To Whom Will You Run?

When our daughter, Elizabeth, was little, she experienced a particularly defining moment.  My husband and I lived in Bellevue, Washington at the time and had decided to spend an afternoon window shopping at a few local malls.  It just so happened that Easter was right around the corner and when we entered the first mall, the Easter Bunny greeted us at the door.  Elizabeth was not amused.  Not yet two, she was very leery of a huge bunny, dressed in a waistcoat and carrying a gigantic basket full of eggs.  She was convinced there was something rather sinister in his expression and no matter where she went, there was that bunny, staring at her with his Joker-like smile and motioning for her to come nearer.

As we wandered, Elizabeth clung to my hand, never taking her eye off that suspicious herald of spring.  We strolled leisurely through store after store, Elizabeth settling into an uneasy pace.  After quitting the mall with the unholy bunny, we drove to another mall a few miles away.  The minute we walked through the door, I knew there was going to be trouble.  You guessed it - another bunny.  With tears rolling down her face, I scooped Elizabeth into my arms to shield her from her nemesis.  Finally, she settled down and I put her down to walk on her own.  Laughing at something or other, we rounded a corner and ran headlong into the most massive, colorful Easter Bunny we had ever seen.  A look of terror crossed Elizabeth's face, her legs pumping up and down with adrenaline.  When she finally caught traction, she ran, as fast as she could, straight past me and directly into the outstretched arms of her daddy.  The first bunny had distressed her and she held tight to my hand.  The second had horrified her and she clung to me.  The third bunny pushed her over the edge.  She was convinced that the 6 1/2 foot tall, plaid vest wearing, Joker-faced rabbit was stalking her, with less than honorable intentions - and she was terrified. And when she felt she was truly in danger, she ran right past me and to the one she knew could protect her - her father.

Our country is in trouble.  At first, we were distressed.  Then we were horrified.  Now, we have reason to be truly terrified.  But we are missing the bigger picture.  We are under the impression that our enemy is the Government.  Or our neighbors.  Or the Socialists...Communists....Marxists.  However, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities.  God is sovereign and He alone sets kings on their thrones.  Even bad kings.  He alone deposes kings.  The question isn't really "What is the state of our Nation?".  The question is "What is the state of our Souls?"  This is the telling moment.  Who/what will you run to?  Will you run to the state?  Will you run to the hills?  Will you rely on your food/guns/ammo/skills etc....Those are all fine things to run to and rely on when you are scared or distressed, but what about when you are truly terrified?  That is when you run to your Father.  And your Father will be there with arms outstretched.  God is calling His children.  Sometimes His children are foolhardy and stubborn, perhaps even stiff-necked.  We get complacent and preoccupied and it takes something truly terrifying to get our attention.  This is it guys.  Nations will rise and nations will fall, but the Kingdom of God is eternal - and that is where we need to put our trust.

We need to be able to see the forest through the trees.  The trees are the dominoes of a falling nation.  The forest is the saving love of a Father who cares far more for the State of your Soul than he does for the State of your Nation.

To whom will you run?

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.   Ephesians 6:12