Certainty - in uncertain times!

At the 2011 Annual Conference of the Christian Police Association, held in the Scottish Police Training Centre at Tulliallan, Kincardineshire, the theme was “Certainty – in uncertain times.”  I was invited to speak, on that theme, at the Saturday evening time of praise and worship.  I was delighted to accept the invitation, and based my comments on the words of the 46^th Psalm from the Jewish Scriptures – the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.

However, I might equally well have used some words that I was reading recently, from the writings of one of the Jewish prophets.  In Habakkuk 3:17-19, the prophet comes to the end of a prayer, and paints a picture of what would have been, in an agrarian society, total economic devastation: “Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,” (v.17).  But he goes on: “... yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.   God, the LORD, is my strength; He makes my feet like hinds' feet, He makes me tread upon my high places.” (vs. 18-19).  No matter how uncertain the times, Habakkuk knew where to look for his certainty!

In the current economic climate and, especially among police staff after the recent announcement concerning the likely redundancies, as we in Scotland move to a single Scottish Police Force, we all know something about uncertainty!  And, sometimes, it’s only when the situation becomes increasingly difficult and uncertain that we begin to realise, and accept, our own limitations.  That’s when we may need to reach out to a greater power than ourselves.

For the disciple of Jesus, of course, that means reaching out to the same God in Whom Habakkuk trusted; the One Who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; the One Who loves us with an everlasting love.  He is the One Who has promised never to leave us, or forsake us.  He is the God Who provides for His children – even if it isn’t always in the way in which we want, or expect!  He’s the One Who is coming again – to be revealed to all as King of kings, and Lord of lords – and at Whose Name “... every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2:10-11; RSV)

May all who read this post be among those who will bow in praise and adoration, at His coming.

P.S. Anyone who is interested, may hear the full Conference Address at  revcbross.blogspot.com      Happy listening!