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Minister Tom Lynch

Email Tom Lynch
421 Providence Blvd
Clarksville TN 37042
Phone#(931)-647-7825
Schedule of Services
SUNDAY
Bible Study - 9:30am
Morning Worship 10:30 am
Evening Worship 6:00 pm
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study 7:00 pm
God never asks about
our ability or inability just our availability.
God has made a
history of using the insignificant to accomplish the impossible
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Reflections:
Last Update 4 May 2008
What
Becomes Of Faith In
Hard Times?
Our society is going through some very difficult times right now. You
know that. Even if you are one who is able to go on with your normal
routine you still feel it. Everything is becoming more expensive. Many
areas are experiencing higher crime rates. The problems are mounting
and solutions are evasive. Some tell us that it’s not the worst that
our country has experienced but it is certainly worse than most have
witnessed.
Now, we do not find ourselves in a position to remedy the problems
we’re facing. It is true that there are biblical principles that could
help us as individuals to get through difficult economic times. But at
this point you’ve either lived by those ideals or you haven’t. If you
have then you’re ready to weather storm. If you haven’t then hopefully
you’ll better see the need to prepare once we’re through this one and
you find yourself back on your feet. But while we can’t solve all of
the economic woes we can certainly work on the spiritual side. And in
so doing we’d like to raise a potentially interesting and telling
question: what becomes of faith in hard times?
Let’s begin by acknowledging that hard times are nothing new. While it
is likely that most of us have never seen so many facing difficulties
at once, we have all faced difficulties. And the truth is that there
are things much harder to face than economics; death, cancer, divorce,
and crippling injuries are much worse. It certainly is not the worst
of times. That is, unless you allow it to be. And maybe that’s what we
need to look at: what are you going to allow? And that, my friends, is
wholly a question of faith and trust.
Someone has said (and I apologize for not recalling who) “hard times
reveal whether or not you’ve allowed God to be in your life.” I
believe that’s true. For the most part, if you are at all faithful
you’ll make it through easy times quite well. That’s not to say there
are no challenges to our faith during good times. Amos warned, “Woe to
you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria…” (Amos 6:1).
Jesus challenged us in the parable of the rich fool who had a
bountiful crop, leading him to conclude, “Soul, you have many goods
laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”
(Luke 12:19). A real challenge during good times is coming to believe
that we have accomplished something altogether separate and apart from
God. On the other hand, the challenge of hard times is believing that
God has abandoned us to do it all separate and apart from Him.
Some of our greatest examples of faith come to us during hard times.
The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5), the widow giving God the
last of her money (Mark 12), Joseph through his numerous challenges,
the slave boys led into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). And the list
goes on. So while it might not be fair to say that faith is easy
during good times it would seem fair to suggest that it’s more obvious
during bad times. So let’s return to our question: what becomes of
faith in hard times? Or more specifically, what becomes of your faith
during hard times?
Obviously, no one can answer this question for you. But it is also
true that you can’t avoid answering it for yourself. Will you continue
to give Him your time? What about your money? Yes, if your prosperity
decreases your giving may have to decrease too, but there should
always be something to give to God first (Matthew 6:33).
You’ll recall Jesus sleeping through a storm in the stern of a ship.
His disciples were panicked and asked, “Do you not care that we
perish?” (Mark 4:38). The scene reveals that while we may not know
what the solution will be, God does. He remains in control and He ever
cares. He is unchangeable during good times and bad. So, let’s ask the
question the way Jesus put it: “when the Son of Man comes, will He
really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). That, brethren, is
entirely up to you!
~Tom Lynch
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