Psalm 16:5; 8 “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure…. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
How can we find security in a world that seems petering on destruction?
I’ve been reading about the sweeping crackdown on Chinese Christians in recent months. It breaks my heart to hear how the government is destroying their churches. Leaders accused of “inciting subversion of state power” face possible jail time of up to 15 years. Bibles are being burned, crosses ripped from buildings, and some Christian employees must decide whether to renounce their faith or lose their jobs.
But these believers have been preparing for this wave of persecution. World Magazine reports over 400 pastors signed a letter denouncing the government suppression. They pledged, “For the sake of the gospel, we are ready to shoulder losses, and if we have to, pay the price of losing freedom and even life.”
Far from depending on circumstances for their security, these brave Christ followers have full confidence that no matter what, a beautiful inheritance awaits them. The State may squeeze them out of their churches, but it cannot squeeze them out of God’s presence.
When David penned Psalm 16, he wasn’t depending on circumstances to “secure his lot.” He begins the psalm by acknowledging his need for God and reaffirms his total reliance on him. David recognizes all the good in his life has come from God, and he refuses to give credit to anyone or anything else. He entrusts his decision-making to God and seeks him first in all he does. Consequentially, he possesses complete confidence God will bring him through the current crisis and beyond.
As followers of Jesus we can find the same kind of security David discovered and our Chinese brothers and sisters are experiencing by taking a cue from the sixteenth Psalm. Train ourselves to be totally dependent on God and plant ourselves in his will. Stop fighting him for control and look to him as our portion. Fix our eyes on him and trust him to be at our right hand.
We don’t know what the future holds for Christians in our country. But if persecution does come, let’s be ready. Ready not to be shaken.