Its time to turn our cares to prayers!
We were advised to purchase tickets to land in Burbank rather than at LAX due to the turmoil. It was the last weekend of April, 1992, and as our plane made its final approach, the rising smoke from the downtown riots was thick in the sky. From the airport we drove north to our intended destination, only to pull into a completely vacant parking lot. We were met by the campus security officer—a longtime friend and partner in ministry. He informed us that there had been frequent gunfire in the neighborhood so the campus of the Master’s Seminary had been completely shut down. But he was the man on duty and would be thrilled to give us a tour!
After walking around the campus, stepping into to various classrooms, bookstores and other facilities, we arrived at the pastors’ office complex. “No one is in today, obviously, because it is Saturday and also because of security concerns. But I can show you some of the offices.” And with that he unlocked the door to the assumed-to-be vacant senior pastor’s study only to hear, “Hi, Jimmy! Who are your friends?” Dr. MacArthur was most gracious and welcoming. He told us he had set aside his Sunday message in light of the Rodney King Riots and was seeking biblical insight to share with the Grace Church family the next day. As the Grace family gathered on that Sunday morning, he hit it out of the park!
I have often coveted the gift of prophetic preaching, that is, the ability to interpret the chaotic circumstances of our present world in the light of scripture. Two black men have died. Riots have erupted across our nation. A presidential candidate has been declared “careless but not guilty” and the airwaves have ignited in a new wave of flaming hostility and rhetoric. Innocent police officers are assassinated in the line of duty as they served to provide protection and security for those exercising their right to protest. A worker in a Lincoln Kwik Shop is gunned down in the night. And when we pull back and see the tragedies all around us globally, it is easy to despair. Our world is spiraling into chaos without a moral rudder. The Word of God must have something to say!
While blogs proliferate, preachers pontificate, and tweeters supply simplistic answers in 140 characters, the words that come first to mind for contemplation and application are those penned by Paul to Pastor Timothy of Ephesus, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2 Chaotic times are opportune times for sharing the Good News of the hope that we have in Jesus!
Taking a page from the life of Nehemiah, let our first and faithful response be, not to criticize, not to grumble, not to second-guess, not to despair. The greatest thing we can do in response to the headlines of the week is to call out to the Lord.
Its time to turn our cares to prayers!
See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom