THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

81OUR LIVES ARE IN GOD’S HANDSLet us learn from these verses how entirely our times are in God's hands. Our LordJesus Christ teaches us this lesson in His reply to those who bade Him depart, because Herodwould kill Him. He said, "I cast out demons, and I do cures today and tomorrow." He had no fearof Herod because His time was not yet come for leaving the world. His work was not yetfinished. Until that time came it was not in the power of Herod to hurt Him. Until that work wasfinished no weapon forged against Him could prosper.We ought to seek to possess a spirit of calm, unshaken confidence about things to come(Ps 112:7).We are not to neglect the use of means, or not to plan at all for an unseen future. Toneglect means is fanaticism, and not faith. However, when we have done what we can, we shouldremember that though duties are ours, events are God's. Therefore, we should leave the futurein God's hands. It is so easy to become overanxious about health, family, finances, plans for arainy day. But how many of our cares and fears are about things which never take place? Happyis the person who recognizes that His life is in God’s hands, that he shall live on earth until hiswork is done and not a moment longer. The Herods of this life—the powers of this world—cannot snuff out our life. We will live as long as God permits. All the physicians of earth cannotpreserve or extend our life when God calls us home.Our very hairs are numbered. Our steps are ordered. All things are working together forgood to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Ro 8:28). When we areafflicted, it is for the best.We can afford to be calm, quiet, unruffled and undisturbed since there is no such thing aschance, luck or accident in the life of a believer.In our lives and activities, we all have one thing in common, unless we repent, we will allperish. No matter how good our behavior and no matter how bad our behavior, we are all sinnersbefore God. Without divine intervention, we are all headed for hell.News.Jesus left us here to be that light shining on a hill and that voice that proclaims the GoodTherefore, it is our responsibility to bear fruit. We are the ones responsible for whetherour fellow man hears about Jesus Christ.