It’s been a relentless assault—with no sign of stopping.
I don’t know about you but I keep thinking that I can’t be more exhausted or more done with the noise. And yet, it doesn’t abate.
And here we are living in the tension of knowing too much and yet, not made of the stuff that hides. We represent Jesus, after all, and He created ostriches, He didn’t live like one.
Wars, terrorism, human trafficking, modern slavery, hatred, division, corruption, deception, and natural disaster complicated by the need for talking heads to spin it all. Even if you shut off all the screens, it slinks in over the transom of your life like an invisible toxin reducing the oxygen in the room.
It’s getting harder and harder to take a deep breath. (Job 33:4)
Daily, I hear the truths I hold most dear—my Lord, God’s Word, human life, my faith, my brothers and sisters—assaulted, too. For a time, I argued back but it was like screaming into a storm.
And I keep thinking—is nothing sacred?
And God whispers to me—answer that question for yourself and refuse to yield. You have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The armor I’ve provided will make you able to stand (Ephesians 6:11). Watch over your heart for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:13). Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Use the weapons not of this world (2 Corinthians 10:4). And pray in all things that my peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-8).
Others may treat what I hold dear with scorn. They may toss it to the ground, tread on it, burn it like trash, distort it, compromise it, or counterfeit it until it’s unrecognizable, or even leave it alone in a sterile room to die but I don’t have to go along with it.
When I meditate on Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” I have often been tempted to feel frustrated. I don’t want to simply stand. I want to advance. I want to fight. I want to defend.
But God knows better than I what counts as victory in a storm. To hold ground. To yield no quarter. To face the enemy and emerge standing. This, too, is victory.
Especially true when to advance may tempt us to pick up the weapons of the enemy. To fight like those who hold nothing sacred. To cast aside the weapons not of this world in favor of those that right now look so effective. It would be trading truth for an illusion.
So, loved ones. I have been challenging myself to press into God’s Word and determine what I believe is sacred so I know where the boundary markers are in this age of relentless assault.
God reminds me that I can continue to hold sacred what others dismiss or discard. And He reminds me I am not alone.
We tread on dangerous ground when we begin to think we’re “the only one” still holding to the truth. Elijah fell prey to this affliction and found himself under a broom tree hoping to just die (1 Kings 19).
God told him to take a nap, eat some food, and get a grip. He assured him there were thousands left and besides, that was God’s business, not Elijah’s.
What I hold sacred is the truth that there is a Living God who created the earth and humanity, He owns this world, not us. We are His and not our own. His plan will stand and He will prevail.
What I hold sacred is His Son Jesus Christ who was born fully human and fully God, who lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, suffered, died in our place on the cross, and rose again to life eternal.
What I hold sacred is the Holy Spirit who came with fire at Pentecost and who is present with us now until the return of Jesus Christ.
What I hold sacred is the church of Jesus, born on that day of Pentecost, the body of believers, sinners made saints not by what we have done but by the finished work of Jesus Christ who now represent Him in this world bringing salt and light. With all her failings, Jesus still abides with those who believe and obey and surrender their selves to Him. She is His bride and He will perfect her. It was brilliant of God to adopt us as sons and daughters and place us in a family. We are not alone.
What I hold sacred is that every human being from conception is made in the image of God and remains an image-bearer throughout life no matter their sins or their crimes or their bondage or their beatings or the judgments of others or their rejection of all things holy. Even when that image-bearer loses sight of his or her own humanity and curses any notion of a Living God, I still hold that life sacred, of worth, and available for redemption in Christ.
What I hold sacred is the Bible, God’s Holy and Eternal Word, that shows us the truth of the Living God and “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).
What I hold sacred are the practices of worship, prayer, searching the Scriptures, service to others, generous and sacrificial living, and proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ through word, character, and deed and the freedom of every person to live this way when they follow Christ.
What I hold sacred is the right of anyone to choose to reject the truth of Christ and to follow their own path even though it leads to death. And if their choices take even my life, yet I live with Christ forever.
The church was born on a battlefield and we live in one today. We will not fear for God is with us. He will make us able to stand but we will shine brighter and retain our salt if we hold certain what we know to be sacred and true.
Luke knew this, living in times of war, division, persecution, compromise, corruption, politics, natural disaster, immorality, and death, just as we do now. This is how he opened his gospel:
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:1-4 ESV).
Theophilus—friend of God—do you have certainty concerning the things you have been taught? Have you trained yourself to distinguish what is sacred and to trust God above the noise of the storm?
It’s time.
What did one domino say to the other? We don’t have to fall.
I respond to every comment and reply to every email. Talk to me!! I pray for all my readers. You are always on my heart and mind.
Thank you Lori. Sister in the Lord. I needed to read this today.
I have been a reader of your writings for many years Lori and have truly appreciated your insight and wisdom. I have felt no need to make my presence known. But I felt a call to back this writing as you bear the truth into a very evil world. My prayer today is that as this world darkens, your words become a bright beacon of light. It is not anything magical but a reality of The Lord’s creation that any light will relieve darkness, no matter how weak that light. It is still light and by comparison in a darkening world, your light is just getting brighter and brighter 🕯️