In The Survival Mode

Hi,
For these past few days, my prayers have been sincerely directed towards guidance. Each new day creates a stronger desire to conduct myself in a way that pleases the Lord; perhaps because of the worldwide violence and devastation that seems to be escalating. I read in the gospel according to Luke today, to seek primarily and passionately the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and not to set my affections on the accumulations of the earth. Because my treasure will be where my heart is. Yet, how does a believer living in this world physically articulate this behavior when the world makes so fervent a demand on each of us to pay the high prices of housing, food, clothing, and daily maintenance? I am reminded how my Lord dealt with this. He said since the measure of worldly wealth (coins) held the image of leader of THIS world, then we should render to him the economic requirements that are due him; and to render unto God the things that are due God. So, diligence is required in both cases, revealing in either case, the desire to obediently please the Lord. The post-ascension believers endured a famine that restricted a person's ability to provide for themselves, as well as discrimination that prevented employment, again interfering with the ability to provide for themselves. The same God, who blessed believers with the spiritual anesthesia to endure persecution and being fed to lions, strengthens us today, as billions of believers participate in a worldwide struggle for economic survival. As the separation between the have and have nots increases, so also increases the instances of terrestrial devastation, demonstrating to the powerful their helplessness to prevent displays of real power. We are instructed by our Lord not to fear the man who has the power to kill the body, but rather to fear the One who, after the body is dead, has the power keep a person separated from life forever, because as we are today is the way that we will be tomorrow. Let us, therefore, behave ourselves as though we are already living in that realm of everlasting life, obediently following the instructions that lead to life, so that when the everlasting owner of the earth returns to re-claim his inheritance, He will discover and recognize us as a living part of that inheritance. So ... watch and pray.