There is an old Christian poem that goes something like this, “When in trouble or in doubt run in circles, scream and shout.” I’ve never known a time when so many believers, particularly in America, seem so full of alarm and panic. We have somehow forgotten that God is sovereign and that he knows the end from the beginning. In other words, he knows the end of the thing even from the very beginning. People have free will, and they can certainly choose to make a mess of things, but Psalm 97 says that the earth can rejoice because our God reigns even when it seems like clouds and thick darkness are surrounding him who sits on his throne. Revelation 4 gives us a wonderful picture of the Lord seated on a throne high and lifted up, declaring “what must take place.” It is so important for us as “believers” to keep believing, and at the core of what we believe, there is the truth that God’s glory fills the earth and that his kingdom is advancing no matter what our eyes and ears tell us. The people of this world have every reason freaked out, but Jesus said even though we are in this world, we are not of this world. Paul went so far as to make this remarkable statement; “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of this world, why as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees such as…” Paul was so convinced about being seated in heavenly places with Christ that he had a hard time seeing himself in this world at all, even though his feet were squarely planted on the earth. It is imperative that we never take a snapshot of any particular moment in history and believe the lie that the snapshot represents the final outcome or reality. Listen to what the Holy Spirit said through Paul in Ephesians 1:9 – 10; “He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to His kind intention which he purposed in him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.” That is the big picture, which transcends any snapshot of any particular moment in history. Everything is going to be summed up in Christ. His purposes and his kingdom are advancing, and his people will fulfill their destiny in him. He is building his Church, and the gates of hell WILL NOT prevail against it. Nothing, no event, no government, no political party can stop it. Are we to be agents of change in this fallen world? Of course, we are, but we are to be agents of change controlled by the love of Christ with hearts full of the peace that passes all understanding because we always know that the Lord is always at hand, and his hand is always at work.