Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes
For The LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught
Proverbs 3:25-26
Our Beloved LORD GOD forewarned us that in the last days times would be exceedingly difficult; hard to bear; perilous; troublesome; and dangerous. Those times would be so because of the extremely sinful condition of ungodly men (2 Tim 3:1-5).
Today we are currently living in the last days, and those perilous times have come upon us. So much so, that in the last few months, more Christians have begun to ask about the BIBLICAL perspective on:
- taking up arms (securing weapons), in order to defend their lives, their loved ones, and their homes
- taking the life of a perpetrator
Before we respond to what our Beloved LORD GOD says on these matters, there are four questions every Christian should carefully consider:
- Do you trust GOD?
- Do you trust HIS WORD?
- Do you trust in the power of HIS NAME?
- Do you trust HIS plan?
If your answer to any one of these questions is “I think so”, “I am not sure”, “No” then the following response will be of no value to you. And you are in a far more perilous place than you realize, both in this present life and the next life. This position may seem harsh, but it is truth, and we will take a moment to explain.
If you do not trust GOD, not trust in HIS WORD, then you will die (Jhn 8:241 Exd 3:14, Jhn 8:56-58). Why, because you are refusing to believe in The only ONE WHO can save you. We have as an example of the unbelieving Israelites who came out of the Egyptian exile (Deu 1:29-36, Heb 3:12-19). Our merciful GOD (Psa 145:8-9), repeatedly warns us that death is the outcome for anyone who trusts anyone or anything instead of HIM (Psa 135:15-18, Pro 11:28, Pro 14:12, Pro 28:26, Jer 17:5, Eze 33:13). HE also warns us that we will get exactly what we expect when we do not trust HIM, nothing (Jam 1:7).
However, if you trust GOD, you trust HIS WORD, and you trust in the power of HIS NAME, you will experience many blessings (Psa 32:10, Jer 17:7); your prayers will be answered (Psa 34:17, Psa 116:1-2); you will have peace in all circumstances (Isa 26:3, Jhn 14:27); and you will witness miracles (Psa 22:4-5, Dan 3:24-28, Dan 6:18-23); as did three women who had nothing in common but their trust in GOD, HIS WORD, and the power of HIS NAME. Pauline Jacobi a 92-year-old woman living in Dyersburg, Tennessee; Marion Chadwick, an owner of a small store in Frisco, Texas; Nayara Goncalves, a 20-year-old manager of a phone store in Boca Raton, Florida. All three women faced death by a robber holding a gun, pointed at each one of them. When a masked man pointed his gun at Marion and demanded money, she commanded him to leave her store in The NAME of JESUS. He demanded money again, she responded again for him to leave her store in The NAME of JESUS. He turned and walked out. When robbers pointed guns at Pauline and Nayara and demanded money in exchange for their lives, they began to speak with them about JESUS. Pauline’s gunmen wept as she spoke with him about JESUS. She then handed him all the money she had, $10. He kissed her on the cheek and departed. Nayara’s gunmen held his head down as she spoke about JESUS, admitting he was a Christian desperate to get money to pay his rent. He left Nayara with an apology, and none of the store’s money.
When you trust GOD, trust HIS WORD, and trust in the power of HIS NAME, you will also trust in HIS plans. This level of trust can come only by knowing HIM personally. And this begins with knowing through HIS WORD, HIS ways and HIS will. As reflected in the example of five male Christian missionaries from America. In 1956 these five men left their wives and children behind in an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani (Waodani) people of the tropical rain forest of Eastern Ecuador, in what was known as Operation Auca, The young son of one of the missionaries spotted a gun in his father’s plane and asked his father: If the Waodani attack, will you defend yourself? Will you use your guns? His father Nate Saint answered: Son, we can’t shoot the Waodani. They’re not ready for heaven… we are. Nate Saint, and the four other male missionaries were killed by a group of the Waodani tribe. But as a result of their deaths, the entire tribe eventually came to CHRIST.
Completely trusting our Beloved LORD GOD, means we completely trust HIM, HIS WORD, the power of HIS NAME, and HIS plans. There are countless more, but we introduced you to eight Christians who completely trusted GOD and know HIS WORD, which gave them understanding of HIS perspective. They didn’t meet violence with violence, they met violence with trust in HIM and HIS WORD. Their trust, changed the hearts, lives and souls of their attackers.
Our Precious LORD JESUS tells us in Matthew 5:38-39, “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” HIS WORD is counter-intuitive to our thoughts and actions, and yet HE also tells us, “For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways MY ways,” declares The LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:8-9).
Do not take up arms. Trust in The LORD. Weapons give you a false sense of security. Our Beloved LORD GOD will keep you secure (Pro 1:33).
O give us help against the adversary,
For deliverance by man is in vain.
Through GOD we shall do valiantly,
And it is HE WHO will tread down our adversaries.
Psalm 60:11-12
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