Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12;25). He also prayed intensely for Himself, for believers He had taught, and for believers to come in the future that they would be unified (John 17).
The weakest point in the history of the United States of America was during the years leading up to and including the Civil War – when people were divided strongly on the line of whether the government should be able to tell states what to do or not. The focus was slavery, but the issue was and always will be where the power and control lie. And it came out in an ugly war that pitted even family against family.
During the years of rebuilding, families came back together, grieved together, and found new strength. The problems were far from resolved, but people for the most part learned to live amicably with each other knowing that they did not want to go to war again. However, since the attack on the twin towers in 2001, a change has occurred. There was damage like the damage caused by a huge earthquake. And the aftershocks keep coming. People no longer trust in the goodness of each other. We suspect those who disagree with us of malintent.
Along with the political turmoil, communication between people has changed drastically. Where once families sat and talked with each other at the dinner table and discussed ideas, politics, religion, and family relationships, they now text each other with few words and little expression of ideas. Few people seem to know how to express their ideas and listen to the ideas of others. Judgment and misunderstanding is at an all time high and we hurt each other and hurt people hurt people and the pain grows.
And then the pandemic hit adding a high level of fear to the mix. Power and control among political leaders and lack of communication among the people made our society ripe for even greater mistrust and division. People were isolated in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. And the places where people went for emotional healing – family and church – also became divided along the lines of how serious the threat was and how to mitigate it. We divided among isolation vs. gathering, masks vs. no masks, vaccines vs. human immune system, and many other subtle and not so subtle divisions.
And still, lack of communication wreaks havoc among the people. Few people are interested in listening to the opposing view on anything. Misinformation spreads like wildfire across the Internet and social media. And sources of information that can be trusted are buried in it and difficult to find. So much information is driven by money and politics. People who were once friends yell at each other and call each other names.
And in this whole big mess, we begin to see the gods we worship, the places and things in which we put our hope for the future. And a still, small voice calls out, “I am still here. You can come to Me and lay your burdens down and I will give you rest. Spend some time in My green pastures beside the quiet streams. I have all that you need and give it generously and freely to you. Come! Taste and see that I Am good! My love for you is infinite and intimacy with Me satisfies like nothing else. I Am the Good Shepherd and I will guide you. Leave the chaos behind and follow Me.” (Matthew 11:28, Psalm 23, Matthew 7:10-12, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 103:17, Psalm 145:16, John 10:11-18)
There are those who listen to that voice. They choose another way. A way of peace and love. A willingness to lay down their points of view and listen to the fears and anxieties of others. No, they don’t make the problems go away, but they focus on the Problem Solver and trust in His goodness and ability to overcome. They seek to understand rather than to be understood. They show generosity toward others, especially those most hurt by the current conditions. They worship their God because He is worthy of their praise and because He brings victory after victory in their life and the lives of others. They live in a place of quiet trust, even when things around them look bleak. They trust that their Creator is working all things out. They trust His love for them. They trust that He can take what the enemy means for evil and use it for good.
They know who the enemy is and it isn’t their neighbor, their friend, their family or their political opponent. It is Satan. He has come to steal, to kill and to destroy. He is a liar and a thief. He deceives people and pits them against each other because he knows if they work together, he will lose. Jesus prayed for unity in all believers because He knew that would be our strongest defense against the enemy. That unity is not centered around sharing common political views or values. It is centered around seeking and obeying our Good Shepherd and learning and following the things He taught us through His life here on earth. When our focus is there, the things that divide us become much smaller and less toxic. Our fears dissipate because perfect love casts out all fear (I John 4:18).
There is hope, but it is not in charismatic leaders or government regulations or pharmaceutical companies or in any of the other things we think will save us.
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
"When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
"His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the 'whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
"When He shall come with trumpet
sound, oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in his righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."
Lyrics: Edward Mote (1797-1874)
