Peace in a World Gone Rogue

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God .” - Corrie Ten Boom

World War II fascinates me and terrifies me. My grandfather and great-uncles were in the war. My grandmother and great-aunts were involved in supporting the war from home. Worldwide, the war changed people for the duration of their lives. Those who lived bore the scars until they died. Their unknown future helped form my future.

The quote above by Corrie Ten Boom is remarkable considering who she is. Some of you know who she is. For those of you who don't, she was one of the "righteous gentiles" whose family hid Jews in Amsterdam. She and her family were eventually caught and sent to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. She and her sister led many to Jesus in the camp, experienced miracles, and her sister died there. Corrie remained in love with Jesus and continued to share about her "known God" through books and speaking after the war.

Many of my days are filled with thoughts of my unknown future. Some are hope-filled, others have hints of fear. The trust factor comes down to this- is the God we say we love and serve a known God? As I think on my history with God, the verse from a song comes to mind, "Faithful you are. Faithful forever you will be." He keeps proving Himself to me. I feel like I so easily forget when the craziness of this world tosses me around, and I sometimes feel like a rag doll with nothing to anchor me.

So, what truly anchors us as followers of Jesus so that we can rest in peace in a world gone rogue? Here are 3 anchor points I have found hold true:

1. We are the promise of God to bless Abraham and multiply his descendents (Genesis 12).

I started writing this blog in June, 2023. It is now October, 2023. Hamas unexpectedly attacked Israel three weeks ago, and Israel is at war. I, as well as many others around the world, have been praying for the peace of Jerusalem. For protection for all the civilians unwillingly involved. For an end to this horror. And, the reality that we, as the body of Christ, have been grafted into Israel is even more starkly evident. We are part of Abraham's inheritance. We are the stars that shine in the universe as we hold out the word of life. We are the salt, the light, the leaven. Our prayers are powerful and effective. We have been anchored into the reality that we are chosen and beloved.

2. Heaven is real.

A new movie is coming out today called "After Death". I saw the trailer, where people are describing their experiences after death. People who have returned to life after death. Many saw heaven. Some saw hell. The reality that heaven is actual and not some ethereal idea, anchors me into knowing that there is another life after this life. There is a place being made ready for me, and it is better than I can imagine. This hope anchors my soul into something more real than the crazy world around me.

3. Death is defeated.

As a child, I used to be so afraid of dying. I was gripped with fear because of some experiences I had, and it took years for me to be free from the fear of death. What helped with this was learning about and experiencing God. Counseling, prayer, learning verses in the Bible, being baptized, receiving the gift of tongues, and learning the power of praise and worship combined to set me free from the fear of death.

Question: What anchors you to be at rest in this world gone rogue?