UNCERTAIN TIMES?

"Uncertain times" is a stock phrase constantly used by the media and advertisers during this time of coronavirus pandemic. But it is MISLEADING as much of the media is prone to be. It implies that "normal times" are CERTAIN which is NEVER the case. Often the phrase "uncertain times" is used in reference to the economy, but the Bible has long said not to "trust in uncertain riches but in the living God" (1 Tim. 6:17). Riches are ALWAYS UNCERTAIN - not just at this time, but at all times. There is nothing new under the sun here. Life is UNCERTAIN at every point - including whether we will take another breath!

Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV)
Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

A major theme in the "wisdom literature" of the Old Testament deals with this issue of UNCERTAINTY. Job could not figure out WHY all this calamity was happening to him. It was all UNCERTAIN in his mind. Proverbs says a "man's steps are of the LORD" and therefore asks, "How then can a man understand his own way?" (Prov. 20:24). Ecclesiastes is the most philosophical book in the Bible. The UNCERTAINTY of everything leaves the writer with the refrain, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (Eccl. 1:2, 12:8). The word "vanity" occurs 37 times in the book.

Human EGO thinks we control our own destiny and therefore that we can determine what will be CERTAIN. That is just an arrogant assumption! James says all such boasting is "arrogance" and "evil" (Ja. 4:16). James says, "you do not know what will happen tomorrow" and then adds, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" (Ja. 4:14-15). Our times are in God's hands (cf. Ps. 31:15). We don't ultimately chart our own course or make our own way. Our ego just thinks so. Our constant refrain should be, "If the Lord wills".

CERTAINTY in this world is found only in God and His truth! Nothing else is certain. Even death is not certain, because in TRUTH Jesus may come in our lifetime and for those "in Christ" they will be instantly transformed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air WITHOUT dying (cf. 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). How wonderful is the CERTAINTY that is found in God. His Word is certain! His promises are certain! In Christ all that God has promised is CERTAIN! In "uncertain times" this is the ONLY place of TRUE CERTAINTY!

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

2 Peter 1:2–4 (NKJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.