THOSE IN POWER

THOSE IN POWER

When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. —Proverbs 28:12

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. —Proverbs 28:15

When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. —Proverbs 28:28

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. —Proverbs 29:2

When righteous people are victorious and rule, there is great joy, a thriving of the people and much rejoicing. But when wicked people rule they are like a “roaring lion” or a charging bear.” People go into hiding to keep out of their sight and they groan when a wicked person is ruling.

The underground church in various areas of this world are “underground” to keep out of sight of wicked authorities. In many countries if you are known as a follower of Jesus you are watched.

I remember years ago when my wife went on a mission to Russia with the church we were attending. They were involved with a children’s ministry there. One day, when they had some free time, a group of them went to a park. There was an old tank there that was open so they climbed down into it to look around. The next day they returned to the park to show some others the tank and the hatch was welded shut! Do you think they were being watched?

In the U.S. we still have freedom as followers of Jesus to do many things. We can have Good News Clubs in the schools (although not many churches take advantage of this opportunity. I’ve been to the beach at the ocean with a group to talk with people about Jesus. The police walk by, but they do not stop us. I have actually talked with a group of policemen that were near us and they receive literature from me. We also are able to be on a university campus to talk with students. Although, recently the police chief came by to check our permit and he asked us to set up in a different location a few yards from where we were. So freedom in the U.S. is waning to some degree as well.

But when you look at Iran, Iraq and other countries that openly persecute Christians, it is because they have wicked rulers. Things well be very hard world-wide when the tryrant of tyrants rules— the anti-Christ. Let us use the freedom we have wisely to get the message out about our King of kings and Lord of lords.

Dear Father, may I speak and encourage many toward You. May I not be passive with the freedom I know, but be active in pointing others to the true freedom in Jesus. May it be so!