What Can The Righteous Do? Be Established in His Righteousness

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)

David writes: "If the foundations (of society) are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

The answer: Remain established in His righteousness:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54:14)

In this verse, "oppression" and "terror" refer to political tyranny, not just spiritual oppression.

The world may get darker and darker, but ...

"But the path of the just [righteous] is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18)

Even during the Ten Plagues, when one plague brought utter darkness on the land of Egypt:

"They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." (Exodus 10:23)

This light was the Divine Light, since a natural light could have been produced by the Egyptians, as well.

Returning to David's Psalm, David does not ask this question "What can the righteous do?" as if there is no answer.

He provides it right away:

"The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men." (Psalm 11:4)

He is still very much on the throne, governing in the affairs of those who believe on Him.

In fact, to those who seek to undermine the foundations:

"The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming." (Psalm 37:13)

David the continues:

"The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth." (Psalm 11:5)

Yes, the Lord examines us, knowing that we will measure up, trusting in Him to see us through. The tough times reveal the perfect work which He has accomplised in those who believe in Him. Abraham was tested in Genesis 22, and demonstrated the fullness of faith!

Grace is License to Sin? What?!

It shocks me to great end that people continue to claim that grace gives people license to sin.

They just do not know, do not understand how great God's grace really is.

They don't see, know, realize, experience, receive how great God's grace really is.

Grace is a person -- Jesus!

Do people really think sin is all that great?

Honestly, the way that people talk about grace, as though it is a license to sin, it would be as though the Prodigal Son who came back to the Father, who would receive all the blessings and promotions of the Father, would then turn around and ask "Can I go back to eating pig food?"

Seriously?!

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34:8)

God is really good? Yes. Sin is tempting? Yes, but it's a lie.

From the serpent beguiling Eve, and then Adam going along with her fall, to the present day, Satan and the fallen world that Adam corrupted have lied to children of men, telling them that what God is, what He has to offer is not good enough.

And yet His grace superabounds in our lives, especially when we fail! (Romans 5:20)

How about this?

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Grace is license to sin?

That's not what the Bible says, either!

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:11-14)

And of course:

"1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein." (Romans 6:1-2)

What It Means to Know and Believe in His Love

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)

For a long time, I didn't understand the difference between "to know that God loves you" and "To believe that God loves you."

Aren't they basically the same thing?

No.

"To know" stands in opposition, as in "not knowing."

Many people simply do not know that God loves them. They think that God is angry with them, or that His love for us is dependent on what we do, as opposed to what He is doing, or more importantly what He has already done through His Son.

"To believe" means that you stay confident in God's love for you, even when things are not going your way--so it seems.

When it seems that God is not on your side, He is very much on your side. When it seems that everything is falling apart all around you, you rest in the faith that He is holding everything together for you.

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist [are held together]." (Colossians 1:17)