WHEN CALAMITY STRIKES

No matter the event, whether great or small, as Believers we have a place of refuge; that refuge is Christ the LORD. We are given precious promises of protection, cover, peace and rest in the midst of calamity. When fear or terror strike, we are instructed to run for cover underneath His mighty outstretched arms.


King David experienced the judgment of God, and His protection, at various times in his life. As a young man David was anointed to be king; then he was hunted down by a mad man, King Saul and his minions, who could not make up their minds whose side they were on. And David, finally as King, when he strayed from the Almighty on occasion, he experienced the wrath and judgment of God.


It is as if he wore two hats at times. When David numbered Israel, a form of pride, he was judged severely; tens of thousands of citizens under his reign were slain by God. When he committed adultery with Bathsheba his child produced from that union died. I can think of no man in the written, historic word that experienced firsthand, in a more extensive way, the ways of God.


Believers living in Western nations live in one of the most violent and sinful times in human history. Truly, as Noah, we have had to endure sin and transgression in ways that our ancestors never imagined. We are as Abraham's nephew Lot, living in the Plains of Sodom and Gomorrah, with grieved heart, surrounded by sin and shame.
Few of us have separated ourselves totally in the way that God desires.


But, as calamity and judgment fall, we can pray that, like Lot and his family, that the Almighty would once again send His angels to rescue us and deliver us from the fires as they start to fall upon our society. Judgment sent from the heavens because the sin of mankind has once again reached up into the heavens; as in the days of Noah.


On what can we stake our claim of deliverance?


I take great comfort in who God is!


Isaiah 43 says, " I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a candle wick..."


God creates calamity upon sinful societies and nations. He is behind it all. The mighty angel used in King David's day, called the "Destroyer" heralded from the heavens, not hell! As we enter the final season of God's work on the earth, the end of the time of the Gentiles (nations) and the new working of God, revealing Himself through His natural seed, Israel, we can watch His amazing works from a front row seat. We were each born for such a time as this, or we would not be here!



Continued in Isaiah 43, we are to "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."


This " new thing" spoken of, after we shake off and forget the former things, is performed on behalf of His children on earth. He promised to make a way IN the wilderness, and rivers of life will appear on what seems to be our parched land, in the midst of judgment of sin in the world. He does this to draw us to only Him for life and sufficiency. The foundations of all man made safety systems and beliefs will, and are failing. Run to Him! He is all sufficient!


He promises that the beasts of the field shall honor Him, the dragons and the owls. Even the evil spiritual and human powers that be will see first hand the deliverance of God for His own; in the midst of great turmoil. Because He has declared~


THIS PEOPLE HAVE I FORMED FOR MYSELF!
THEY SHALL SHOW FORTH MY PRAISE!


He did not say they "might" show forth My praise,
or they "could" show forth My praise,
but THEY SHALL SHOW FORTH MY PRAISE!


Where does this strength appear in times of calamity? From spending time in His presence. The Spirit of the Living God is drawing His own into a deeper intimacy with Jesus. He has tried to draw all men unto Himself but most have rejected Him. Those of us who desire only Him will grow in grace, and His peace will rule and reign in our hearts and minds as He reveals Himself all powerful on our behalf.



" Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. SING UNTO THE LORD a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitant thereof. " (ISAIAH 42:10)


As the Children of Israel in the days of old, we are preparing to "go down into the sea", and all that is entailed in that situation. But with great confidence, as we look upon the walls of water on each side of us, and feel the mighty wind that is blowing and that brings our deliverance, we will know that our Father is behind it all. He knows where we are! He knows where we live! As Brother David Wilkerson has said, "God knows your address, your telephone number and the number of hairs on your head!"


Fear Not is His command!


Be NOT dismayed, for HE IS OUR GOD.