In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. Psalm 91:1-10.

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life. Revelation 2:7.

He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust. Psalm 103:10-14.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 100: False witnesses rose up against Him. Psalm 35:11: Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. And, Matthew 26:59: Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

Do you ever wonder as I do about what Jesus said, that in this world we will have tribulation but to take heart because He has overcome the world? He also said that if we overcome, He will grant us to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God, (NRSV). I think about the faithful who have gone before us who faced tribulations and hardships trusting God and not men. In this world we have tribulations and hardships because of mankind choosing the fruit of good and evil. All we need to do is look around today to see the choices for evil that are killing us. Lies, hate, greed, willful ignorance of Creator God even though we live and move and have our being because He created and even though we can see the beautiful creation all around us He created and sustains for us. He loves us so much He came to live among us so He could show us what real love is and teach us Himself by His example of choosing love for the Father and love for us. He trusted our Father for everything, even the cross. He showed us how to overcome the lies of the evil one by turning away from his deceptions to the truth of God’s love. Remember? “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. You shall not put the LORD your God to the test. You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:4-10. And the devil left Him because the evil one cannot abide God’s truth and love. And Jesus did that for each one of us. Now it’s our turn. Who do you believe? The evidence of good and evil of this world is all around us and we have suffered over and over in that toxic mix. We see it, we feel its impact, we suffer in it and wonder why – and then we blame God. Satan wants us to worship him and choose lies, hate, greed, idolatry.

Leaving all of that for just a moment that can be for eternity, can we live into the truth God brings? Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:12-17. And Jesus, the Son, Creator God, began calling His disciples and saying to them, “Follow Me.” To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life! Even in this fallen world with all its tribulations and hardships we can have cheer because we can follow Him who has never lied to us. Never! He is worth following. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life of God’s love. “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:12-13. Sacrifice? Jesus IS the Lamb of God sacrificed on the altar of all of our systems of good and evil that fall short and fail us – to show us what true sacrifice is and will always be – God’s love and faithfulness! Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well and He tells all of us, “Believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming – and now is – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24. Creator God is Spirit and we learn truth from Him. Read His Word with His help. Ask for His guidance and teaching. Begin by turning to Him and asking for His help and trusting Him who loves you and gave Himself for you. In Him the lies of this world fall away and you begin to see Light that is so good and so needed. And He is so patient and kind because He knows all we have suffered without Him. And when you’re ready, seek others who love Him and find family now that will one day be for all eternity. We need help. He knows. He is here, always.

***TRUST You are my Maker. You are my King. You are my Comforter. You are my Provider. You are my Inspiration. You are my Defender . . . I trust You. Kim Pullen (Orlando, Florida), personal prayer, 2020.***