a culture in chaos

Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful

at the report heard in the land,

when a report comes in one year

and afterward a report in another year,

and violence is in the land,

and ruler is against ruler.

Jeremiah 51:46

Even as the Jews were on the edge of exile in Babylon, God was preparing them for the wild uncertainties they would encounter in their captivity. Babylon may have been the superpower du jour, but God would judge the Chaldeans and even the mighty Babylon would later be conquered by the Medes and Persians. The Jews would not be in a stable political climate while captive, though the Lord would certainly protect them there. The culture would be uncertain, and violence and war would be regular news reports.

The reassurance that would come as God reminded His people He is in control of the actions of kings and nations would keep them from needless worry. They would learn to trust God, ripped from all that was familiar, and held captive in a culture of political and social chaos. Rumors and reports would swirl around their neighbors. But the Jews could be confident and go about their business in faith, knowing God was in control and promised to take them through this well before it ever happened. He spoke peace through His prophet decades before in order to prepare them.

And that same principle holds in any cultural uncertainty for a Christian today. I hold to the promise of Christ’s return because it came from the mouth of Jesus Himself. And I dedicate myself to my Lord’s mandate to make disciples, even as I have watched in my half century lifetime a world culture degrade in violence, war among many nations that have brought numerous genocides, racial tensions filled with hate and ignorance and disrespect of God’s creation, sinful rebellion, and political cruelty that polarizes people. But there is no need for my heart to faint. The gospel comes against all this. God has already decreed a good end. I will trust Him!