The summer brings about a lot of family reunions where memories of the past are brought to mind and new memories are made. This summer is no different, except for those who may have recently experienced the loss of a loved one or possibly the poor economy has gotten a hold of you. But family reunions go on no matter what is happening in one’s life and the economy will not turn around overnight. We are going to have our ups and downs. We cannot get around that in this world. The biggest thing we all must remember is: God is ultimately in control of events that go on in this world.
Then we read the passage of scripture that is found in 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  This scripture should make anyone shake in their boots if they are not a child of God. But wait a minute pastor; you just said that “God is ultimately in control.”  He is; however, children of God are not of this world. John tells us in the verses prior, in 1 John 5:3b-5, “And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Remember my initial statement about things happening around us but life goes on?  Children of God, believers in Christ, those Saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus, are safe.  Not because of anything we have done but because of what Jesus has done.

In the Gospels, Jesus prays for believers and part of that prayer is John 17:15, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” You see, Jesus asked God to keep us from the evil one. So, if you’re a child of God, even though Satan roams the earth looking for those to devour, God is protecting you.

Please know that if you are not a child of God, you can be. You can be protected from the evil one. Romans 10:13 says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Are you saved?  Have you called on the name of the Lord?  Romans 10:9 & 10 reads: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

If you are a child of God, then you can rest assured that the evil one is on limited time as John wrote in John 12:31, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Satan is going to be out of here! We as believers must remember we have a great protector. Things will happen, but remember God is with us and will never leave us or forsake us.

Pastor Doug DiBell
Solon Center Wesleyan
15671 Algoma, Cedar Springs