This is the 21st century and life is in the fast lane. If you do not keep up you will get left behind. But then we hear a still small voice say, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Left Behind
It seems that if you stop for just a little bit you will get left behind. The world says that you must keep on pushing if you are going to succeed in life. So we wake up feeling as if we are already behind. The need to pick up the pace and push harder and produce more is ever-present.
Is there any wonder that society has become less friendly and edgier. We only think of “number one” and what is good for him or her. Our success is measured by how many people are under us. The amount of our net worth in money is what determines our value.
Is this the approach to life that will bring about the kind of world that we as humans should desire? I think not.
Another approach
In the Bible, we read these words in Isaiah 40:31.
“They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
This is a contradiction to what the world tells us today. The world says that you must continually push and push. The agenda of the world is “dog eat dog”, “if you don’t get it someone else will.”
The world approach
We wonder why there is so much confusion in the world. Children are told from the beginning that they must always be pushing to succeed. There is nothing wrong with success. But, there are many manifestations of success. The manifestations of the world are how much money you make and how much power you exercise over others.
In the eyes of the world, you must have a big bank account and exercise power over many. Two of the biggest avenues this is accomplished is through commerce and through the government.
Commerce
In commerce one can do this by building a big business by providing something the masses need. We can see that in such corporations as Walmart, Amazon, and the companies on Wall Street. In themselves, the companies are not bad or evil. But, we are seeing how once they gain some control over others, they begin to manipulate those they serve.
This has been evidenced in the actions of companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
When motivated by money and power, companies very quickly get into manipulating people.
Government
The other big tool exercised by those who seek power and control is the government.
In the United States we tend to pride ourselves in the concept that the people rule. That is a nice thought, but is it the truth. Those who have any perception of truth have come to understand that it may not necessarily be true.
Examples
I speak not of particular individuals in this respect, but in regards to establishments.
A locality may elect someone to represent the wishes of their community. The representative may be local, or city, or county, or state, or national. The original intent of the founding fathers was that the position would be transitory. That is, the person would hold the position for only one or at the most two terms.
In the 20th century many positions of governance became long term. This was enhanced by the establishment of bureaucracies. Bureaucrats were not elected but were appointed and held their position as a permanent job.
In the state and federal elected positions we see people being elected time and time again. This was totally against what the founders had intended.
This structure is what is called “The Establishment”. “The Establishment” has in a real sense become an autocracy. That term means, an established group of people who exercise control over the masses.
Whether you realise it or not, much of what you do is controlled to some degree by this autocracy. The spirit that drives them has pervaded all that we do in our daily lives.
Motivation
It is not that the things we do are evil, but that the motivations are evil. When you are driven by evil motivations, then you can expect that the results will not be good.
Let me restate the situation. Those who are in charge are motivated by a desire to gain power and wealth. Without the correct foundation and motivation, these will become evil and the results will be the same.
The solution
So, what is the solution to our problem? Let’s begin with our verse from Isaiah 40. Let us wait on the Lord, the God of Abraham. In this statement, we are saying we will do what He says, not what we say.
To find out what He says we go to His word, which is the Bible. A great beginning point as to how He exercises His power is found in Philippians chapter 2.
Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Quite often we hear elected officials call themselves “public servants”. But, more often, this is just a façade. But, if we look at Jesus we see that the kind of servant needed is the one at the lowest level. A “bondservant” did only what he was told. He or she was the lowest rung on the ladder.
Jesus had every right to exercise total authority, but He, rather, humbled himself.
If only the “autocracy” would do likewise.
Where to begin
The answer will probably not come from the top down. Rather, it will begin with you and me. Let us take upon ourselves the Spirit of Christ and humble ourselves and serve one another. I heard a great statement made by a man. He said that he would always have a job or something to do because he was a servant. It did not matter to whom or for whom, he was a servant. For him, there was always someone he could be of service to. He considered himself the lowest, so he could serve all.
What a great attitude. If this were the attitude of all our fellow citizens there would be no conflicts. All would consider others and their needs ahead of their own.
How can this become reality?
How can this become reality? One day it will become real. When will that be? When the One, Who became a servant to all, returns as the Ruler of all. That day is coming soon!
Until that day comes, let us hearken to Isaiah 40.
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.
Let us follow the admonition found in Hebrews 12.
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Change is coming
Change is coming. Will you by patience be a part of it? Or will you be overcome by the cares of this world?
My prayer for you is that you will be one of those who declares with the writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…
And know this, also:
37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Wait on the Lord!
