Approximately ten days ago flooding of “near biblical proportions” occurred in Eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. Of course areas of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are also suffering from the incredible damage left in the wake of Hurricane Helene. We feel very blessed to have been spared from any of the devastation where we live, but understand that regardless, God is sovereign. His will and His ways are an enduring mystery. All creation continues to groan under the weight of sin.

We have been chatting the last couple weeks about the darkness of our days but take comfort in the light that comes from the “Father of Lights in whom there is no shadow of turning…”(James 1:17). “Men may die, but He is the same yesterday, today and forever…”(Hebrews 13:8 & 9). We take comfort in His Immutability (unchanging) nature.

I recall the words of Thomas Paine extrapolated from his book The American Crisis, (the content was popularized, and the message spread when excerpts were printed in newspapers abound “the country” in a series of articles between 1776 and 1783; entitled The Federalist Papers). I quote likely the most memorable line: “These are times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article of FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”

It is very unlikely that Paine was a follower of Christ; he was an enlightenment philosopher and deist, but a true patriot of freedom and his writings and rhetoric was instrumental in the founding of our Constitutional Republic. But INTENTIONAL men of God know that we can easily apply our Biblical Worldview to his writings. We understand that the souls of humankind are indeed “tried” during these dark days. Whether the darkness takes the form of natural disasters or man made calamities, we must endure the race that is set before us.

Our God is not looking for “sunshine” only followers, He is looking for spiritual warriors! Take some time to read through the following Scriptures to affirm that as warriors for the Kingdom of God, we must be vigilant to the schemes of the adversary. His schemes are designed to weaken our resolve and take our eyes off the prize of the high calling we have in Christ.The Scriptures are designed to strengthen our resolve in the midst of disaster and calamity: Hebrews 12:1 – 3; Hebrews 10:23; Matthew 24:13; Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 4:7. 

Twelve times throughout the Bible we are told that the battle belongs to the Lord and in Revelation 12:9 we are assured that the battle has already been won and we will be privy to its results!