By David Ettinger
Legitimate Concerns
On a friend’s Facebook page, I read an entry beginning with these words: “Today is one of the hardest days to be a Christian …”

I can empathize with my friend as these are trying times for Western Christians. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the unraveling of culture and society here in the U.S., there is much uncertainty about where our nation is heading.
Add to the mix that this is an election year; many believers are deeply worried about the impact on our Christian freedoms should Joe Biden capture the presidency from Donald Trump. These are not trivial matters!
A Different Perspective
Yet, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I take a different perspective. One verse which comes to mind when I get down or overly concerned is Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
As Christians, we are conquerors, and God expects us to live that way. The biggest thing we conquered is spiritual death, which means our eternal destiny – existence in “paradise” with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – is assured. As such, we should live as those awaiting eternal glory.
This doesn’t mean we should have no concerns; that would be unnatural. But it’s how we handle those concerns that matters. For instance, if President Trump loses the election, many Christians will experience depression and allow fear to overwhelm them. This should never be the case!
Rather, as conquerors saved by the Lord Jesus, we should see every day as a wonderful day! Why? Because God is still on His throne, He is still in control, the actions of men and women cannot change or affect Him, and the promise of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ stands.

Also standing is God’s promise to restore the Earth, establish His Millennial Kingdom, and live among His redeemed for eternity. Yes, despite the spiritual demise of the West, it is indeed a wonderful day for Christians!
What God Says
Now, if you or I were to ask God what He thinks of all this, I believe He would say something along these lines:
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. … I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.
Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?” It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts” (Isaiah 45:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12).
Game. Set. Match.
This IS why Christians should never worry about the fate of this world!
vicklea
August 21, 2020
Thank you for this! Amen and amen!
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dettinger47
August 21, 2020
Thank you, Vickie. And by the way, though not in this blog, but in others, I have been using the Modern English Version as verse references. Thanks for telling me about it. I’m enjoying it!
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vicklea
August 21, 2020
I’m happy to hear that!
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Jenny Mothershed
August 21, 2020
Thank you!! Excellent encouragement!!
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dettinger47
August 21, 2020
Thank you, Jenny.
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rahjomuelvin
August 22, 2020
Amen! Thank You Lord! You who sits enthroned forever. There is no other god like you… you are the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth! We praise you, you are in control!
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dettinger47
August 22, 2020
Amen!
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Tom
August 22, 2020
Thanks, David. I generally try to avoid politics because I think politics and nationalism can be problematic for a believer. I realize that has not been the viewpoint for Christians living in America historically. Faith and nationalism have been intertwined here since the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. My wife actually supports the Democrats because she believes they are “more caring” despite their absolute support of abortion and progressive “social engineering.” I’m trying to help her see that this is imprudent. But I also see problems with Trump and the Republicans. Better that we think of ourselves as ambassadors and emissaries of the coming Kingdom rather than deeply entrenched citizen-patriots. I think for many believers living America, their temporal citizenship is as important or more important to them than their spiritual citizenship. I do like your bottom line: focusing on God’s promises and the Lord Jesus Christ in all circumstances.
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dettinger47
August 22, 2020
I’m with you, Tom, as I’m not a nationalist either. In fact, I agree with everything you wrote!
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Tom
August 22, 2020
👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻
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mrsmariposa2014
August 22, 2020
Thank you, David, for such wonderful and needed encouragement. That paarticular verse is one I cherish.
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dettinger47
August 22, 2020
Every verse from Isaiah is awesome! 🙏
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mrsmariposa2014
August 22, 2020
Indeed!
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