorrow. I know it's in His hands. I will not fear all life's sorrow For I know He has a plan. And even though these earthly eyes Cannot always see, I will trust in the Lord Who promised victory. The Joy of the Lord Shall be my strength always, And I will honor Him Throughout all my days. For He raises me up And takes away my doubts. He frees me with His Love And causes me to shout: I will not fear for tomorrow. I know it's in His hands. I will not fear all life's sorrow For I know He has a plan. And even though these earthly eyes Cannot always see, I will trust in the Lord Who promised victory. over life's tempestous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treacherous shoal; Chart and compass came from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me. As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boisterous waves obey Thy will, when Thou say'st to them "Be still!" Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me. When at last I near the shore and the fearful breakers roar, 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest; then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee." --Edward Hopper  
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