These are fretful times. The economy seems to be in another tailspin. We’re witnessing gridlock in Washington, panic on Wall Street, riots in London, high unemployment and budget cuts all around. Are these difficulties strictly economic and political, or are there moral, ethical and spiritual dimensions to our economic woes? How are these difficulties affecting the people you serve?

The major issues in the news this past month have caused all of us to be deeply distressed: the financial/political woes of our nation; the economies of some European countries; the tragic situation in Somalia, Kenya, and Sudan; the brutal deaths in Oslo, Norway; and the deaths of twenty-five of our finest troops in Afghanistan.

In all of these circumstances, there are significant moral issues involved. For example: Will we love and share with our neighbors, even when times are tough?

Will we discipline ourselves individually and corporately to live within our means?

Will we love and respect and listen to people from opposing points of view?

But most importantly, will we place our hopes and our ambitions and our dreams in the temporal affairs of governments and strong leaders and world events, or will we place our hope squarely and solely on the One Who governs the universe?  The last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, is an enormous encouragement to us all. In Chapters 4 and 5, we read that John saw in his vision that God is gloriously reigning on His throne and has given to His Son, Jesus Christ,  the authority to reveal and execute that great plan, which is now taking place.  We, therefore, must live lives of loving service and truthfulness in the here and now, but with a sure and certain confidence that God is working everything out for His glory and for the welfare of His people. Anyone who puts his trust in Jesus Christ can be absolutely assured of that.

That’s the really big deal behind all the news this summer.