Thou art my hiding place and my shield; 

I hope in Thy word.

Psalm 119:114, KJV

There are times when it seems like things are falling apart. As of this day in February of 2024, there are wars around the globe. There are stories popping up in the news about newer and deadlier strains of human-engineered diseases. In our nation it is an election year and  people seem to be only concerned with how bad the other side is. Evil people are shooting one another in the streets and in their houses, and some people's only remedy seems to be to take away the defenses of the innocent. Leave it to the proper law enforcement agencies, they will say, but they don't seem to have a good solution when it is pointed out that our law enforcement folks already have too much on their hands to handle now.

We have one side fighting to open wide our borders, and another working hard to close them. The rest of us watch in amazement as the problems of drugs and crime test our nation's resources to the breaking point. This absurdity can be compared to the ridiculous situation of two fire departments being called to the same house where a small fire is burning in the garage. But instead of taking care of the fire, they fight to see which one will get credit for putting it out. And while they fight, the fire spreads, first to the house, then to the rest of the neighborhood.

We have people flying all over the world in private jets, meeting together to tell us how bad our use of our fossil fuels is. They have fancy meals with expensive wines, and wear custom tailored suits and designer dresses. They meet to determine how they can tell others how much they must sacrifice to save the planet. 

At this very moment, our elected leaders work very, very hard to divide the people they claim they are there to serve. Phillip of Macedon determined 2,000 years ago that the best road to power was to divide and conquer the masses, and our modern day leaders are perfecting this insane strategy. Meanwhile the people are divided. They think the enemy is the people on the other side and are tricked into giving the power hungry leaders on their side more power. 

I know, I know - thanks for the pep talk, you are probably thinking. but what can we do? There is a solution, but most people will not like it. Most people didn't like it at the time prior to the flood. Most people did not like the solution proposed by God prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Most people didn't like the remedy in the years leading up to the fall of Israel and Judah. But it doesn't change the truth one bit.

The truth is that the only solution to the consequence of sin is to stop sinning! Such repentance is never easy, and is therefore usually rejected. But repentance has always been the quickest and most painless cure for what ails sinful people, and we have become a very sinful people. The repentance must start with the individual, so look to your own life and take care of what you must. Then you will have the right to ask God to help the rest of the world see the need for repentance. It seems too simplistic, but it is the only solution. It is the solution that requires God's help, so be sure to ask Him for that help.

And in the meantime, don't give up hope, for our place of safety and our protection has always come from one source: Our loving and righteous Father! Why not allow Him to be your hiding place and shield today?