A Present Help
Psalm 46:1-3 NASB
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should
change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the
sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
Selah.
Today, June 11, 2018,
according to the news, “net neutrality protections” became something that is
now in our past. Basically, as I understand it, Internet Service Providers like
AT&T or Comcast, for example, can now give preferential treatment to
specific websites on the internet. They are now “free to block, speed up, or
slow down access to certain content” (1).
The concern here seems to be
that now this will bring about censorship on the internet, and that specific
sites will now be blocked or else access to them will be hindered to where it
will be nearly impossible to access them. At least, this is what I understand.
The internet will no longer be free and open as of today. I think this was originally
to take effect on April 23rd.
For those of us who use the
internet to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage the body of
Christ in our walks of faith, this could present an issue. This could be the
beginning of the death of our freedom of speech on the Net. For, we know this
is where this is all headed anyway. The beast is rising, and he is taking over
the world, and he is fighting against the gospel, and Jesus Christ, and his
messengers. So, it is inevitable that one day we will no longer have this free
access to share the gospel on the internet.
But, the encouragement here
is that, although the world is changing, and things are being shaken literally
and figuratively, God is still our refuge and our strength. He ALONE is our
protection. Amen! He is our very present help in trouble, meaning he is our
help today, in this particular situation, and in any circumstance which may
trouble or worry us. He is still on the throne. Amen! He is still sovereign
over all things and he is head over all powers and authorities (See: Eph.
1:15-23; Col. 1:15-20; Rev. 3:14; Col. 2:9-10; & 1 Pet. 3:21-22). So, we
have no reason to fear what may be (or is) coming.
Interestingly enough, the
Lord reminded me today of a poem he gave me to write on April 26th
of this year, just a few days after this repeal of the net neutrality protections
was to have taken place. The poem is called “When
Windows Close.” It can also be read here.
Not Moved!
Psalm 46:4-7 NASB
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
When morning dawned today
this repeal of net neutrality became law, as best as I understand it. And, the
future of the internet was made uncertain. Yet, God is still in the midst of
his chosen ones, who are his followers, and we are not to be moved by this at
all.
We are not to fear what may
be (or is) coming, and we are to make no compromises with the devil in order to
keep our sites up and running smoothly. We must stand strong on the Word of
Truth even if it means our websites take a hit from all of this. For, where God
closes a “window,” he will open a door. None of this has caught him off guard.
God will help us. He will see
us through it all, no matter what it is. The nations, i.e. this beast, may make
an uproar, but God is still the Lord of hosts, and he is with those who are
his, and He alone is our stronghold.
Cease Striving!
Psalm 46:8-11 NASB
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted
in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
The news media is not to be
trusted. I am not saying that everything they say is a lie, but a lot of it is,
for the beast is behind the mainstream media, and they report whatever the
beast asks them to tell. So, they often sensationalize a lot of things, which hardly
ever seem to end up being as bad as they say they are, at least not yet,
anyway.
So, although some things are
real, and they are what they report, a lot of what they report is fabricated or
is blown out of proportion, and is for the very purpose to create an uproar,
and they are very good at it, too. So, I don’t know how much of this repeal of
net neutrality protections will impact us or how soon it will affect us, or if
this is just another uproar, and if what they are reporting is beginning today
has actually been taking place all along, anyway, even before today, which I
suspect it has.
But, whether it is real, and
this is now the time when we are going to face some serious persecution here in
America for the sake of the gospel, or if this is just a roar with no real bite
behind it yet, the message is still the same. We are not to be afraid. We are
not to strive over this and worry over this and what will or may come of it.
For, God is absolutely still in power, and nothing will happen that God does
not allow for his purposes. And, he will work it all out for good for those who
love him and who have been called according to his purpose.
I know how the book (the
Bible) ends. Don’t you? The beast and the false prophet will be thrown into a
lake of fire and all their hordes with them, and the dragon (Satan) will be
bound for 1,000 years and then thrown into the lake of fire, though I am not
certain that is a literal thousand years. You can read about it in the book of
Revelation, though. God will come out the victor in all of this, no matter what
takes place, and when, or how.
So, we need to listen to the “voice
of truth,” God’s Holy Word, and not listen to all the “uproar” we get in the
news, whether or not it is based in truth or a lie. For, our God is with his
people, i.e. those who follow Jesus Christ, and he is going to work it all out
according to his plans and purposes, so we need to just rest in Him, and not
ever give way to fear or compromise. Amen!
In Truth
An Original Work / January 10, 2012
Fellowshipping with my Lord, Savior,
King.
He is Lord of all; Lord of ev’rything.
He is with me through ev’ry hour of day,
List’ning to me speak, as I humbly
pray.
He cares for my needs,
and He intercedes for me,
‘cause He loves me in ev’ry way.
Obey His commands, and do all He says.
Sitting at His feet, daily in His word,
Let His word speak to me in ev’ry way,
Giving comfort and healing through each
day.
Oh, how Jesus loves,
And He cares for you,
Which is why He died for our sins, in
truth.
Love our Lord God, Savior, and King of
kings.
Worship Him in truth, for He reigns
supreme.
He created us with a plan in mind
For us to be His servants, and Him
mind.
Follow Him in truth;
Go where’er He leads.
Share His love with others, and their
needs meet.
Others: their needs meet.
Monday, June 11, 2018, 4:11
a.m. – Thank you, Jesus!
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